The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-11-21
ADMINISTRATION IN MERlDEN
SILVER COMPANY MAKES 4
 SWEEPING REFUSAL.
wnI Not submit the Question in Any of Its Aspects-Answer to the Propo- sition Submitted by the Bu'iness Men's Association on Behalf of the Strikers.
Strikers.

Meriden. Conn.,, Nov. 20.-Late this afternoon President Samuel Dodd of the International Silver company, gave his answer to the strikers of factory H on the proposition to arbitrate the trouble now existing at that shop Pres ident Dodd said that the company will not arbitrate the question in any of it's aspects. A committee of two of the i leading merchants, members of the waited upon the International Silver l Co.'S official early in the day in behalf of the strikers and presented the men's propositions:
 i To the officers of the International Sil- I yer Co.,:
 Gentlemen: Messrs. Thomas and Up- ham. as a committee being requested ! by the International Silver Co. to for mulate questions upon which arbitra- tion is desired, submit the following:
 First: The men believe that James J. Slamons. whose summary discharge from factory H, International Silver Co., led to the present strike at that fac tory, was discriminated against and discharged on account of his activity as chairman of the shop committee of fac- tory H, that belief being based upon the refusal of the International Silver com pany to tell the men through their rep resentatives why Slamons was dis charged.
 Second--The men ask that all the help who were employed at factory H on or before October "A, 1903. and who left { the shop, or who were discharged on ac- count of this trouble. be reinstated.
 Third Upon arbitration being agreed upon, the foregoing propositions, the \ men savor the appointment by the In l ternational Silver Co, Of one person, the appointment by the men of another, these two to select a third party to act with them in arriving at an agreement, and the men hereby pledge themselves < to to abide by tn edecision of this board of arbitration, the International Silver company agreeing to do the same.
 The companys reply is appended: In regard to paragraph first, we would state that the same being simply statement of belief of certain men, we 5 fail to see why arbitration Is called for on question of their belief.
 In regard to paragraph second, we would state that only one man has been discharged from factory Fl, viz: MT. Slamons. and we have refused, and do refuse, to re-employ MT. Slamons, and as the right of the employees to leave the service of his employers Is co-ex- tensive with the right of the employer ! to discharge, without giving reasons ] therefor Gas expressed by Carroll D. Wright, United States labor commis- sioner) the matter of his re-employ- ment cannot therefore be subject of arbitration.
 III regard to the men who voluntarily left our employment they were ordered to do So by outside parties, we would say that we will not submit the ques- ton of employing or discharging of the workmen in our various factories to arbitration as we reserve the right to hire and discharge our own employees without submitting such questions to outside parties Our answer to the first and scecond of course answers your third. Trusting that the above will be considered satisfactory to yourselves and all concerned, we remain
 l Yours Very Truly,
 International Silver Co.,. by Samuel | Dodd, President.