Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-03
Proposition Made to Men By
 Manager Sewell.
CONFERENCE HELD YESTERDAY

The Manager Would Like to Use Local Strikers in New BritEn and Bridge port--No Strike in New Britain, But He Has a Few Undesirable Men Promised to Release the Union Mon- .ey That Is Tied Up Strikers Dis cussed Matter at Meeting This Fore noon.
 All those who have been getting in and tomorrow from the supposition that the trolley strike was to be de ciared off today will be disappointed for the strike is on just as much to-day as it was yesterday and all the other days that it has lasted. There were hopes raised yesterday afternoon and last evening that settlement was at hand Tn fact some of the strikers themselves were confident that when they heard the report of their commit tee which had been called into an in- terview with General Manager Sewell that report would be favorable one. The majority of their friends who had - ing with them believed that the long drawn-ont struggle was about No have an ending and that each side had con- ceded something. Tn fact the terms of the settlement were mentioned but all those hopes and wishes were dash ed to the ground when the strikers as- assembled in meeting this morning.
 In justice to James Murnan, the president of the strikers, 1t might be we'll to state that his interview with General Manager Sewell was held in Waterbury and it was in this city the proposition was made to him. His visit to Bridgeport was to consult with President Frank Wood of the strikers union in that city. He did see MT SewelI in Bridgeport, but on the railroad platform, and had no conversation with him relative to the strike whatsoever.
 There was a full meeting of the strikers at il o'clock this morning and many interested people hung around the vicinity Of their meeting room waiting tor the decision. The propo- sition was submitted to the strikers by President Murnan and was as fol lows:
 MT Sewelf would take back eight men of the strikers to work in Water. bury, and those eight he would select himself The strikers could then choose fifteen more from their ranks and these would be sent to New Brit ain and Bridgeport
 Mir Sewell IS said to have added to the above proposition that if it was accepted he would have the injunction on the labor unions removed and the attachments on the money released.
 When Mir Sewell was asked why he wanted men sent to New Britain, as there was no reported trouble over ir that city, he is said to have replied that there were ten or fifteen men over on that line whom the company would like to dispense with
 This, then, was the proposition thai the general manager of the Connecti. cut Railway and Lighting Go submit ted to his former employees. To say that the strikers were surprised was putting it mildly. They believed an6 so stated that these rl1mors were sen broadcast in order to help the patron age of the cars tomorrow, one of tht biggest days that the trolley compan aes throughout the country have The proposition was discussed and re-dis cussed and there was noS one dissent ing voice when it was voted to turn f down.
 The situation, therefore, at the pres ent writing is just as 1t was when th' men went out on strike six months ago Some of the members in conversation with a representative of the Democra this afternoon stated that they stil were willing to meet General Manage Sewell on any fair basis and they wer also willing to concede some point provided the company did the same.
 They will return to work tonight Q tomorrow morning and guarantee t triple the service of the cars tomorrow over any whole week the company ha had since the strike began. They can not, they say, throw away their mar hood and accept such proposition E1e one above printed.