Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-06
FAILED TO COME TOGETHER.
Another Disappointment Over Settling
 Trolley Strike.

interested failed to bring the strike situation in this city to a satisfa ctory ending and once more is this failure attributed to the unsatisfactory propo- sition of the Connecticut Railway & Lighting Go. Notwithstanding reports and stories to the contrary the com pany through some of it's officials have made advances to the strikers and have submitted propositions. but each Of those propositions has been along the same lines and has offered no ma teEial encouragement to the men who have been away from the cars for about six months. The story in the Democrat Friday telling of the offer of the company to take back eight men and the company to select those eight who would be put to work in this city and fifteen more to be chosen by the strikers, which fifteen would be sent to New Britain and Bridgeport, caused much surprise about the city and came in for severe comment from those interested as well as from many business men in the city who have, pa- tiently suffered during all the days of the strike. Some of those business men are, loud in their denunciation of a company which would make such proposition knowing full we'll that 1t must meet with a Tebuff. They argue that it would have been better to have made no offer at all than to have in- suited the men who have fought those long weeks for fair days pay. They believe, and perhaps rightly, that @uch an offer will only tend to cement the lines of the strikers more firmly and make them more determined than ever in holding out for their original demands.
 After this proposition had been dis, cussed by almost everyone in the city the report spread rapidly that another offer had been received by the men from the company and that this offer would be discussed at the meeting to be held on the afternoon of July 4. The meeting was held and according to all reports it was a very warm ses- sion. So extremely warm did it be come that it was thought advisable to adjourn until the next afternoon until the men had cooled off before arriving at any decision. The cause of all the heat was the other proposition sent in by some official Of the company. Word was sent to all the available strikers that a meeting would be held on Sunday afternoon at o'clock and when that hour arrived 5 Of the origi- nal men who went out on strike were present The proposition was then submitted to the men and it was as follows:
 The company would select eight men and those eight men would be put to work here in the city immediately. The company would then select tWenty-two more men and those would be sent to other cities where the Con- necticut Railway x Lighting Go have lines, but not to any city where there was a strike. Then about the first of August thirteen more men would be taken back which thirteen would be selected by the strikers and those thirteen would be placed however the company thought best. Not one of those men, however, must belong to any union. Barred from this list were ex-President William Barrett, John D. Kelly and Edward J. Maloney and also the eight men who were accused of the assault on the Waterville line, but who were acquitted in the superior court
 When this proposition was read there was storm of protests. Many of the men had been led to believe that another proposition was to be present ed. They had heard that the company had proposed to take back thirty men right away and place them at work in this city. That fifteen more would be taken back by the first of August and that by the first of September as many more would placed back in their old positions as could be made room for. They had heard there was to be no question of increase Of wages on their part and no question of unionism on the part of the company. There were few who would have kicked against this proposition, but there were those present at the meeting Sunday who would have voted for that proposition and who would have carried it through. When the nature of the new proposi- tion was understood, however, indig- nation and disappointment were evi- dent on every face. True, there was much discussion as has been reported, but it was all on one side and when a vote was finally called for every man present voted against accepting the proposition submitted by the company. That is where the case rests at present md the men are now awaiting the next offer Of the company
 The strongest proof that there is strike on in this city can be attested to by the management of Forest park One year ago on Fourth of July there were twelve thousand people at Forest park during the day and night. The trolley company carried at the lowest estimates two-thirds of that crowd This year there was scarcely twelve hundred people present at the park and but few of those rode on the cars Last year the vaudeville entertainment was given three times to satisfy the crowds. This year there was scarcely enough of money taken in to pay fo1 one musician. No wonder the manage ment has decided to call off all the vaudeville talent booked for the rest oi the season. The park will remain