Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-18

this date concerning our requests has been received, and in reply we will say that we will be ready to meet you 1n the aldermanic chamber, City hall building, at S:3O o'clock this (Tuesday) evening, for the purpose of discussing, and -if possible reaching settlement of the present strike.
 You state that your information is that we desire to be fair. assure you that our intentions are to be fair and just to both sides in this unpleas- ant controversy.
 What we desire, as we stated before, is to meet someone who has power to settle the dispute, as you have agreed that it would be more than useless to take up the matter with anyone not authorized to make asettlement.
 Assuring you that we will be on hand at the appointed hour we remain,
 Respectfully,
 w. D. MARION,
 D. l.. DILWORTH.
 Promptly at S:3O there assembled in the aldermanic chamber President Mahon, Chairman Dilworth, M J. Ryan, clerk of the conference. and Messrs Horgan, Collins and Dennis of the executive committee of the strikers. Colonel Burpee arrived shortly after and the conference began. For almost an hour nothing could beA1earned of what was happening in that conference chamber. and then the executive com mittee of the strikers issued from the room and said that Colonel Burpee had entered strenuous objections to holding conference while they were present. President Mahon argued the same as he had done in the afternoon, that the members of the executive committee should be present in order if an agree ment was entered into they would know how to carry out the provisions of that agreement after he, the presi- dent, had left the city. Colonel Burpee maintained his position and the ex- ecutive committee finally went into an ante chamber and the controversy be- tween the counsel nf the trolley com pany and the national officers of the street railway men was on in earnest.
 The restoration of Barrett and Kelly with the rest of the strikers came under consideration. and President Mahon wanted to know if the company would take back all the old men provided Bar =rett and Kelly were dropped. This Colonel Burpee refused point blank to do. His position was just as it has been right along. The company would take back some of the men and as many others from time to time as they might have positions for. Asked con corning the increase in wages, Colonel Burpee declined to consider that point at all. There was much discussion over the various points and the confer eaae developed the fact that if Colonel Burpee had been ill communication with the directors, they told him to stay in the position the company first took. and that position is that the old men will not be taken pack in a body There will be no increase in wages. The men at present operating the lines will not be discharged. Barrett and Kelly will not be considered at all, and, in fact. the company comedies nothing at all and will only give places to as many of the old men as there are now vacancies. This conference broke up in that manner. and Colonel Burpee went 1 to the Waterbury club while the ma 1 tional officers and the executive com mittee held a session of their own. The result of that session was the calling of Colonel Burpee by telephone and his arrival on the scene once more. This time the meeting was held in the mayors office. Colonel Burpee was asked if he would take the men back l in body and submit their differences to a board of arbitration. He declined I to do so. He was asked if he would submit the whole matter to arbitration and he declined once more and said the company has already stated its DO sition. He was asked if he would meet President Mahon after the latter had returned from New York, where MI Mahon was going to-day, and he said that he would, but that there was nc use parleying further as the company would not recede from its position After this last conference the follow I ing statement was given out:
 l Statement of President Mahon and | Committeeman Dilworth.
 ''We regret to state that the confer ence with Colonel Burpee, counsel fol | the trolley company is closed without a settlement being reached. We offered to make all reasonable and honorable concessions that the organization could consistently make. but on the part ot the comrany's representative, found nc T disposition to meet us on this basis He refused to recognize or allow the men to return in body. After receiv. I ing his refusal, we offered to submit the entire matter in dispute to a board of arbitration, composed of disinter tested citizens of Waterbury, one to be chosen by the company, one by the linen and the two thus selected to ap- point the third and the decision of the I majority of this board to be final. This the company's counsel also refused tc accept
 "This leaves the situation practical 1y as 1t has been However, we have mot given up hopes. We shall make another appeal to the higher officials of the company and if possible, secure a conference with them, before apply ing to the American Federation o1 Labor and other international unions l We desire to make this statement also that these propositions of arbitration