Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-19
SENATOR TRACY TALKS STRIKE
Thinks Employers Should Have
 Right To Discharge Men.
On the Other Hand He Claims Labor Also Has Rights-But the Public and the Men That Furnish the Cap ital Should Be Protected.
Editor Democrat:

Editor Democrat:
 The strike of the traction company has furnished the newspapers, as we'll as pastors and people of this city, with a subject for discussion for the past week; it is proving a source of great loss and inconvenience to everyone, and am sure everyone wants to see the controversy settled, but 1 believe every one is or should be interested in having it settled right. E.*.
 There is, principle involved that cannot Joe disregarded> without affecting directly or indirectly the rights of every man or woman who nave to earn their living, as well as those who fur nish capital to carry on the business enterprises of our city.
 That principle is, whether an employ ] CT shall have the right to discharge en- l ployes who are incompetent, intemper- ate, disrespectful, who refuse to con- | ply with reasonable rules and regula- tions. This right has always been ac- corded employers in Waterbury, and under it the city has made a wonderful 1 growth in wealth, population, individ- ual ownership of homes, steady and profitable employment of labor. Inn mense factories have grown up, SUD- piled with all modern Improvements for the comfort and welfare of their occu- pants. There has been freedom from strikes or controversy, friendly and 1 cordial relations have been maintained between employer and employed. h. deed, I do not believe that all the strikes of every kind and nature from I 1870 to 1900 cost as much as is paid l out for a single weeks labor in this city. -.' -.a5
 Will the methods being used, or CO., ercion, boycott and intimidation, help to strengthen and maintain q friendly feeling between capital and labor? be l tween employers and employed? Will it not rather bring up nearer to the con. ditions that prevail in Chicago, in the coal and iron mines of Pennsylvania? 1 And which condition is the more de- sirable for the wage-earner of Water l bury?
 l The present strike came about by the 1 discharge of three men and the re- l fusal of the traction company to re- ] 1nstate them, because as.~ Mir fSewptf claims, they had visited saloons with | by absenting themselves from their l work. for several days at time with. 1 out leave or permission. I Now it seems to me that both rules are reasonable, fair and just, and if l broken the traction company were clearly in their right in discharging these men. There is no occupation where, it is more essential that em- ployes should be sober and strict in the observa o. of orders than ill the con duct of steam and electric railroads. If strict discipline cannot be main tained there would be no safety to the public who patronize them, and no guarantee that any time scheduled would be carried out.
 The law makes every corporation re- sponsible for the acts of its agents. l This being the case, can the traction company afford to employ any man in the position of conductor or motorman, who is q frequenter of saloons and is known to get intoxicated? I think that every fair minded man and woman will agree with me that they cannot.
 If this point is conceded. the only question is. were these three discharged men intemperate men? Did they visit saloons while on duty? Did they fail to report for a period of three days? These qestions are all susceptible of positive proof. and that without sin gle dav's delay. If it shall be proven that these men are guilty of the charges will the public sentiment sub init to the boycott, coercion and intin- idation that bas been practiced for the mast week? Will it still be impossible 1 for q lady to buy loaf of bread be- cause she has dared to ride on car? Ioo SoIo1 to insult and told that his business will be ruined because he has paid 5-cent car fare? Will leading professional man be addressed through the mail as | "Mr Scab" and told that his business will be ruined because he has had the l moral courage to patrOnize a trolley? r Now if the statements made by Mir | Sewell are found to be facts, and pub | lie sentiment does not sustain him | through the pulpit, the press and the whole community, shall have lost | faith in their sense of justice and right
 This is not a question of organized labor; have not word to say against | organized labor. l believe that labor has as good right to organize as has capital. but labor organizations to suc- ceed must be organizations for the ad- I members based on principles of justice and equality, on principles of common fairness. For an organization, what ever it's name or nature, to champion the side of wrong doing, or to employ some of the disgraceful methods used during the past week, even if the prin- ciple under contention were right, is to my mind greatly to be regretted
 A city is to be considered as great family, each and every member should he interested in it's well being, it's pros- nerity. in it's development and hanpi- ness. Neither it's churches, charities TT business interests can suffer without it's individuals who compose it being in some degree affected.
 It seems to me the lesson to be learned from this strike and those Of
 more magnitude in other cities is for labor organizations to place men in affice who are absolutely fair, men who