Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-25
STRIKERS GIVE SOME INSIDE FACTS.

SCA u luGdlLA III lA6 1W CTS during a very cold spell. ,
 Then came the enforcement of the rule ordering every conductor to stand erect on the rear platform at all times when not engaged in collecting fares. On many occasions the conductors had been told by the general manager to stand inside the car during cold wealth CT. However, this order was also com piled with, without any complaint from the men. ME
 We can enumerate many other in cidents which caused us to believe that the company was rubbing it into us because of our connection with the union. #
 At last the company decided to play trump card, and discharged three of. our members for absenting themselves from duty, although the impression given out was that at least one or more of them were discharged for drinking. Of course the company had right to discharge it's help, but we felt that the men were entitled to hearing, particu- 1arly on account of the impression given out, which would be great detri- ment to them in obtaining employment. elsewhere When they were refused
 
 than ever convinced that the real cause of their discharge was the fact that they belonged to the union. The rules of the company, by the way, left the discharged men only liable to suspen- sion for the offenses which they were alleged to have committed.
 And thus it was that the company precipitated this strike, at least four months before the men contemplated submitting any demands whatsoever. They evidently thought 1t 8 good time to make a test case, feeling that in the indictment weather the people would ride any way and our cause would be killed for all time. The result shows how poorly the company figured on the public sympathy.
 Now the company keeps trying to convince the public that the whole trouble hinges on the reinstatement of the discharged men. which is not true. The company keeps this constantly be- fore the public, but concerning the recognition of the union a ten-hour day, uniform scale of wages and pay ment for all time put in is kept away in the background.
 The company also shouts continu- ally about the short notice we gave for the consideration of our demands We want to say right here that we told the general manager that we would give him practically unlimited time for consideration if he would give us the slightest hope that any of our demands would be taken under consideration, and that we were not looking for fight or a strike. He told us the only thing he would recommend to his company was the reinstatement of one of the discharged men, and informed us that he might do more hsEfsN9gxr gEB4nanj1S been addressed to.him instead of to his company. Even after we decided to strike at the meeting of January II, we telephoned him and promised to re- scind our vote if he could give us one ray of hope, but we only received a sarcastic call down for waking him up.
 We once more ask the public to judge if we have not been upright and l square throughout. If we have not, would it be natural to suppose that we would be so willing at all times to leave the entire difficulty to any trio of reputable citizens for adjustment? On the other hand, if the company Is in the right, why has 1t not confidence in some of our irreproachable citizens, and let this difficulty be arbitrated?
 We are glad to announce that an-s other automobile will be in commission tomorrow and that others will follow right along in the very near future"
 Only, for the presence of Officer John Sullivan.on the scene two of the strike breakers, Motorman Reardon and Con- ductoT. Mayo, would in all probability have been roughly handled by crowd of people on Bank street short dis tance above Riverside street last night about 6:15. They were in charge of a car which ran into little girl named Marcella Telash, who is about years old, and lives in the rear of SO9 Bank street Opinion differs as to the rate of speed at which the car was going at the time. Some claim that the car was going faster than the regular rate. while others, among them Officer Sulli- van, state that the car was going only moderately and that the child ran right in front of the car. The car struck her and threw her to one side. The car was stopped immediately by the motor man. The accident occurred about the time that the people were returning home from work and a big crowd quickly gathered about the car. Angry threats were heard. The people in that section dislike Mayo very, much. He has been seen smoking cigarettes on the car and one night he is said to have fourished revolver. But for the pres ence of Officer Sullivan he would no doubt have been roughly handled last night
 Officer Graves was called to attend the little girl, who was not seriously injured. She received several cuts about the head and face and bad shaking up.
 Two trolley cars were stoned down in Union City last night. Pieces of flying glass struck one of the passen- gers in the head.
 Some of the newspapers both at l home and in other places have said l pretty hard things of the strikers, but i it remained for the Brooklyn Eagle to | reachsthe limit, and it looks now as if | that paper will be given an opportunity | to tell all it knows about Waterbury | and the strikers, which in all probabil- | itxr o11f fO r10thiYlcr hnunn6 |