The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-12
A TROLLEY STRIKE
ON IN WATERBURY
THE MEN COMPLETELY TIE UP
THE SYSTEM.

&utf VOrk Iesferday-NGshsmg huE
snow PIow MOved-UnIon Demands
Eeinstatemento of Discharged Men and
RNUmber of Otasr rThtnSs-ComDany
Eef"ses-Give Employees Until p. n,.
To-day TO Returm.
Waterbury, Jan. 11.-Waterbury en-
tered upon the first trolley strike in it's
history this morning shortly after mid
night, when after protracted meeting
of the Trolley Mems union, during
which the last employe of the running
service was made a member of the
union and the issues with the company
were discussed, the men refused longer
to work until their demands were ac-
ceded to. The immediate cause of the
strike was the discharge Of three men,
one of them, William Barrett, being the
president of the union. The men assert
That they were discharged because of
their activity in behalf of organized
labor ---.'.-'
J. E. Sewell, general manager of the
road, which is one of the chain owned
and operated by the Connecticut Light
ing and Power company, denies this
statement, asserts that he is not oppos-
ed to the union and says the men were
DISCHARGED for repeatedly frequenting
saloons in uniform and absenting
themselves from duty without explana-
tion.
On Friday night General Manager
Sewell received communication from
the union enclosing the following prop
ositions and asking him to reply before
u o'clock Saturday:
1-Recognition of the union.
2-The reinstatement of William Bar
rett, John Kelley, Edward Maloney and
A. W. Light, discharged.
S-A> ten-hour day at 221a cents per
hour for all regular and extra men.
4-Snow- pillow work 30 cents per hour;
car-barn men 20 cents per hour.
5-All extra men shall be paid regular
scale of wages for reporting at the car
barns until released.
6-All men failing to report to barn to
take out their cars shall report for duty
at central office at $50 a. m. and at
p. m, to be paid only for work done.
~A'L AA1SAA SAAAP4cSS NY e4AC SoA41PGAAJ
shall become members of our union
within thirty days.
Sin all cases where men are dis
charged the superintendent shall allow
a conference with the grievance COM
mittee.
General Manager Sewe1l replied that
he could not answer the demands with
out conference with the company's
executive commit tee, some of whom are
in New York and others in Bridgeport.
He left for Bridgeport early this morn
ing. Meantime the men refused to wait
for his return, and every one of the LAT
employees, by order of the union, quit
their cars.
Tonight Mr.. Sewell returned with an
answer to the men. 1t is a refusal to
grant their demands and notice that
unless they return to work before p.
IN. tomorrow their places will be filled
by others.
Without a car running in the city or
to Naugatuck, Waterville or Oakville,
Waterbury passed a dreary and dam
gerous Sunday, with cold, pelting rain
overhead and glare of ice underfoot,
the rain freezing as fast as it fell The
snow-plow run to keep the tracks clear.
The only demonstrations of the day
were the pelting Of the snow plow with
stones and snowballs and the shouting
of "Scab!" by crowds in the east end
at those who were running the car.
The strikers posted pickets at the
railway stations to-day to intercept any
men who might be brought here to take
their places, and to persuade them to
leave town, but none appeared. To-
night the men held meeting and voted
unanimously to remain out.
Several labor bodies, including the
Central Labor union, met to-day and
endorsed the strikers. John J. Daley,
leader of the strikers, tonight declared
that every effort will be made by the
men to put down any spirit of violence
that may arise Feeling is already rum
ming high, however, and trouble is fear
ed when the company tries to operate