The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-06
CONFERENCE IN DETAIL.
Statement Given Out by the City Clerk
of Waterbury.

OF waterbury.
Waterbury, Conn.,, Feb. 5.-The state
ment of the proceedings of the confer
ence as prepared and given out by City
Clerk Ryan is as follows:
Those present were Mayor Kilduff,
City Clerk Ryan, J. H. Dillon of New
Haven, Colonel L. T. Burpee, counsel
for the Connecticut Railway and Light
ing company; the strikers executive
committee, consisting of Cornelius Hor-
gan, Howard Dennis and John e. Col
Inns, and six members of the Central
Labor union with which the Trolley
mems union is affiliated, John T. DAILY,
James Donahue, Jack Hackett, John
Dousette. A. B. Crosz. jr., and Fred J.
Weed. A member of the New England
Trolleymen's National Body was also
present. General Manager Sewell ac-
companied Colonel Burpee to the con-
ference, but departed before the confer
ence opened. - ai#
The discussion began by Colonel Bur-
pee being asked by one of the strikers
committee to state the position of his
company in regard to the demands
which the trolleymen had made. He
answered as follows: I'VE must begin
with the question of Barrett and Kelley.
The company will not reinstate them.
In the next place, the company is will
ing If Barrett and Kelley are dropped,
to take on, say twenty or twenty-five
of the old men to fill places now vacant,
If they will come in and make applica-
ton at once. AS to the balance of the
eighty men out, the company Is willing
to take them on as fast as 1t can find
places for them. The company will not
discharge men in its employ since the
strike began and will retain them as
long as they desire to remain which,
however, will probably not be very
long"
What guarantee will you give us,
or twenty-five men do go on, that the
balance of us would be put to work."
Colonel Burpee replied that he would
give no guarantee.
You mean that it will depend on
the honor of the company" was asked.
Yes; I suppose that it would depend
upon Manager Sewell."
In reply to a question, Colonel Burpee
stated that he had no more authority
than as a legal adviser of the company
to state sor them what they desired or
intended to do. and that so far as he
knew there would be no modification of
the terms as submitted by him. Asked
who had more authority he replied that
the directors had.
Colonel Burpee promised that if Bar
S,n%f Al
of the men went to work as suggested
he would use his best endeavors to
bring about a meeting of the directors
and the men for the discussion of their
other demands.
What would you advise us as a man,
not lawyer, to do, placing yourself in
our position?" the colonel was asked.
L would advise you to accept the
terms have presented was the ans
Wer.
Continuing, the colonel said that he
was present at the conference to dis
cuss the situation with g. committee Of
the trolleynen and their friends and
that he had no information as to what
positions any of the other gentlemen
occupied. IT, however, they had any
influence toward the settlement of the
strike he wished that they would use
it. II am willing to talk on this mat
ter al any time with reasonable men,"
he said.
Colonel Burpee refused to take up
any Of the other demands made by the
men upon the company.
The men then stated that they were
sorry to say that the conference was
unsatisfactory to them. AS one of the
committee expressed it, Even if we
did concede to drop Barrett and Kelley,
which we do not, we would not agree
to the taking back of only portion
of the men, We will go back in a body
when we do go back" Another mem
ber of the committee said that he would
rather carry hod than accept the con-
dition offered.
The conference throughout was har-
monious and there was no i'll hunor.
Colonel Burpee took occasion to tell the
committee that he thought the trolley
men had so far behaved themselves ex-
ceedingly we'll and he was glad to meet
them personally.
. o,4 Siv&I 3orS