New-York tribune., 1903-03-22
THE TTlfID VIGILANTES'
Merchants Working for Peace, but
Dreading the Boycott.

s,c+o7 this way a moment, please said water
bury business man the other day as. with an an
noyed lock On his face ne Ieo the way ~ ' ~
OF his store
.'You see" he explained &c the newspaper man
who had called on him. when he had gained
r,osjtIon where he could command view OF the
whole store merchants have 10 be little
careful what we say and who oyerhears II just Ut
this time. Why. the very walls have ears Ahese
clerks OF ours are all good fellows but tsc ~>A
union men One cannot overlook that fact you
know and every word spoken IN their hearing
AGAINST this strike or the strikers finds It's way
back &c labor headquarters Then the first thins
y. know we are bIacklisted and boycotted
The statement of this Waterbury merchant IL
,7,etrates the situation in that city as perhaps
nothing else can Feeling that the arm OF the law
IS rouerless 10 produce the sought for result the
merchants have been brought to realize that the
salvation Of the people rests with the people ana
sn their own way they have set about working OUT
their own salvation.
These Waterbury vigflantes are not gong ABOUT
fr masks on dark nights armed with reVolvers ana
rifles They are just plain. ordinary, everyday
business men, going about their affairs as II moth
ing were further from their thoughts than street
car strike But for all that they are just as Inuch
m the alert and are working together with as
much secrecy as their brethren of the South ana
Ir.e+ Who al :ir7es have been ed BY :he!r deter
natior TO protect all that g dear % them 20 re-
sort 20 revolvers masks snc -or's
What DO We purpose 10 doE' asid one mer-
chant We'll first OF all. shall not do any
thing rash We shall just go about our business
as il there were strike We shall just go ahead.
ride On the cars when need them and attend
strictly 20 business At the same time, Of course
we shall let no opportunity pass 10 bring about an
arnicabIe settlement of this difficulty
Put they are a hard lot to deal with There is
bullheadedness on both sides. Why, we have had
this thing almost settled. we thought. several
times and each time something has come up TO
knock st over You see the company will not take
back Barrett and Kelly. and that is the nucleus
OF the strike. Bat l beieye the time is near
when the strikers about ready to throw over
Barrett ard Kelly. They have stuck by them
Loyalty. but I believe they have had about enough
OF them Why, the last time got them together
they far as 10 say TO the company. What
VIII you do II will drop Barrett and Kelly?" But
when the company said, Take back twenty-five
men, they retorted. Not IN thousand years.. and
the conference was ali of. So there you are; what
can do? The strikers say they do not believe in
boyCotts, but they are boycottng US fellows now,
and have 90 be very careful.
Say what do they think Of Waterbury out
side. anyway? Must have us down for a lot of
thugs. Waterbury's bad fires and strikes. It
may sound rough. but think fire the lesser evil Of
the two"
The Mayor is all right" said another merchant,
when approached on the much mooted question Of
Mayor hfdun-s attitude toward the business in
terestS. ''KidII is with II ali the city officials
like him we'd be all right This news
paper talk about his being against is all hosh.
The trouble is with City Clerk Ryan. He is meet
ing with the strikers executive committee I tell
you the administration is handicapped in a way
outsiders little know Of. But you know. I'm tell
ing you this for your information. Don't men
zion my name in connection with it"
The Waterbury business deny he published
reports that they have effected any organization
for the settlement OF the strike.
There is Citizens Alliance" said one when
asked about the alleged mysterious organization
The only business mems organization that
know OF IN this city is the Waterbury Business
Mems Association. trade organization such as
NAV be found IN every city OF this size There is
no regular organization part with which to
aeht the strike We simply and determined
70 work together for that end. They can call it
what they Ike IS far as We concerned, but
the fact is that We have no regular organization
NO. 7 don't mind telling where got the
idea II came from Bloomington. Ill One of our
business men here has friend in business there
and knowing that the business OF that place
had been placed in a somewhat similar position to
ours rs an outcome Of labor troubles there he
corresponded with him to find out what they Gid.
He received letter in reply. explaining that the
business men Of that place. TO the number Of about
EaI hundred, organized Citizens Alliance which
was successful IN routing the boycotting unions,
and has developed into permanent organization.
II ig IN this that the name Citizens Alliance
became connected with this movement OF ours"
Although the merchants Of Waterbury are, as a
r1Iye guarded about expressing their opinion OF
the strike and strikers. except among themselves.
there are a few exceptions who believe that for
Learance has ceased TO be a virtue. One Of these
Is 4 wenzel leading mems furnisher. When
ne was called on by President Barrett, Of the
rtrfking troreymen's union. and asked. as were
o,be- business men, IL he attended the first meet
fnr for the consideration Of protective measures.
he frankly admitted he did So but when asked IL
he INTENDED TO do anything 10 harm the interests
of the laboring classes Of the city. he retorted:
.rNyona Of vour business! Good day. 30 quickly
chat the tuterroeator dazcd When the news
rot around. all sorts Of prophecies were made as
80 vhst would become Of Wenzsl's business but