The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17
BRIDGEPORT STRIKERS LOSE.
TROLLEY COMPANY RESI- les
THE RUNNING or CARS.
Members OF the Union Desert and Go to
Their POsts--N0 Violence Shown,
hut the Company Is Preparing for II
RECOGNITION OF the linton Reject ed.

-Rec0GnitiOn or the Union Reject ed.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, May ia-The strike
Of the 200 trolley men in the employ of the
Connection, Railway and Lighting Com
pany which started at midnight on Thursday
developed into considerable Of fizAle
this afternoon, when the company resumed
/ the running of cars from this city to STRAIT
ford and to other places near the city,
! with men who deserted the union. There
was no disorder Of any kind. and the situa-
ton is such as to warrant the assertion
that the company has won n victory over
the strikers.
From the beginning Of the trouble. the
company has showed a disposition to do
everything reasonable to avert trouble.
But the strikers made such unreasonable
demands that the company took firm
stand and planned campaign of action
which has had early results. The com
pany's fairness can be realized from the
fact that il made no effort to run any cars
yesterday. although /, had applications
from twent y-fve Of the strikers for rein
statement. and last night informed com
miltee of the strikers hat II would max"
no effort to run any cars until after con-
ference arranged for this afternoon.
When the strikers CDmnit'R" met Gen
eral Manager Sewel of the company az his
Office this afternoon. the "ommi5 eemen dH-
Cared that they represented the Bridge
port branch Of the Amalgamatsd Associ-
alton Of Street Railway Employees of
America.
AS have previously informed you.
/, said Mr.. Sewcll, Il shall do no business with
| the representatives. OF til Amaigamated
| Association. but am willing To deal with
YOU men As a committee of o,lr employees
/ and talk the situation over with a view
| toward n settnnent
| The committee insisted upon recogni,,
ton, but Mr. S.awell remained firm. and all
further negotiations ceased. Within an
! hour after the conference the company had
! six cars running between Bridgeport and
, Stratford, the nearest suburb on the east
! Of the city. The presence of former MEM
! beers Of he union on the cars was surprise
! to the strikers. The men who returned to
work say that al the last meeting they voted
! against a strike because they are satisfied
| with their treatment at the hands oi the
company
The company issued this statement
| to-day
"On April Is. the company replied to the
requests OF it's employees. in which il made
several important concessions. Nothing
further was heard Of it until Thursday
morning May II, 1919, az q IS O'Clock when
general manager and presented tho Identical
, requests which had been made before AMI
to which the reply, Of April IS was directed,
coupled with tlfe' sddit ional requirements
that one Thomas Mcclure. who had been
discharged as a motorman, should be
reins'ated with full pay. The commit ee
said they must have an answer by I o clock
that evening At O'Clock in the afternoon
they were informed that the company
had yielded all it could when it made the
concessions set o,it in the letter of April
-, except that in view OF the almost prncti-
cal unanimty Of opinions among the en-
ployee- tina, an Injustice had been done
Mcclure. a reconsideration would be given
in his case.
without further notice, and in fact
without any notice to the company, the
1t rikr> was pur into effect the next morning
/ by the men failing 70 report for work. Tn"
Connecticut Railway and Lighting Com
panv recognizes the rights Of all to obtain
The best price they can for their labor.
1t recognizes the rights of laboring men
to combine for their protection and for the
+ pMrpose at obtaining the best price they
can secure for their services
make, On the other hand, the Connecticut
Railway and Lighting G. mp1ny is under
obligations to the public 10 operate its
street railway lines and to furnish service
TO all who wish to ride.
1T intends to operate its cars and will
operate it- cars without delay and will
fulfil is obligations unless prevented
from doing so by violence.
While there have as yet been no strike
breakers brought into the city. the company
is preparing for siege. Arrangements
are being made in the cal barns for furnish
ing the men with beds and rations. Ar
rangements have been made on the outside
with contractors who will supply the COM
pany with the needed number of dishes.
knives, forks and spoons, and the com
pany is making plans so that II the contro-
versy develops into bitter fight there will
be provisions for the employees readily
oht oil bio