Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-11

bv t.he people against the employment oT pon-IlraIOn men on the cars. Not vvithstaneing that every inducement possible has been given by the company to the people at large to ride on fhe cars. they have still refused. EVery kind of protection has been given the company, still they run almost empty cars. Even free tickets nave been offered. but only the factory fore men have accepted these, and i'll some cases even that inducement has been ignored One foreman when offered free tickets replied that he seldom rode before the strike and free tickets was no mducement to ride under the changed conditions, and that when he felt like riding he would ride and pay his way Neither he nor the company were under any obligation to each other and he proposed to remain inde- pendent for the present Even with sheriff riding on the cars the passenger traffic has not increased per ceptibly.
 In another way the strike is unique: Never before in any disturbance of labor have the strikers gone into busi- ness on their own hook, fought their employers on their own business lines. In all the big trolley strikes that have disturbed the country from time to time such feature as this took no part in it. Here the strikers have got down to business on their own account. and althoug they are not making any thing'' on it. they are accommodating the people, which is the main thing in volved. for the people are standing by them and they felt in duty and honor bound to do all that lay in their power for the people.
 Two more buses arrived last even ing from New Haven. They are far better vehicles in every respect than any of those employed by them, and a third was expected today These were built for the business they will be put to, and if it turns out that the num- Der now engaged is insufficient more will be hired. Bye and bye the strik- CTS say number of automobiles will be sent on from their headquarters to take the place of the buses,
 The company have employed a new dodge during the last few days to de ceiye the people into riding Hitherto, it may have been noticed, that the noon traffic was confined to a few cars, but during the past few days it seemed to have increased somewhat It trans pires that those who ride on free tick. cts were given the tip to scatter themselves among the ears So that the passenger traffic would look larger than when carried in one or two cars. Deputy sheriffs have been engaged to, ride at the noon hour also, thus giving the public the impression that great many people had changed their minds on the issue involved in the strike and turned over to the company's view of 1t.
 At one of the principal places where tickets are sold, Dexter's drug store. sometimes the sale in q day would amount to $100 Since the strike how ever, not one dollars worth of tickets has been sold. This is unquestionably the best and the greatest indication of the temper of the people on this strike. Hereafter the few people who ride on the Bank and North Main street line can play checkers with their noses on the windows A wire netting has been placed over the windows on the outside, undoubtedly for protection to the glass The first car thus rigged.up made it's aDpearance this morning.
 Whats the meaning of that?" asked bystander.
 "It means" said the non-union con- ductor, That there's a good man in charge"
 "A darned bad one, you mean'' said, voice
 The purpose of the netting is plain, but it is doubtful if it would prove eff fective, as it is very near to the win dow ard the pressure that heavy stone thrown against it would cause would certainly break the glass. It may be tried on all the cars.
 But the strikers say that if Manager Sewell intends protecting the car win dows in this. manner he should have put the netting on the inside, for since the riot some of the glass that has been broken was broken from the in- side That means that the damage was done by the men in charge of the cars One of the strikers said an investiga- ton of the damage done since the riot would show that mostly all the glass fell outward when a window was broken. showing that the blow was dealt the window from the inside of the car.
 The cars are running in a very indif- ferent way and the management of the men in charge is sIovenly. Last night two or three cars bowled into Exchange place with the trolley ropes dragging on the ground, whereas they should be clean and taut from the apparatus over the headlight. as they always were be :. fore the strike. One of the Bank street cars had the rear fender down and another had the rear headlight haring. These matters were brought to the attention of the men responsible @y other crews and thus they escaped notice by Superintendent Sewell. It appears also that the seats are not re- versed when the cars leave Naugatuck. At least on two or three cars last event ing they were not reversed. However, 1t made no practical difference what way they were, for there was no one riding.
 The situation was very quiet last evening. A window in a Wateryille car was broken and car on the South Main street line was stoned but escaped damage These are the only incidents of the evening that were reported.
 The bus that went down to Nauga- tuck at 10 o'clock last night carried a