Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1903-02-28
LINEMEN, TRIMMERS AND OFFICIALS HAVE CONFAB
Company Offers To Take Tmmers Back Old Payhey Refuse To Go
Backh Company Considers Lnemen As Discharged And Not
On Srke--Thus The Trouble Piles Up, And The Pub
lie Sufers-Srikers Executive Committee
Ina Joking Mood Issue The
FOrty-Ninth Statement

Last night by request Of Superin-
tendent Meth, a committee composed
of the striking linemen and trimmers
waited upon him at the office of the
trolley company on Bank street. When
they entered Mr. Oviatt remarked that
he understood the session was to be
for trimmers only and politely request
ed the representative of the l1nemen TO
Retire. Then followed conference
between Messrs Meth and Oyiatt ana
the trimmers during which the whole
subject was talked over and when they
got to the end Mr. Meth Informed them
that their jobs were stu open to them
if they cared to go back at the old
rates. So far as the linemen We're
concerned Mr. Oyiatt said that he did
not consider them on strike, that they
were discharged men. 1t is under-
stood that the linemen claim that they
struck on account of non-unlon Tore
man being placed over them. Inc
trimmers submitted the proposition at
a meeting held in their rooms later IN
the evening and it was unanimously
voted not to accept it. The men ac-
cepted Mr. Neth's invitation TO cali
upon him with the notion that there
was going to be some sort or COM
promise offered them, but Wnen Ihey
heard what the superintendent had TO
say they made up their minds Inat
some one must have told him that they
were weakening and would be Wiling
10 return to work on any conditions.
The men consider the positions no
good at the old rates and have decided
not to return to work unless the com
pany does better by them. The trlm-
mers know that the company will IND
it very difficult to fill their places as 1t
is a risky job and many who would be
willing to try the trolley business
would not think Of climbing an electric
light pole.
A few lights of glass were broken in
the trolley cars last night, but the
number was very small compared with
what the strike breakers say The
new men can tell some whoppers, as
the Naugatuck police found out yes
terday when the strike breakers re-
ported that mob attacked them be
low Union City in broad daE3ialat The
police investigated the case and could
find nobody who had heard of such
an occurrence.
People who live in the vicinity OF
the car barn feel very much aggrieved
at the goings on that take place daily
before their eyes. They think 1t was
a great mistake that the police neg
lected to call at just one more house II
that neighborhood last night and give
| the tenants and their visitors an oppor
| tunity to air themselves in court will
| the others this morning. But the peo
| pie are thankful for what has beer
done and hope the officers will make
occasional visits to the vicinity Of tn,
| iron bridge and in this way keep tht
! element that has come in here since
| the strike under control If not tn.
others will have to get out.
The strike situation is still un
changed. People have given up tht
notion that it can be settled by arbitra
tion, and on this account nothing i!
| being heard about propositions from
any source looking towards an adjust
| ment of the difference The COMPANY
| is having pretty hard time keepins
| its men under control at the car barns
| and IT they keep on disobeying orders
Boss Farley will have to. employ hal
dozen assistants, although 1
Is pretty generally admitted
| that the crowd has whole
some dread of 'Our JIM" as some O.
| the strike breakers term the ''boss'
when his back is turned, but thew al
know enough not to call him anythin.
but Mr. Farley" when he is within
hearing distance of them. The 'boss'
turned up some fellow the other night
and when his chum tried to plead fo
him he, too, got his walking papers
/ Farley paying him what was comm,
to him and then giving him the bounce