The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-04
MAY AVERT GENERAL STRIKE
SEVERAL CONFERENCES sCHED-
 ULED FOR TO-DAY.
Machinists, Car Workers, BIacksmiths. and steam Filters to Meet Vice Presi- dent Todd To-day-Expect That Conn pany Will oGer Concessions and Peace Ensue.

pany VIII ORer Concessions and Peace Ensue.
 There was feeling in certain circles last night that the strike of the sev- eral organizations of men on the Con solidated road would shortly come to a close with the road offering conces- sions less than those asked by the men and- the latter accepting to prevent a further widening of the breach which now exists.
 Yesterday was the day appointed for the committee representing the machin- ists to have conference with their Grand lodge officers, but for some req son these officers did not reach the city in time for the meeting and it was ac- cordingly postponed until to-day. At its conclusion if there is still a deter imitation among the machinists to strike the committee can order one, as they were chosen and endowed with power plenipotentiary It will be an unexpected turn, however, if the ma chinists decide to strike. because the men are not a unit for action of this nature. While they are in sympathy with those who are already out, yet there is a certain element which can be regarded as apathetic, and these will doubtless have much influence on the more radical Strikes have been de- clared, been won and lost many times over in the past few years, and there are many men, even though they may not be perfectly satisfied with the con- ditions existing or the environments of their occupation, that think twice be- fore they act, and consider the conse- quences in advance. There seems to be large element of the machinists who are of this makeup, and they are nov l than the others who have already { struck
 The meeting with the Grand lodge officials to-day will be one of import lance, and at it's conclusion there will be Q conference between the members of this committee and the officials of the Consolidated road. The outcome of this latter conference will be awaited with interest
 As far as the car workers and the boilermakers were concerned, yesterday
 was a day of quiet, while there was much activity in the vicinity of the shops The strike breakers were at work as usual, and their numbers were increased by men from out of town. There seems to be an abundance of material of more or less ability, and i the work is being carried on with much success.
 President Todd is scheduled to meet to-day several sets of representa- ltives of the various bodies now on strike or threatening, and the result of these meetings will determine to very great degree the extent and magnitude kof the strike in the future. The refusal of certain demands will, 1t is said, bring lnore men cut and increase the compli- cations.
 At the request of First Vice President Todd of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, the conference which The was to have held yesterday, was postponed until to-day. At the conclu- sion of the maehinists negotiations MT. Todd will receive separately the con- lmittees representing the car workers, 1 blacksmiths and steam filters. Among the members of the grievance commit tees more hopeful spirit seemed prev lalent yesterday. Some of the men ex- pressed much confidence that some con sessions would be granted, but said Ithey had not received any intimation from the railroad officials to chat effect.
 A strong opinion was prevalent in the loftice building of the road that the com lpany would decline to grant wage in-
 crease. It was said that the departure lof President Mellen last Saturday for a weeks stay in the west meant that he considered that the roads position
 had been sufficiently defined to the car
 workers and machinists' committees in
 previous conferences, and that there
 would be no deviation from that posi-
 tion. and no further concessions, the
 nine-hour day demand of the men hav-
 ing already been allowed.