New Britain herald., 1916-05-23
STRIKERS PRESENT
 DEMANDS TO R. & E.
Want 25c More for Day Workers;
 400 a Pattern for Piece Work LEADERS ADVISE PEACE
Caution Men Against Creating Any TroubIe-Company Officials 'Not at Home"-PreSident Thomson Says Thirty-Seven Are Out.

Home''-President Thomson Says
 Thirty Seven Are Out.
 Light appeared today on the strike horizon, when the committee repre- senting the fifty moulders and helpers of the Russell & Erwin Manufactur- ing company who walked out yester- day afternoon, formally presented their demands tos the company officials, after. a meeting held in Skritulsky's hall on Broad street. The spokesman for the strikers stated to a reporter this noon that the committee was met in a cordial manner by the officials who, after reading the demands, agreed to arrange for a satisfactory settlement. However, some of the strikers were prone to decline the com pany's promises and went into session again this afternoon to debate further on the matter. The more level head ed members of the strikers ranks were apparently satisfied with the offer of the company.
 The Demands.
 According to the information gleaned by a reporter, the men asked for a twenty-five cent increase for day workers and labOrers and an in crease of forty cents on a pattern for the piece workers. The company, it is reported, readily agreed to accept the demand for the twenty-five cent in crease but demurred against the forty cent increase, considering it excessive and out of reason. It was the latter proposition that caused dcIay in reaching a satisfactory agreement.
 The strikers have differed somewhat in their actions, compared with methods employed by Workmen who walked out during the memorable up- rising in the factories last summer. No disorder Or attempt to congregate at the factory gates was noticed today, the men preferring to discuss their de- mands behind closed doors in a thor ough and systematic manner. Com posed for the most part of foreigners, the men evince some of the tea yhings that have been expoundod by labor leaders in this city during the past winter, warning against unnecessary trouble and expounding the good re- suits that can be obtained through proper methods.
 Keeping the News LiI On.
 That the spirit of fear that exists among the manufacturers was shown in the slight labor trouble yesterday, when, from general appearances the officials of the Russell & Erwin com pany, took all precautionary methods possible to keep from the public the news of the strike. Up to- this 1norn- ing efforts to locate Superintendent Scott proved unavailing, the reporter who called at the office being informed by the telephone operator that the nobody home" sign was still in oper- ation.
 General Manager Hawley was sought by the reporter but the latter was referred to the offices of the Am 1 erican Hardware Corp, where, on his arrival, he was informed that Mir. Hawley was not on the premises
 The most courteous treatment af- | forded the news gatherer was tendered | by President H. c. M Thomson, who, | in a frank statement, admitted that l about thirty-seVen of the employees l had walked out yesterday He also | said that the officials were Ignorant of l what was wanted in the form of de- | which was later found to be 1 absolutely correct. It had been ru- mored that when the men left the foundry yesterday, the cupulo had | been left full of molten iron which, after becoming hard, did damage that would take at least five days to re- pair but this was denied by MT. Thom- son and confirmed by the strikers.