The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-19
Sub Committee of Workmen To Confer Today With Of cia1 of the Company Agitators Are Hooted Down In Big Meeting.

Ansonia, Conn.,, Feb. 19- ''The strike in Ansonia will be settled without any clash" said Joseph GrohoI, the young man who by his knowledge of seven languages and his tact, has gained almost complete control over the 2,O0O or more striking laborers of the American Brass Co.,, after big strikers meet ing today
 We will have peace at any cost" he added, and then he stated that he had found by getting the committees of the several nationalities together that the strikers have found out that they had made a mistake, 1 that they are willing to be fair, 1 and that the officials of thei company, on the other hand, are willing to discuss the situ- ation. Grohol felt confidenti that the strike will end this af- ternOOn after the conference between a sub-comn1itte of the strikers genera committee and the company's officere. MT. Greno1 wanted tf-Bg point em- phasized that the actual number Of | strikers is about 2.O0o and that the additional 2.500 employees who are out are in enforced fdleness. The fact 1 that these latter did not resist the rush of the strikers saved the situa- tion-, ,Grohol also explained just what brought on the strike. It arose from a. misunderstanding over an increase in pay promised the Iaborers by the company last November.
 According to Grohol the company gave their Iaborers an advance of 2 1-2 cents an hour under an agree ment entered in November with the additional promise of an additional 1-2 cents effective February 14.l When the laborers got their pay en-l Velopes Tuesday and Wednesday they did not find in them the advance promised which additional wage would have been in the pay envelopes to 1 be distributed next week Tuesday and | Wednesday, This accounts for the or I6olnS on LnG part O. the men for a, strike.
 The action was started without any one having stopped to make an tn- quiry about the advance and with 1 practically every one of the 2,0O0 la5 4 borers believing that he had a person 1 al grievance. It was not until today's 1 meeting of the strikers that the cOndi- 1 tions were understanding1y explained l to the men.
 GrohoI was in control of this meet [ ing which was held in Sarsfeld, hal1s the place loaned to the strikers by Groho1 as the property is a, part of his fathers estate. The meeting be- gan early in the forenoon and lasted until nearly noon. There were from 800 to 300 present a general esti- mate.
 Before it started, half a dozen men who appeared to be agitators, began i to harangue the crowd but GrOhol l pushed his way to the front and or | dered them to stop, saying that he was, | not going to stand for any violence I or any plea for strife. He demanded l that these speakers stop and asked 1 stopped talking when the crowd i shouted to the effect that they would | be thrown out of the hall.
 GrohoI advised no drastic action as 1 he thought that the men, who were [ also strikers, had a right to stay but {
 
 they were on their general committee. < GrohoI suggested that the only speak ' CTS at the meeting be members of the , general committee. This plan was followed and the details of a confer ! ence were left with a sub -commtttee of eight, each member speaking a, diff ferent language.
 The guards which have been posted in the mills of the company have been taken off and will be duty only at night. The situation has improved so much that the company's officials felt Justified, they said, in letting the property remain unguarded by day
 Mayor Schumacher also expressed himself satisfied with conditions, feel ing that it was better to have peace officers here to handle the crowd, if necessary, than to bring in national guardsmen.
 GrohoI is 26 years of age and am actor He came from Pittsfeld, Mass. to look after the estate of his father who had just died. He was brought up in Ansonia and acquired knowI- edge of several languages. He never worked in the mills but knew person ally scores of the men who are now on strike. After leaving the AnsoniI High school he went to Phillips Exc ter Academy and Holy Cross College. For a while he worked in Pittsburgh and later in Detroit.