The Connecticut labor press., 1919-06-14
O'MEARA OFFERS
 SERVICES OF THE
 MEDIATION BOARD
President of Connecticut Fedora tion of Labor Suggests
 Arbitration.
ANSONIA STRIKE GROWS
Uniformed Police Replace Depu-
 ties in Civilian Clothes. '" Mayor Mead Talks.

Especial to Connecticut Labor Press.)
 Ansonia, June 13.-President Patrick F. O'Meara of the Connecticut Fedora ton of Labor has offered the services of the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration to the employers in the Naugatuck Valley whose plants are un- able to run because of strikes that have been in progress during the week President O'Meara has been in com munication with many who are directly concerned in the labor troubles here and in Derby and adjacent towns. He in tends to go to Atlantic City next week to attend the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor. The state secretary of the Connecticut Fed eration, Ira M. Ornburn, has been at Atlantic City all the week. E. C.. HotchkiSs, business agent of the Ma Ghinists Union of New Haven. was here last night looking over the situa- tioE,. He told the, representative of The Connecticut Labor Press that the men on strike had a sort of shop 1aborers' union of their, own but they were not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor or with any other similar or ganization- l,F.l lYt. -t ,.3 rjN.-~..s't. ] The State Beard of Mediation and Arbitration is composed of George l.. 1OAt OA 4NCH TA1c.VSA4t, WET 1OA views on English policies and the Irish situation; Edward w, Broder of Hart ford and President O'Meara. The lat ter said. that he had heard from two manufacturers who thanked him for the offer of the services of the state board and said they would avail themselves of the opportunity If an occasion de- Veloped that was promising }.,Gf s,.r According to President O'Meara, the men on strike, have no regular union organization and he regarded this as. unfortunate! He said that many eff forts had been made to organize these employees so they could be prepared for just such an occasion as the present. The antagonism of the employers was in a large measure responsible for the failure of the men to be organized. If an agreement had been made between regularly organized trades unions and the employers the present troubles would be mlnimized or avoided alto gether. There was a similar trouble four years ago and since then the en- ,ployers have done nothing to bring about better feeling between the em- ployeesx and the bosses. rr F
 Sheriff Reilly was E determined that the workers who wished to enter the mills should be protected and a after warning the crowd that his men had no wish to inf1ict any injury, was prepared to turn a fire hose on the gathering. Mayor Mead addressed the crowd first. .@Xous cant fight us, sthe mayor said. We have 100 men now but we will get a thousand or fifty thousand if neces- sary. We will keep the peace at any cost. Obey the law and you will be protected YoE cannot interfere with these men here. Go to your homes and avoid fight with us. '
 The crowd of foreigners seemed to understand and dispersed. r
 It was announced today that the Americans Brass company will not use strike breakers no matter how exten- sive shutdown is necessary.
 The strikers committee of 1o issued a statement guaranteeing to keep order only If no outside police are used. The statemeht also warned the office work CTS of the American Brass company not to attempt to go tezwork after tornor- TOW, ~7,.. 7gs-,sE.e7s .-y. ..--....s.a
 President Broolxer said said that m t.urpd under no r circurnstances would the company bring matter, how long the shutdown lasted The statement was taken by the strikers as an ultimatum that the company in- tended stoS fight the demands of the strikers to the very, extreme. Close upon the statement of President Brook CT came the following which the strikers committee issued protesting against the 100 or more deputies and ex-so1diers who are protecting the mills and those who remained at work .,-.-..... .,>.s-..
 FtsWe, the strike committee guarantee that if the mayor keeps the outside police outside of Ansonia, we will keeC the city in peace. On the contrary, we will not be responsible. We also wish to tell the office help of the AInerican Brass company that the workers of the sofice after Friday the 18th, 1o19." 5 Derby, June he strike fever Which is raging Tn zaAnsonia spread tC this city when 89 foundry helpers in the Birmingham Iron Foundry quit work and tied up the rest of the plant, the en- tire factory being forced to close sdowr at noon yesterday About 400 work men are affected o The strike came a: the result of the decision of, the man agemett of the concern not to grant tht helpers demand of 65 cents an hour The helpers already get 40 cents al hour and want. ar hourly increase ot 25 cents. ---. ..~--- .-...~
 The strike is the first one to occur infDerbys in some time although it ha been consistently Ert1rnored since the be ginning of labor hostilities i'll Ansoni; that the mills in Derby and Shelter would be affected eventually.
 7nvc4s y5nE ---[z n# .s.q.1s Seymour, June 13.-The strike con ~ ditions at the Seymour Manufacturin, company were unchanged today. Tn strikers resent the going in of the off1c force and several we're kept out thi morning. The strikers claim the oflc force is packing fittings. At the meet ing the strikers voted not to let gov ernment agents remove material iron the factory t,,.A committeeman said h had been to see government 0fflcia who had replied that the. governmen would take the arnaterial anyway, ,.s Al the workers agreed to contribute $l j week to assist any needy striker. Tn strikers,1twere asked to hold togethe without union organization. They ar anxious also to keep out all T. "