The Connecticut labor news., 1922-12-01
THEATER STRIKE IN MERIDEN
 IS SETTLED
Musicians and Stage Hands Return . to Work and Community Playhouse
 Is Now Strictly Union Amuse-
 ment Resort.
Especial to The Labor News.)

l Special to The Labor News.)
 Meriden, Dec. I.-Thanksgiving
 had a special significance to the
 union workers here, for 1t marked the
 actual settlement of the differences
 between the Community Playhouse
 and the musicians and stage hands,
 who have been out on strike for sew
 eral weeks. The trouble was adjust
 ed several days ago, but it>was yester-
 day when union musicians again
 assumed their places in the orchestra of this commodious theater and the
 house was actually bona fde union theater.
 | Some few days ago Manager
 McMahon, whom it is alleged was re- sponsible for the unfortunate mixup, | was relieved of shis position and promptly left the city. He was suc-
 ceeded as managed by Frank c. King | and H. L. Hedger as managing di-
 rector. One of these gentlemen drop ped into the barber shop of Thomas Davis and casually inquired relative to the theatrical situation in Meriden. Now Tom" as his friends all know him, Is a genuine, dyed in theNwoo1 union booster and it did not take him long to inform the stranger what a shame 1t was that the people of the city could not enjoy the delights of the Community theater. When asked the reason he was not at all back ward in coming forward and he out Tined the situation in no uncertain manner.
 When he learned who his strange 1a arf that something should be done and was more than delighted when he learned that Mir King was mem Der of the Musicians Union and that MT. Hedger was at one time union worker It did not take long to ar
 range a conference with the officials of the Central Labor Union and after that progress made made rapidly. The Musicians Union IS not affiliated with the Central Labor Union, but this fact was not even considered A definite piece of work was to be accomplished and it was started in most work manlike manner.
 As result 1t took little time to arrange for the returning to work of the union stage hands and an agree ment was made to employ a union orchestra, but 1t was not until yes terday that they assumed their form CT places, several matters of detail having to be worked out before they could renew their activities in accord ance with fixed rules and regulations.
 But the Central Labor Union ofic- ials did not stop with the musicians and stage hands They believed in completing the job once they had started, so it was arranged and agreed with the management that all print ing was to bear the union label, that any repairs or alterations that might be necessary should be done by union Workmen and that all other work in the conduct of the theater should be performed by union workers.
 Is 1t to be wondered at that the union men and women of Meriden considered yesterday as particular 1y bright and happy Thanksgiving?
 This splendid piece of work on the part of the Central Labor Union and Tom" Davis is an accomplishment of which they may justly be proud and is one which is sure to bear fruit other than the harvest already gathered. It demonstrates what can be accom- plished once determined men and women set their mind to accomplish definite purpose.