The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-01-07
DID NOT LAST LONG.
Inc Big Strike on the Reading Raiiros
Ended Before tt was Fairly Begun
All the Employees Return TO Work
Different Reasons Given for the Gel
lapse.

READING, Pa, Dec. 27.-''The strike is
settled" These were the words which
came over the wires into the general of
fees of The Reading Railroad Company
IN this city at 3 O'Clock this morning
and there was great rejoicing all
along the company's lines in eonse
quence. 1t is believed that the action
OF the convention of employees in this
city yesterday in declaring positively
that they would not go on strike had
much to do with bringing about
settlement. Before daylight the
| members of every Knight of
Labor assembly on Reading Railroad
territory was notified to go to work and
there was an air OF activity about the
entire railroad which has not been no.
ticed for a week. 1t was nearly noon
when several score of engines were
gotten out of the round-houses at Potts
Vile, Reading, Pottstown and other
places and sent down the road to move
the side-tracked coal trains to Port Rich
mond. The cars between Reading and
Philadelphia Will first be moved. These
contain 10000 tons OF coal, all of which
Will be dumped on the coal WharYes by
the night. Freight trains were started
| earlier IN the forenoon. The business
community of the entire Schuylkill VAL
| ley reioices in the settlement of the
strike.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. 27.-The ex-
eculive committee of the Reading Rail
road Employees Assembly early this
morning after a secret session which
lasted several hours, decided to lift the
great strike on the Reading svs-
TEN, pending arbitration with the
company. The five crews over whom
the trouble originted are to be support
ed IN the meantime by financial aid
from the employees.
The decision 10 arbitrate was reached
after a conference with Supt. Sweigard
at his office last night. The committee
| then returned to their meeting place in
| Port Richmond and after several hours
| discussion decided to submit their case
/ 10 arbitration. IN the afternoon
motion had been carried to pro-
| pose arbitration to the officials.
| Mr.. Sweigard met the COM
mittee graciously and assured
| hem that such plan would be entirely
| agreeable to the Reading Railroad.
here were present fourteen members
| of the committee, representing all Sec
| tons of the road. The decision OF the
| Knights in Reading yesterday, not to
| strike, is supposed to have had some in
| 'uence upon the action of the board.
| One of the committees said this morn
| ing; We decided that it would be far
| better to pay the five striking crews
| their wages rather than jeopardiZe so
many interests at this city. Mr.. Swell
gard has always treated us squarely, and
we feel that we can trust him. All side
issues Will ne sunk, and only the main
| point dispute Will be erbitrated upon.
/
! the time or method of arbitration. That
will be settled at the convenience of
| both sides, but as speedily as possible.
| We have sent kilograms to all our as
| semblies to resume work at once We
| feel that the public will declare our de-
| cision q wise one, especially since the
| city might be so seriously affected at the
present time. We do notanticipate any
| Difficult in settling the matter"
| All trains are moving on the Reading
| Railroad this morning and no further
| trouble is anticipated. Nearly all the
| employees reported for duty promptly at
| Z o'clock at the various depot and freight
| yards, as well as those employed at the
! coal wharves at Port Richmond. The
| work Of moving the coal trains and
| transferring the coal from the cars to
! the vessels at the wharf was at once be-
| gun and there was very little evidence
! OF the great strike which for the past
! few days has threatened to paralyZe the
| business of the entire Reading Railroad
| system. Quite a number of employees
| in the various branches failed to report
| but the officials state that these have
| perhaps been celebrating Christm IS too
| enthusiastically and their places sill be
| kept open for them a few days.
| Gen. Supt. Sweigard said t, at the
| statement that he had agreed VI the
| Knights of Labor to submit questil rs in
| dispute to arbitration was Incorrect lie
! said that last evening a "nm ittee
| representing employees of the company
| called at his office and he talked
| with them briefly regarding the threat
| ened strike. He held out no induce
| mcuts TO the men, however, and would
| listen 10 no proposition which had for
| Is obs ct the reinstatement Of the men
| WHO had been discharged for refusing to
| deliver cars to Taylor's elevator. These
! mal lie SAID have been discharged and
/ VIZ never again be employed by the
| company.
General Manager Mcleod, Of the
| Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
| Company, this afternoon made
| the following public announce
| ment: The report that the
/ Reading Company had agreed to arbi-
| trate with it's striking employees IS ab-
| soiuteIy false. There is nothing to dis
! cuss, much less aTbitrate. The men dis
! charged were not and yiil not be taken
| back"