Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-01-04
ALL HANDS AT WORK.
The Reading Railroad Strike Col


READING, Pa, Dec. N.-''The strike is
settled" These were the words which
came over the wires into the general Of
fees of the Reading Railroad Company
and there was great rejoicing all
along the company's lines in conse-
quence. It 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
a 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 wharves 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-
ecutive 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-
tenn, 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 to arbitrate was reached
after 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
to 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.
There 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
fiuence upon the action of the board.
One of the committees said this morn
ing; 1--WE decided that it would be far
better to pay the FIVE striking crews
their wages rather than ieopardize 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 pe sunk, and only the main
point dispute will be arbitrated upon.
We have not yet agreed 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 wise one, especially since the
city might be so seriously affected at the
present time. We do notanticipate any
Difficult y 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
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
lew days has threatened to paralyze the
business of the entire Reading Railroad
system. Quite number of employees
in the various branches failed to report
but the officials state that these have
| perhaps been celebrating Christmas too
| enthusiastically and their places will be
kept open for them few days.
Gen. Supt. Sweigard said that the
statement that he had agreed with the
knights of Labor to submit questions in
dispute to arbitration was incorrect. He
said that last evening a committee
| 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
ments to the men, however, and would
listen to no proposition which had for
its object the reinstatement of the men
who had been discharged for refusing to
deliver cars to Taylor's elevator. These
| men he said have been discharged and
will 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 alb
| solutely false There is nothing to- dis
cuss, much less arbitrate The men dis
charged were not and will not be taken
back"