The morning call., 1894-07-10

chants on Saturday that the strike had got
beyond control of the local men, and that
it would be useless for his people to dis
cuss arbitration. But the merchants had
been very determined in the matter and
had succeeded in prevailing upon Roberts
at least to meet with them as the railroad
people had done on Saturday.
At about 1890 o'clock the doors were
again opened to allow Roberts and Walton
10 pass out, and inciden tally to permit an
observer to catch a guess at what had
transpired. If faces are any indication of
what passes in the mind then some tangi-
BILE result was reached by the conference.
Roberts and Walton left with some definite
purpose evidently in mind. Half an hour
later the general meeting broke up with
such expression written on the faces that
one would easily imagine proposal had
been discussed and formally presented,
decision on which was to be laid over I'M
til another conference.
From a talk with III. P. Jones of the
press committee it was inferred that the
merchants are endeavoring TO effect q
compromise in this manner: At all hazards
local traffic must be resumed, regardless of
the issue at Pullman. The merchants of
San Francisco therefore ask the Southern
Pacific Company to state the conditions
under which it is willing to resume SER
vice. The answer 10 this has already been
given by Mr.. TOwne. who says that the
company stands ready at any time to run
trains that do not require Pullmans. This
can be done on all local lines. With this
as the ultimatum of the railroads. the
merchants ask the strikers the conditions
under which they will consent to move
local trains not requiring Pullmans. It is
supposed that in this re3pect the mer-
chants made definite proposition to the
strikers, and that Mr.. Roberts agreed to
receive it and take it 10 Oakland for con-
ference with his fellows.
If this is true. then one may expect that
within two DAYS at most the railroad and
strikers will be brought to make mutual
concessions. They would be that the
railroad waive it's contention for Pullmans
on all local trains, and that the strikers de-
clare the strike off on the same pending
the final settlement.
Mr., Jones would not assert that this was
the plan of the merchants, but intimated
freely that some such thing must be done
L. j. Roberts and George Walton
were met on leaving the chamber, and
although a diligent effort was made TO
gain light on the situation, both positively
refused to volunteer any information re-
garding what had transpired.
1--WE were simply asked to appear before
the committee for the purpose of placing
the action of the union before them in a
proper light" said Mr.. Roberts. 1--WE
made no propositions of any kind, and
have not the least knowledge of what ac-
ton, if any. they intend taking. | pre-
sumo our people would be willing to meet
any reasonable proposition tending to-
ward arbitration as means Of solving
the difficulty, but am not aware that this
is the motive of the committee"
He said that the stand of the Union as
explained to the committee was substan-
italy the same as has been heretofore
published, with the exception of few
minute details acted upon in a secret ses-
sion at recent meeting in Oakland, the
facts of which be refused to make known.
George Walton was equally non-com-
initial, and although it was quite evident
from his remarks that he knew what action
was to be taken by the committee, he posi-
lively refused to reveal even the slightest
information touching on the matter