The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-12-23
THEY Y.ARE HELD AS PRISONERS
Statement of Man Who Went Ia
Philadelphia to Work.
BY FALSE PRETENSES
He Claims That Men Secured in New Eng
land Were Deceived as to the Nature
of the Work Expected Of Them.
New Men offered SO so Day.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 8.-Philadelphi-
ans were greatly disappointed when it be
came known that President John Lowber
Welsh, of the Union Traction company.
refused to rattfy the agreement that had
been supposed TO end the great street rail
way strike The agreement was made on
the authority of Thomas Dolan, a director
and heavy stockholder in the company,
and was believed to be binding When
Mr.. Welsh, however, issued a statement
saying that the company would ''retain
l,OOO new men already secured" and
would take back only $500 of the $500
strikers, practically at the company's
terms, the strike was on again. Saturday
was made memorable by several riots
which resulted in the smashing of many
car windows and numerous arrests.
AT "a late hour last night the strike situ-
alton was apparently unchanged but the
air was full of all kinds of rumors. No at
tempt was made to run cars during Sun
day Many conferences were held on both
sides, but no statements were given out.
At the West Philadelphia station of the
Market street line small army of new
men are confined They were brought
here from Boston and other New England
cities to take the places of the strikers.
soon after their arrival one man became
dissatisfied and left. To the strikers he
SAID That all the men would leave, but
That they were practically prisoners. They
claim they were led to believe that they
were wanted to open new trolley line
here, and upon learning the truth became
dlsgusted and wanted to leave, but were
not permitted. The Boston man declared
that he had to fight his way through a
crowd of traction employees to reach the
door. The strikers aver that they will
take legal action to secure the mems re-
lease
Henry f. Graham, of Brooklyn, who was
brought here to work, made an affidavit
statlng that the company is Offering the
new men $3.50 day while they refuse the
old ones So.
Mayor Warwicklast night issued the fol.
lowing statement: "As matters stand my
duty as the chief executive officer is to pre-
serve the peace and order of the city, and
Will, with all the force at my command, do
this, and If necessary l will bring to my
assistance all the force that under the law
can be brought into requisition, be it state
or national. Life and property shall be
protected by the strong arm of the law.
Lawlessness is anarchy, and that will not
be permitted under any circumstances. "
John Lowber Welsh, president of the
company, this morning issues lengthy
statement to the public 1t rciterates the
companys determination TO ignore any
outside organization, and lays the blame
for the strike and its consequences upon
parties who had no connection with the
company Then Mr. Welsh rehearses the
events of the past few days, deploring the
violence, and explaining the inability of
the company to discharge the new men
they have taken on since the strike begun.
The executive committee Of the strikers
was in session all afternoon, and last
night sent subcommittee Of five en-
ployes to confer with General Manager
Beetem. Attorney Stel enson instructed
them to use their best efforts to effect u
settlement, and if they failed, to try and
make arrangements for arbitration.
John Wanamaker called on the mayor
last night and was in conference with him
for a long time.
Many of the most prominent clergymen
of the city discussed the strike from the
pulpit yesterday, and while deploring
violence, were almost unanimous in up
holding the demands of the men and con
demning the action of the company.
The strikers had uniformed men in all
parts of the city soliciting subscriptions
from door to door. The strike leaders as
sert that fully 100000 people have prom
ised not to ride ON the cars of the com
pany, and had contributed to the fund so.
licited. Between $1,000 and 5000 was re
allied, and contributions are still coming
in.