Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-24
THE GREAT STRIKE IS OVER.
The Philadelphia Street Car Men and
Their Employers
Come to Terms and Traffic Will Be
Resumed This Morning-John
Wanamaker and the Christian
League Instrumental in Bringing
About an Adjustment-Conces'
sions Made by Both Sides.


About an Adjustment-Conces'
sions Made by Both Sides.
Philadelphia, Pa, December 23.-The
great trolley strike is ended. This is
final.
John Wanamaker is the man who
| brought about the settlement, succeed
ing where others failed. He was aided
in the work by members of the Chris
tian League. The basis of settlement
follows:
"First-While the Union Traction
| Company will only treat with men in its
employ, it will allow them membership
in any lawful organization.
''Second-It will take up all griev-
ances and give them full and fair con-
sideration.
"Third-It will, so far as it has va
cant places, Immediately put on the old
men, and as fast as vacancies arise VIII
give preference to any of the old men
! yet unemployed and endeavor TO ar
range the trips of the cars to favor the
old men as far as possible without
violating its contract with the new
men,
The questions of compensation and
hours are left for future determination.
Concessions were made by both sides.
The battle has mainly been fought on
the question Of the employees member
ship in the Amalgamated Association
of Street Railway Employees, which the
company has persistently refused to
recognize. The new men, engaged since
the strike began, number nearly one
thousand. There were about 5000 str.k-
ers. They will report for work to-mor-
row morning.
Mr.. Wanamaker submitted the ideas
embraced in the settlement to the
strikers They accepted them and in
turn submitted them to the company.
| Considerable correspondence and many
conferences followed, and
LATE THIS AFTERNOON
announcement was made that both
sides had agreed to the terms. To
properly round out the matter a mass
meeting of the strikers was held to-
night for the purpose OF ratification
Here the strike was officially declared
off. all the leaders were called upon for
speeches, and there was veritable
love feast.
In consequence of to-days violence
it was thought advisable to delay the
RESUMPTION of railway traffic until to-
morrow morning. This ends what has
nrahablv been the most remarkable
| strike in the United States. 1t lasted
exactly one week and it cost the city,
the company and the strikers thou
sands of dollars. The loss in fares
alone TO the company is estimated at
s35O.OOO. apart from the destruction OF
| cars and other property. There mas
been considerable bloodshed, although
fortunately no fatal results. The bus
mess men of the city have been the
heaviest sufferers. The strike coming
in the midst of the holidays brought
UNPARALLELED disaster to shOpkeepers,
and much hardship of a financial ma
tue is anticipated. The most peculiar
feature of the strike has been the fact
that the public and the strikers nave
been almost as one-the first because
of the indignation resulting from the
recent abolition of free transfers ana
consequent increase Of fares IL was
undoubtedly this universal sympathy
for the strikers that encourageu the
hoOdlum element
TO COMMIT VIOLENCE.
Thomas Dolan expressed un1eigheu
ioy in the news. ITS just IN tiIne'
he said. I've been out Of town all day.
rbu. from the reports Of to-day's violence
I think II would have been necessary
to call out the militia tomorrow.
To-day was certainly the most vlo-
Ient since the struggle began, and for the
FIRST time the police shot to Kill. About
ten o'clock this morning a tremendous
crowd gathered at Eighteenth and Gil
rard avenue. and as the cars passed,
each with several policemen aboard, the
stones began to fly. A dozen or more
cars had been completely wrecked,
when the policemen opened fire. They
first fired into the air, but as the ST.
nation became more threatening, one OF
them fired his revolver into the crowd
VIM. II. Matthews, a striking motor
man. fell with bullet in his head ana
Samnel G. Crossley. a striking conduc-
TOR was shot IN the knee. Both are in
| 4 serious condition at the hospital.
| James Hartnett was shot in the arm and
| slightly injured. A number Of arrests
were made. Other riots. of more or less
violence. occurred in almost every sec
ton of the city. In one of these, H. f.
Graham. of 1856 Broadway, Brooklyn,
who admitted that he was an organiz-
er for the knights of Labor, was arrest
ed. He came here to work on a car,
but soon became a sympathizer and has
been very boisterous in eggng mobs to
| violence
Before final settlement was effected
counsel for the strikers filed an appli-
cation in court, asking for the appoint
ment of board Of arbitration. under
the act of 1898. This will probably be
| withdrawn.