The San Francisco call., 1895-12-23
.LULL IN HOST|L|T|ES,
Philadelphia Strikers OBJ
serve the Day Of
Rest.
PEACE OVERTURES MADE
Conference With the Traction
Company Extends Far Into
the Night.
TROUBLE EXPECTED TODAY.
Mayor Warwick SwearS In Additional
Policemen to Prevent
Rioting. y

| PHILADELPHIA, IA, Dec. ZZ.-rOr
| the first time since last Tuesday, when
the strike of the motormen and conduc-
tors of the Union Traction Company be-
gan, peace and quiet to-day reigned In the
streets of Philadelphia. This was due to
the decision of the traction company to
make no attempt to run any oil its cars TO-
day. This decision was adhered to. Since
Tuesday the police force of the city has
been on duty almost continuously and the
lull in hostilities to-day afforded the men
much-needed RESP.
The strikers held long meeting this
afternoon behind closed doors, and the
probable result of this meeting was seen
tonight, when committee representing
strikers and officials of the Union Traction
| Company held long conference at the
offices of the company. AT midnight the
result of this conference is still in doubt.
The strikers were represented on their
committee by President Mahon of the
Amalgamated Association of Street Rail-
way Employees, Chairman Lutz of the
strikers executive committee, George
Chance OF the Typographical Union and
George Griffith of the Christian League.
| When this committee presented itself at
the offices of the company the traction
officials refused to recognize Mr.. Mahon
| and Mr.. LutZ, and these two walked the
| street outside while Mr.. Griffith and Mr..
| Chance conferred with the railway people.
| A proposition was laid before the traction
officials and this was met by a counter
proposition. A long discussion followed
and at II 80 the strikers committee re-
turned to the strikers headquarters for
| further instructions.
| 1t is the earnest hope of the majority OF
the citizens of this city that compromise
of some sort shall be reached at once, as
the strike has already cost the city indi-
rectly hundreds OF. thousands of dollars.
Aside from the direct expense of the strike,
the retail holiday trade has been practi-
cally killed and the merchants of the city
are clamoring for an end.
John Lowber Welsh, president OF the
Union Traction Company, who has been
reported as being the man who has stood
in the way of ell attempts at arbitration
| through his absolute refusal to- recognize
| the Amalgamated Association of Stree
Railway Employees, tonight issued state
ment to the public giving his version of the
trouble, and claiming that there was no
dissatisfaction among his employees until
labor agitators stirred them up to strike.
Mr., Welsh practically declares in his state
ment that his company will never recog-
nize the Amalgamated Association, and
this may be the rock upon which to-night's
negotiation for settlement will split. Ii
settlement is not reached tonight the
company proposes to operate It's Market
and Chestnut street and Lancaster avenue
branches tomorrow at ali hazards.
In anticipation of further trouble to-
morrow the Mayor tonight swore in 500
more policemen, and these will give him a
force of 5000 men at his command Mayor
Warwick said to-day:
"As matters stand to-day my duty as
chief executive officer of this city is to
preserve the peace and order of this city,
and | will do this with all the force at
my command, and, if necessary, | will
bring to my assistance all the forces that
can be brought into requisition under the
law, 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"
Ifa settlement is not reached before morn
ing greater trouble may be expected to-
morrow. The spirit of bitterness against
| the traction company has increased and
the importation of men from other cities
has intensified this feeling.