Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-24
STREET RAILWAY STRIKERS Accept a Proposition From the
 Traction Company.
 PHILADELPHIANS ARE GLAD
Seven Days of Danger and Inconvenience
 Caused
SEVERAL STREET RIOTS YESTERDAY
Nineteen Hundred Men Out of Employ ment, the Majority of Whom Will Leave the Clty-Three Rioters
 Sentenced.

Philadelphia, Dec. 23-After lasting seven days the runous strike of the mo- tormen and conductors of the Union Traction company came to an end to- night by the employees accepting the terms of the company. The men struck for a working day of ten hours, $2 per day and the recognition of the Am9iga- mated Associa tion of Street Railway Elm ployes The terms of the agreement are as follows:
 Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 23, 1895. To the Committee of the Employes of the Union Traction Company, Philadel- phia, Pa.-
 Gentlemen: Considering your proposi- tions seriatim would say first that we do not propose to govern the membership or connection of any employe with any lawful association; but such connection with such association of any character whatever must not enter into the rela- tions between any employees and the company, and cannot be recognized in the business conducted between us
 2. That any grievance of whatever character that any man or men may have will always be considered fairly and promptly before such men and the offi- cers of the company, and the company will afford such men opportunities to examine the records-of such employees to their entire satisfaction.
 B. We accept your statement that all men discharged since December 10, 1895 (except those discharged for just cause), will be renStated upon examination or the records of such employees, the com mittee representing the employees to fur nish the list of those they believe to have been unjustly discharged, and the men allowed to divide the runs, other than the runs laid out for the present employees, meaning those who have entered our-ser- vice since the evening of December F.
 The above proposition, I think, should be accepted by the employees, and will be cheerfully accorded by the management. Yours very truly,
 J. R. BEETEM,
 General Manager.
 The committee on behalf of the em- ployes, in their acceptance of the terms laid down. asked, however, that because of the losses already incurred by such large body that the president, directors and managers of the Union Traction company will endeavor to find an honor able settlement of all contracts with new men, so that the old men may find em- ployment as soon as possible, and until such time they will equalize the employ ment of all the men as far as possible.
 The settlement of the strike is the re- suit of numerous conferences throughout last night and today between the execu- tive committee of the strikers and Union Traction company officials Propositions and counter propositions were made each side until the agreement decided upon was finally reached. Throughout all these conferences the Union Traction company absolutely refused to recognize any one in the negotiations but Its own employees, and the officers of the Amal- gamated association were not permitted to ha time The victory is with the company. The company has all along publicly stated that 1t was at any time willing to grant respectful hearing to any grievances that Its own men might have, but that 1t would rec ognize no association. The only point partially gained by the men was the un- official recognition of it's association on the other (which they struck for) they have gained nothing and are worse off by weeks salary and the occupation and the places of 1900 of them. These 1900 new employees will have the prefer ence in the runs of the cars and the old mrn will have to act as shippers tex tra men) All of the 1900 new men will not remain here, as @ majority or them were simply supplied during the strike by contractors. Still some 200 or 300 of the new men will remain here perma- nently.
 At a mass meeting of the strikers to- night the agreement entered into by their executive committee with the Traction officials was ratified. The conclusion or the strike will be greeted with joy by citizens of all classes.
 The disturbances in the streets the danger of riding in the cars. the incon- venience of walking long distances, and the enormous financial loss to the city has made the strike the most disastrous ever known in Philadelphia. The Christ mas shopping trade was killed, and di- rectly and indirectly it is fair esti- mate that the seven days strike cost the Traction company, it's employees and the merchants of Philadelphia $2OOO0Oo
 Aside from the satisfaction caused by the settlement of the strike from busi- ness standpoint, 1t is most fortunate that if has come to an end, as lawleSsnesS and outbursts were on the increase and were each day that the strike continued be- coming more serious. The disturbances in the treets today were worse than any day since the strike began. The company started out more cars on its various lines this morning than at any time since the start of the strike With the exception of the Market and Chest nut lines there was hardly car on any of the other streets that started that did not return to the car barns in shat tered condition. In every section Of the city the cars were stoned and the motor men, conductors and policemen guarding them cut and bruised by brlckS ana other missiles.
 The various squads of policemen sta- tioned at central points were kept busy hurrying to and fro to disperse the mobs that were assaulting cars. The most serious disturbance of the day occurred at Seventeenth street and Girard avenue. Here a big crowd attacked car guarded only by two policemen. The assault by the mob upon the car was vigorous and determined and it seemed as if the mo- torman and policemen would be killed. Finally when Policeman Usherback had had his wrist broken and his head cut open with brick, he drew his revolver and fired into the crowd. William H. Matthews, a striking motorman. was shot in the head and Samuel c. Crossley was shot in the knee. As soon as the police man opened fire the crowd scattered and