The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-03

Declared al an Early Hour This Morning
story of the Day.

PHILADELPHIA. PA. Jan. "a
strike has been declared on the lines OF
the Union Traction Company 70 go on
this morning.
PHILADELPHIA. PA, Jan. An
otnar sfrfks Of The employees of the Union
Traction Company Is now seemingly IN
evitable. All euorts at comyfohtas
between the company ana the men Is eng
cd ana IL now rests with the men ~
10 % clock the men began mass-Ineetils'
ana a. the poll OF the road, taken To-
day, showed a large majority IN ldEoI
OF striking, the result OF the mass-hice''"s
seems a iOregonc Conclusion.
To-day. when another strike seemed "a
probability. the TegnDe Society, me uhle
Versal Peace Union. and Il number on
other gentlemen who are interested III
the welfare OF the city. visited and wrote
Ia the headquarters OF the Amaisamdtcd
Association. cOuuseiiing moderation ana
advising the men against another strike
A. far as is apparent these efforts nave
been thrown away. The men demand OF
tne company that it abrogate the clause
I'm its latest agreement submitted 10 them
mat ia the futuTe ali new men VINO are
taken on the road shall be IN no wa!
ahtIfatea or connected with, directly or
indirectly. any labor organization. rms
clause tile company has frmiy declined 10
Nfter the poll of the road to-day was
known another committee or the men
called upon General Manager bectem 70
make lUHt appear 20 MN 10 tii'Nli.'N'
the Obfet tiQnabie ciaufe for over TWO
hours MIR Beetem and the committee us
cussed the matter together. thc discus
sion was made amicably, but botn slues
were firm. Mr.. Beetem stated to the men
that the company would dlscnarSe hoiic
OF it's present employees for belonging 10
tho Amalgamated Association OF kall-
way Employees, that IL would hear any
grievances OF the men, ana that IL would
deal equitabiy with them but that II was
uuaiterably determined not TO allow us
| employees TO dictate 10 IL in me matter
under discussion.
H. warned the committee that If an
other strike took place the burden or any
| disturbance and trouble that W0aid toi
/ low would bee upon the men, ana tnAl
the company would hght them 70 tHr
death. no matter what the cost ana thae
not a man who struck would ever be
given employment on the road again lie
/ begged the committee for the sake or
| the men and their families, 10 DO all ia
| their power &c avert 4 strike.
The committee was impressed by Ali'
| Beetems words. aId they promised nm
that they would use every argument tney
| could TO persuade the men not 10 stflhe,
! hut they had very little hope or success
/ They asked Mr.. Beetem to come "ith
| them 10 the mass-meeting and ,alk 20
/ the men as he had talked 20 the com
! n'ttee. Mr. Beetem said mat personally
/ he would be- only too glad 70 20 among
| his men, but mat II ne went hls pres
/ cnce would be miscOnstrued. and that ne
I MUNaU l' iltNAriAN ~ '' 'ttN''
| general manager OF the cOmpanyand
| that therefore he could not agree 10 al
| dress the mass-meetins BEFORE inc
! committee departed Mr. Beetem toid
| them that he would wait Al his ONCE uh-
! I'D 1 O'Clock tomorrow morning 10 learn
| The result OF the mass-meeths. Inc
] committee was accompanied on IT'S Nlsll
! TO Mr. Bcetem by ex-Postmaster Johh
] Field who endeavOred TO act rs a peace
| maker. and who advised the men 10 ac-
J cept Mr. Beetem's terms ana trust 10
| his honor TO adjust all their grievances.
! J. lowering Jones large stocknoider
| of the company, and a leading lawyer OF
! the Philadelphia bar. also addressed tne
| committee, and pointed out 10 them that
| capital mad rights as wen as iaooi' WHICH
| labor was bound 10 respect
| How many men the employers VIII pe
| able 10 take out with them If they strike
/ Is hard 10 say. The Officers oi the
| Amalgamated Association are strongly
( opposed 10 another strike, ana therc y
/ "a good minority OF the employees VINO are
/ also against a.
! IL Is possible, however, That every man
| belonging 20 the Amalgamated Assocla-
! ton will strike, as many OF the minority,
/ while oppo1ed to the strike, coha'HeI
| themselves bound IN honor 10 support
| their associates. and there are many other
| men who win refuse TO work Tor rear q.
/ "A mob. The company believes thar "
| wifi have no trouble In getting men 10
/ I'M the strikers places, ana Mr.. Beetem
/ told the men that within the past three
I DAYS the company had refused appiicd-
| tions from 900 new men.