The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-01-02
THERE IS MORE STRIKE TALK
Street Railroads May Again
Be Tied Up.
The WORKERS CHARGE DUPLICITY
While the Company Practically Agreed tc
Recognize Organized Labor, Manager
Beetem Insists They Must Re-
linquish Right to Organize.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2.-Atan carly hour
this morning the situation of affairs in the
street railway trouble was very grave.
The employees were then in executive ses-
sion with their leaders and various COM
mittees, and it was evident from the at
mosphore of things that second strike
could be easily precipitated. The matter
under discussion was the result of n con-
ference held earlier in the night by a sub
committee of the employees and General
Manager Beetem, of the Union Traction
company.
This meeting had lasted three hours,
and at its conclusion the aspect of affairs
was favorable for an adjustment of tho
difficulties. In answer to questions, the
men said they came as employees of the
company, but did not deny their member
ship in the Amalgamated Association of
Street Railway Workers, which has been
the stumbling block throughout. An
earnest discussion then followed of the
proposition made by the company last
Monday night, asking the men to agree
that all differences are adjusted if the 200
imported motermen and conductors were
put at the foot of the extra" list, and the
old men given their former runs. Mr.
Beetem added that the company was doing
everything in it's power to better the con
dltlon of the men, and was considering
the question of shorter hours.
There was an apparent disposition on
the part of the committee to accept the
proposition as an amendment to the agree
ment by which they refused to work after
the recent strike. The members, how
ever, were not entirely authorized to do so,
and at midnight went to Harmonic hall,
where u mass meeting of the workers was
in session, awaiting the report of the re-
suit of the conference with the general
manager Mr.. Beetem declared that the
whole trouble must be settled forthwith,
and he promised to wait for the result of
the mass meetings. action.
The Harmonic hall meeting was at
tended by representative gathering of
the workers, with Leader Mahon, of the
Amalgamated Association, and the var
ious committees All other persons were
excluded, but from the indignant cries
and angry expressions coming from the
meeting room and a word or two OF infor-
nation given by men passing in and out
it was apparent that there was much dis
satisfaction with the result of the confer
ence with Mr. Beetem At o'clock this
morning the meeting was still in session.
When the striking conductors and mo-
tormen returned to their cars under the
agreement with the Union Traction com
pany, they say, they understood that their
union was to be recognized. They consider
Mr. Beetem's declaration to their repre-
sentatives at Monday nights conference
! as blow at the association. 1t will be re-
membered that the general manager said
he would hear the grievances of the men
as stated in the agreement, but that all
new men would be obliged to pledge them
selves not to join any labor organization
Since this announcement the men have
became imbued with the idea that they
gained nothing by going back to work A
canvass was made, and in nearly every
case the working conductors and motor
men are said to have expressed II willing.
ness to strike again.
President Mahon is doing his utmost t.
avert an other strike Mt this time. He de-
clares that Mr. Beetem's proposition is "a
game of bluff, " not representing the views
of the directors of the company. He urges
the men to insist on dealing directly with
committee of the directors, and feels
confident that such IA committee can bring
about an adjustment of existing diff
culties.
Regarding statement that the Traction
company could secure 200 men at a mo
ment's notice." Mr. MahOn said chat the
statement was clearly disproven during
the recent strike