The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-16
Matter of the Reinstatement of the
Men in the Hands Of COM
mittee with Power to Act.
ARGUMENTS OF MR.. GoMPERs
THEY OVERCOME THE OBJECTIONS
OF THE RADICAL LEADERS.
Outline of the Proposal to the Com
pany-Inquest in the Case of the
Men Shot Last Sunday.

ST. LOUIS, June 15.-By practically
unanimous vote the striking street-railroad
men concluded to-day to accept the prop
osition presented by their committee and
to empower the executive committee 10
settle on the basis of the clause regard
ing reinstatement without reference to the
union.
This action was brought about through
the influence of Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor,
who arrived in st. Louis last night, and
was present at the mass meeting which
was held at the West End Coliseum this
morning. A new plan of settlement Is
therefore now in the hands of the commit
tee. It varies but little from the other
propositions except in the paragraph which
has reference TO the reinstatement OF the
men. 1t says: 1--WE, members of Division
Ills, Amalgamated Association Of Street.
railway Men, in session assembled, hereby
authorize our executive committee to
submit the following to the st. Louis Tran
sit Company as a basis of settlement OF
cur association:
1.-The agreement of March 10. 1900. except
herein modified, is re-established.
mo discrimination will be made against
any employee because he liz or may become
a member of any union. All employees must
be entirely free to join any organization.
ANY attempt the part of any en-
I)oye to induce any other employe by in
tlinidation or threats to join or not join
any union will be cause for the immediate
discharge Of the person guilty of such at
tempt.
Any attempt to influence any employee
NV f1rio Of hn tn Ini
not Join any union shall be cause for dis
charge of such official
The company will treat with any COM
mittee representing the organization re-
THE company will agree that II any
future differences shall arise between 1t
and its employees with respect to the terms
of this agreement or it's application to
cases that shall hereafter arise, which can
not be adjusted amicably between the par
ties. they shall be submitted to arbitra-
ton.
1.-THE question of reinstatement of form
employees shall be submitted to arbitra-
ton.
I'm regard to Section Z. covering the re-
instatement of our members, the executive
board is hereby authorized and empowered
to reach a settlement either through con-
ference and agreement with the company
by submitting it to arbitration, as pro-
vided for in the above section"
After the meeting had adjourned Presi-
for opening negotiations with the Transit
company were already under way.
The meeting at the West End Coliseum
was called to order shortly after IL O'Clock
by President Mahon, of the National Asso-
citation of Street-railway Employees. He
stated that the meeting was TO arrange
some plan for the settlement of the strike.
Mr.. Gompers, after reviewing the situa-
ton. said that arbitration of the question
and the reinstatement of the men was the
only way the strike could be settled, and
he advised that the plan be adopted at
once. A number of members were on their
feet protesting and some strong speeches
were made. Several of the leaders among
the men urged that the original PROPOSE
ton providing for the reinstatement of all
the men must stand.
President GomperS said he was in a
position to say that negotiations had only
been opened between the Transit Company
officials and that they had evinced a dis
position to take UP the matter He sug-
gested that power to settle the strike on
the best possible conditions be placed in
the hands of a committee with full power
to act for the union. In the midst of his
appeal to the men to support the seventh
clause of the proposition, submitting the
question of reinstatement of the strikers
to arbitration. Mr.. Gompers said
Brothers, do not vote against the clause
for arbitration. If you do / am afraid
that a settlement will be out of the ques-
ton. 1 am sure If you place this question
in the hands of honest men the trouble
can yet be settled amicably."
Clarence Richeson, the organizer of the
strikers had held out stoutly for the de-
mand that all or none of the men be re-
turned to work, and he was supported by
other members.
Again Mr.. Gompers took the floor and
plainly stated that a settlement on that
basis was absolutely impossible. He said
IL the men held out for that they would
never get it. He said there were plenty of
fair minded men in St. Louis who would
act. Mr.. Gompers told them that up TO
the present there had been too many men
working on the settlement. He said the af-
fair should be placed in the hands of one
man or set of men and urged that the ex-
ecutive committee be given power TO settle
the strike. After some discussion this ac-
ton was taken by unanimous vote and
the matter placed in the hands of the ex-
ccutive committee. At 4:30 ID. m the prop
osition was placed in the hands OF Judge
Henry S. Priest, who took the matter un-
der advisement and said the company
would return its answer tomorrow.
In the inquest into the deaths of the men
shot last Sunday a number of witnesses
testified that the strikers were orderly;
that they had no weapons, and that no
missiles were thrown.
Marion Reedy, editor of the Mirror, and
c. S. McKeen, a commission merchant who
had just been summoned to serve i'm the
posse, testified that Gordon Mcknight the
deputy who is said TO have shot c. E.
Thomas. was in the barracks when the lat
ter was killed.
J. j. Hohan, who came here from Chi
cago to work for the Transit Company.
was to-day probably fatally shot by Syl-
vester Zuleff, fellow-employe. The two
men were in the sheds of the Union line.
on Kossuth street. Zulef. who claims the
shooting accidental. was arrested.