The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-07-06
READING STRIKERS
STATE THEIR CASE
Hold President Baer Responsible
for Failure to Fulfill His
Agreement.

| Reading, July 5.-The Reading Rail-
way shop men who have been on strike
did not return to work today. Chair
man Bcschor says that the strike will
probably become more bitter than it has
been at any stage. Mr.. Bcschor gave
out statement, of which the following
is the important part:
| THE EMPLOYEES STATEMENT.
| 1.-THE the public: For many years the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway Com
pany has not dealt fairly with its EN-
ployes. For many years the employees
of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
way Company have been laboring under
Il sense of unfair treatment. The effect
of this treatment has not only been felt
by them but by their wives and children
in the homes. Not only has it affected
the question of wages, which always IN
this valley have been below the market
price for the same kind Of labor which
we perform, but it has touched our
home life. Under sense of their UNI
just treatment, persisted in for many
years, we finally decided to make the
demands we did previous to striking
Subsequently Mr.. Bacr offered a propo-
SIllvl hpol W ul'i uohth tllt iiith "
return to work.
"According to Mr.. Bacr's proposition
all 1.-The men We're to go back as Il body
and every man should have the place he
formerly occupied.
1.-THE men have at all times been will
ing to show to the public that they were
anxious to settle this difficulty upon
basis fair to both the company and them
selves. They therefore accepted the
statement Of Mr.. Baer, fully relying upon
his promise made to the executive COM
mittce that the men on strike should not
be Disseminated against but should be
treated as though they had not left the
employ of the company. Later develop
ments prove to us the futilty of our
hope in this direction, inasmuch as we
have positive proof that our men are
being Disseminated against in Philadcl-
phia and here at home, even at THIS
early date, before the men have reported
for duty. There will be evidence enough
to thoroughly satisfy every unbiased
mind that the promise was made for the
sole purpose of deluding the men and
leading them into the belief that tho
company desired to treat them fairly and
honestly. 1t is evident by the orders
forwarded to the superintendent of the
different departments that the company
did not intend to adhere to its part of the
agreement but that it was made for the
sole purpose of creating dissatisfaction
among the men and to disrupt the unions.
From the fact that these orders have
been issued and carried into effect prior
to Mr. Baer's departure for Europe, we
certainly consider him responsible for his
failure to fulfill the first clause Of his
agreement This being true. it is very
evident that the further promises of Mr..
Bacr in reference to the wages, contract
system. etc, will be equally ignored.
which includes everything he gave to the
executive committee, both by verbal
promise and over his own signature
I'm conclusion we desire to say we
have fully proved our willingness to meet
the company more than half way in
reaching Il settlement and we certainly
feel fully justified in refusing to return
TO work under such conditions.
"EXccutive Committee, Philadelphia and
Reading Employees,
A. Il. BcscIlor, Chairman"
The executive committee today issued
an official account Of the proceedings Of
last nights meeting