The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-25

The committee of business men
which has been cndeavol'ng during the
past week. without success, 10 effect Il
settlement of the street railway strike
VIII meet this afternoon at . o'clock
in the office of the chairman. ira H.
Burns and will decide upon plans for
the future.
Chairman Burns in,inated to a Trib-
une man yesterday afternoon that the
committee has not at all given up hope
of settling the strike. He was asked If
amy of the members of the committee
would be sent to Philadelphia to con-
fer with President Clarke.
81 hardly think sO.' he replied "but
1t is possible that Il judicious use of
the long distance telephone may be
made. Further than that will not
say"
General Manager Slliman. when seen
last night. announced that he was
done with the business mems commit
tee and will have no further dealings
with it under any consideration what
ever.
IF this committee wants to make
another try at settling the strike" said
he. "thc members will have to open up
negotiations with some one else be-
sides me. I'm through with them and
will positively refuse to have any fur
thcr dealings with them.
WHAT BURNS SAID.
Chairman Burns gave out for pub |
lication on Saturday characterstical- !
ly tart letter in reply to the interview |
with Mr.. Silliman. published in Satur- |
days Tribune. in which the general !
manager referred to the members of |
the committee as Il pack of small. mean
rascals. !
Mr.. Burns pays his respects to the |
general manager in opening his letter
in the following strain. "Mr. Sili- |
mans idea of what constitutes an hon
orabie man and IL gentleman seem to |
be somewhat peculiar to himself. OF &!
course he considers himself one and |
yet presume that the business mems |
committee are content to differ with |
nm III some respects. SO far as ! am |
aware, no one of them is under indict-
ment in our criminal co,lrt. or is hesi- |
tatins about taking his chances of a |
prison cell or emiSratinS to some for
eign country where there is no extra
dition law in force"
The issue in which the public is in
tereSted, he points out. is. however not
anybody'S personal characteristics. but
rather the settlement of the strike and |
the street railway accommodation to
which they are entitled. Mr.. Burns
states that the majority of luboring
men in this valley are members of
labor unions who desire that union
labor shall be employed on the cars
ana whose wishes are entitled to at
least some consideration from the
company. Continuing. he says:
suppose that every corporation in
the valley should import laborers from
Philadelphia or China. men who have
no families or homes, and pay no taxes,
and who are lodged and fed in barns,
would the public want them to take
the places of the men we have? There
can be but one answer"
REST WILL BE EASY.
In conclusion Mr. Burns pleads with
Mr.. Silliman to forget his school boy
petulance and bad manners and be
IAN honorable man" If he does this"
he writes. the rest will be easy. If
he cannot do this. let him go away for
a week and leave some one like w,
IT, Halstead, for instance. in charge.
and when he returns he would find his
road running and the public satisfied.
He is the stumbling block in the way,
What he wants is to get rid of HIM
self"
When Mr.. Sillman Was asked last
night II he had any reply to make 10
Mr.. Burns letter he said that he had
no desire to enter into Il controversy
with the gentleman.
I've had ny say" said he "and I'm
content to lA il rest with that"
letter from John G. Metzhcser. jr,
appeared In the Republican yesterday
which set forth that he is one of the
striking street car men and that he
would like to return to work If he
dared, We also made some serious
charges concerning the manner in
which the strike was declared and con-
cerning the finances of the strike. In
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