The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-13
MASS Meeting
AT The ARMORY
STREET CAR STRIKE SITUATION
DISCUSSED.
John H. Devine Was the Speaker of
the Evening and Addresses Were
Delivered by President John
Mitchell, President w. d. Mahon,
Of the Street Car Mems 1nterna-
tional Association and Three of
the Delegates to the Federation
Convention.

Convention.
There was mass meeting at the
old Armory on Adams avenue last
night called for the purpose of again
enlightenng the public us to the cause
of the street car strike and particular
ly as to the interview of Tuesday be-
tween Manager Frank Silliman jr., of
the Scranton Railway company and w.
ID. Mahon. president of the Internatlon-
al Association of Amalgamnted street
Railway Employees and John Mitchell,
president of the Mine Workers. The
last named two were appointed by the
convention of the American Federation
of Labor to make an effort to settle the
differences between the company and
it's employees. The armpry was COM
tably filed, there being a large num-
Der of ladies in the audience.
John Devine was the chairman of the
evening and after stating that the
meeting was for the purpose of hear
ing something further about the trou-
BILE between the Scranton Railway
company and it's employees and the
great inconvenience that has followed
in it's wake. introduced John Mitchell.
When the applause that had greeted
President Mitchell subsidized he said he
could speak to them but for few min
utes for he had to go to Providence
to attend meeting of the members of
his own craft. the miners.
COMPANY RESPONSIBLE.
''f don't know whether you We're
right or wrong when this strike began
he said. but I do know that the re-
fusal of the Scranton Railway COM
pany to confer with you places the bur-
den of the responsibility for this condi-
ton of affairs upon that company.
1T has come to my notice that the
business men and professional men
have been building up an organization
with an idea of breaking this strike
and breaking up this boycott of the
cars. I want to say on this occasion
for the 10000 members of my organi-
zation that they will not patroniZe
the cars as long as the company refuses
to meet with it's men or their represen-
tatives with reference to this trouble.
This strike means more than the de-
feat of the men who are now engaged
in it. know that if the street car men
are defeated now some other organ
ization will be next selected as a vic
tim. I know not but that the mine
workers may be the one against whom
the fight will be waged. This strike is
not alone the strike of the street car
men. 1t is the concern Of us all.
THE company has It's cars running.
1t has them manned and if the busi-
ness men and professional men Of this
city think that their interests are to
be best sLbserved by combining to
break this strike then indeed are they
blind to their own interests. If they
think the patronage of the Scranton
Railway company is the most desirable
thing for them to have then let them
have that patronage.
OPPOSED TO STRIKES.
81 am opposed to a strike until every
means of maintaining peace is eX-
hausted but when this is done and the
workers have no other choice, I say
strike and when you do. strike like the
miners a year ago. Strike until you
win. AS far as | can speak for the
wage earners Of this vicinity they will
not patrOniZe the street cars until the
Scranton Railway company meets and
confers with your representatives. The
fact that they refuse to meet you is to
me indisputable evidence that they
fear an investigation: that you are
right and they are wrong. Keep up
this strike until the company comedies
your right to confer. Keep it up but
be law abiding and I believe you will
win. l am told no mine workers has
,Nf cir t,n ,t,,iIy
and as far as l am concerned not one
of them will until this strike is honor
able settled"
Mr. Mitchell said that Mr.. Mahon
would give them the details of the in
terview with Manager Silliman.
w. ID. Mahon. president of the Inter-
national Association of Amalgamated
Street Railway workers. was the sec
ond speaker. He opened his address by
reviewing the relations OF the street
railway men with the local company
since the strike of one year ago, re-
ferring extensively to the nagging
which he alleges the men were sub
jected to through the desire of the
company to get even. With reference
to the incidents that led up to and fol-
lowed the strike. Mr.. Mahon said the
kind or arbitratlon offered by the COM
pany could not be accepted.
INTERVIEW WITH SILLIMAN.
He then told of the interview with
Silliman, who, he said, propounded Il
lot OF questions to them and asked
them to answer yes or no. Mitchell re-
piled: Il did not come here to be sub
1ected to the tactics of any little police
court. haven't stolen anything"
Mr.. Silliman declined to talk with
them as the representatives of any
labor organization, and when they
asked him to suggest some way of end
ing the present trouble, he said ne had
nothing to suggest, and gave them to
understand that the interview was at
an end.
Mr.. Mahon said they We're willing to
refer the whole matter To a board to be
made up of one man selected by them,
one selected by the company, these Two
to name third. No matter what the
riSi1 hi.