The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30
STRIKERS WILLING
Ready to Agree to the Plan Proposed
by the Ministers.

In a communication received yester-
day by the Rev. w. a. Cooper, secretary
Of the recent conference OF pastors OF
Richmond, held with a view to bringing
about a satisfactory settlement OF the
street car strike II possible there is
contained the information that the strik-
ers are willing to act upon the sugges-
lion made, accept arbitration upon the
or the status of the former COLI
tract with the company and return TO
work If 1t is decided that the agreement
was understood to hold for a full year.
The action by the pastors, It will be
recalled, was taken several days ago.
and the delay of the strikers In reply
Ing to the paper laid before them led to
the belief that they would not consider
It. 1t appears from the document OF
yesterday, however, that they are pre-
pared to adopt the propositions made to
them, and it appears further, from other
sources, that they now desire that the
pastors take the matter before the COM
pany and endeavor to secure favorable
consideration from that side. Whether
or not the pastors will agree to do this,
however, Is a question. Dr. W. r. L..
Smith, chairman of the conference,
could not be reached yesterday after
noon, but 1t Is more than likely that a
meeting will be called for the consldera-
ton Of the answer.
WON fNCCept.l t
There Is reason to believe that the
Passenger and Power Company will not
see IT'S way clear to accept the sugges-
tons OF the pastors II they are laid be-
fore It. While 1t would receive indl-
vIdual applications from the mon
and consider them as It would any
other applications. 1t is not believed
that 1T will agree 10 the return
OF the strikers as body. Certainly
ZONE OF those most prominent IN bring
Ing about the present strike will not be
received back Furthermore. such Of tho
men as are already at work as wish 10
stay will be retained, and as there are a
great many of them, it is obvious that
there would not be room for all the for
fner employees, oven If they would agree
to lay down their arms and come back
And not only this, The proposition of
the ministers of Richmond opens before
the company tho prospect of arbitration
next fall Even If the board should de-
SIDE that the men should have remained
under the old contract at least n full
year. and that they should declare the
strike off, the proposition involves the
idea OF a new arbitrator at the end OF
twelve months. 1t is understood that
or two of the preachers have seen
riais of the company personally, ant
been informed that no such sug-
IN as this could meet with favo,
Letter From the Men.
action of the street car mon in ref.
10 the matter Is set forth in thu
ng communication. addressed Il
stors who recently interested them
in the contest
Richmond. Va, June 9th, 1908,
w, r. l.. Smith, p. d, Rev. j. n
ucker, Rev. M. a. Jones. Rev. G. II
Williams, Rev. John Harmon. d. d.
Rev. i. NJ. Mercer, d, D., Rev. w. a
u Cooper Rev. c. p, Stealey. Rev j, II
y Price. Rev. r, W. Cridlin, Rev. j. L
Cook. Rev. T. S. Boyles'
Dear sirs.-We are in receipt of you
communication of the sd relative t
the differences between the Virginia Pas
senger ana Power Company and tn
members OF Division 49,, Street Railwa!
Employees, and we highly appreciate iii
laudable spirit prompting H. In repl
Hereto we desire 10 state that we an
fayorably impressed with the sugges
tlons in your communication and shout
they prevail and the street railway con
many decide TO arbitration and the boar
Of arbitration agree that we should hay
waited one year before making our re
uoest for n new scale of wages that IN
same board pass upon the questions no.
pending, and give the same definite AN
permanent settlement. We make III
suggestion ~ order 10 do away with III
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