The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-01
PM LOOKS LIKE mo STRIKE.
TROLLEY MEN VOTING ON THE
PROPOSITION THIS MORNING.

Older Employees Of the Public Service
Corporations Many Lines In New
Jersey Oppose . strike-President
McCarter Cordially Greeted BY Ills Men
NEWARK, N. j., Sept. sO.-The Public
Service Corporation trolley employees were
In continuous and, at times. stormy session
all this evening to decide whether there
should be a general strike on all the
lines. The men most vociferous for strike
were those who have been discharged
within the last two weeks. Many OF the
older employees were strongly opposed to
q strike. At about II o'clock q committee
was appointed to zee President McCarter,
who, with a number of directors OF the
company. was waiting in the company's
Offices in Broad street to learn the result
OF the mems deliberations.
Mr.. McCarter met the committee cor
daily, and. at their request, in company
with Walton Clark, director from Phila-
delphia, went with them to Lyric Hall.
They were received by the men with cheers,
and the officers Of the union shook hands
with them az they went on the platform.
1t seemed that the men wanted again to
hear Mr.. McCarter's statement Of the COM
pany's position. He made a brief speech
in which he repeated in substance what
he had said in his statements Of the last
two days. He said he would meet the
men as individuals or as committee rep
resenting the employees, but under no cir
cumstances would he recognize the unions.
There were many things, Mr.. McCarter
said, which should be cleared up. There
were dishonest men in the company's en-
ploy and they should be weeded out. At
this there was much applause, and when
Mr. McCarter concluded he was again loudly
cheered. As he passed down the aisle
many of the men shook hands with him.
A delegation of the turnpike division
visited the hall during the evening and gave
the union president, Conway. letter which
they wanted read to the meeting. MIR.
Conway read the letter himself. but did not
read it to the men. 1t is dated Harrison,
N. j., and runs thus;
To Mr.. PRESIDENT AND BROTHERS: We.
the union men Of the Turnpike division. have
come to the conclusion that this is the best
ana only way that the members o Local
these men OF having this letter read, it is not
because we are afraid to get up at meeting
ana express ourselves. but simply because
at our last meeting whenever there was
brother arose to his feet he was cried down
by other members or by the president who
wou,d say: Now, brother you are out Of
order ait down and your turn will be next
hut unfortunately his turn never came.
So by ADOPTING this plan. we thought we
fln "A III
Enow how we feel. believing this meeting
tonight will decide the strike or no strike
question. Now then, we claim there large
humber OF discharged union men who attend
ali meetings and are the principal factors IN
sritating a strike hese men being discharged
for their inability. are we TO place our
~ such mem Are we to allow these men to
vote on such u union question! II so. We
NAV IA well open the door and let anybody
and everybody o come iab m f et such NSe meni
Now. gentlemen. after closely following
our Interesting issue OF the two weeks, We
find IL imposs,ps 70 }r sse " srike .et N Would
suggest that vote be taken at each car barn
by closed ballots. then union employees only
would vote. and we woula not De heiu M
control by these men such as predominate
nj each meeting. Now, then, uhder tnls
question is decided IN u union, IKE manner
we, as employees and union men OF tne iurn ,,
posts and not be buncoed Yours truly.
UNION EMPLOYEES or TURNPIKE DIVISION
This letter represents the sentiment Of
the older men on the road Meetings similar
to the one in Lyric Hall were held by the
local unions in Jersey City, Hoboken and
Paterson. In Jersey City the sentiment
was reported to be adverse to a strike, but
the voting, however, did not begin until
midnight and will be continued until some
time on Thursday before the result is known.
Only men actually in the employ OF the
company are permitted to vote on the q,es-
ton OF strike, and this, it is believed, IS
favorable to the men continuing at work
Extra police measures NV We're ,ah ssi ~, 10
lice force was directed to report for duty
on Thursday morning al O'Clock instead
Of 7 o'clock, the usual hour, and extra
foroes of reserves were held at different
stations.
Long before the action of it's employees
last evening the Public Service Corporation
had reached a point where its patience
was nearly exhausted For months there
had been q constant procession OF commit
tees coming and going between meetings
Of EMPLOYEES and the officers OF TIE
company. The pivotal point on which all
the dickering turned was the recognition
of the union known as the AmaIgamated
Association of Street and Electric Railway
Employees. ,, Co.. ,,,o
ad iustment of certain specific grievances.
this powerful labor organization was man
nuyring to bring this new and very I'M
portant New Jersey corporation under its
Jurisdiction as a union The situation Is
Analogous to that Of the anthracite coal
operators and the United Mine Workers
oi America. In both cases there has been
a resolute stand made on the part OF the
EMPLOYERS of labor against recognition OF
the union.
officers OF the Public Service Corporation
was that they should meet the officers OF
the union and agree on scale of wages.
This the officers refused to do. The line
of contention vase thus distinctly drawn
AT the outset OF the present troubles. From
that line the company has not receded an
inch and its president, MIR. McCarter, prac--
tically has challenged the union to go ahead
and do it's worst. He said yesterday:
I'VE hope there will be no strike We
have done everything in our power to avoid
such calamity. Buf If a strike should
oome we are prepared for it. We have
yIantv OF men to take the places Of those
Who NAV leave their cars and quit the ser
,;ne Of The company All we ask is suffi-
sient prot ect ion for our men and for our
cars and for this we depend upon the police
and other officials of the various COMMUNE
ties through which our cars are run.
ar this is provided, we have no
doubt of the speedy termination OF this
trouble. We propose to protect our prop
erty. no matter at what cost, but we must
have the cooperation of the officials charged
with the duty of maintaining order and
protecting property.
ITbree hundred and fifty Of the street rail