The San Francisco call., 1906-04-01
CARMEN Of OAKLAND
AWAIT CONFERENCE
No Further Step Will Be Taker
Till Meeting Tomorrow
Company Gives Assurance That
1t Has No Lockout Plans.


gency. 1t has several hundred men at
hand should strike come and the
present temper of the officials is to
make every effort to operate their sys-
tenn I'm case of a strike.
General Manager w. f. Kelly of the
Traction Company is In Los Angeles. A
large body of street railway men from
Eastern and local points has been con-
centrated within easy distance of Oak
land to be thrown into the traction
headquarters the moment walkout
occurs. This will not be verified mt
present by the Traction officials, but 1t
is a certainty Notwithstanding.
Sheriff Barnet today was again re-
Quested to appoint as deputy sherins
inspectors of the Traction Company.
The Sheriff said he had been assured
by President Ellison that the carmen
would not resort to violence in case
of a strike and that the appointments
would not be made at present. Sheriff
Barnet assured the company that In
event of disturbance he should exert
his full powers to preserve the peace
and to protect property
Disuuieting rumors of a strike to be
called at midnight tonight were set at
rest this evening by an official announce
ment from w H. Ellison, president of
would await the conference arranged for
Monday with the traction company offi-
cials
The statement from the union follows:
1.-The union now awaits the Monday con-
ference and In the absence of new devel-
opments there seems to be nothing to add
to the statements already made.
''w. H. ELLISON
Much unrest was caused today by the
cxi1- he loffa la eff niQhf
to President Heron of the traction COM
pany by the carmen, In which they re-
ferred to his assent to a conference and
declared that reports Of the company's s
preparations for possible difficulty were
causing "a general impression that a lock-
out may be looked for at any hour" The
letter urged that the company maintain
the present status without doing anything
to affect the carmen's position pending the
conference. The letter was framed as If
the union expected categorical denials
from the company that any moves were
being made.
A reply to that communication was sent
to President Ellison this noon. President
Heron made the fat contradiction that the
company has not and never had any In
tention Of locking OUT the members of
the union. Nothing further was said go
far as concerned any possible impending
trouble The letter reads as follows:
DISCLAIMS LOCKOUT PLANS.
"Mr. w. H. Ellison. president, Oak
land, Cal.
Dear Sir: Yours of March 30 has just
been received. In reply thereto we beg
leave to state that we have not now nor
have we ever had any intention to
lock out the members of your union.
I'VE still have confidence in the en-
pIoyes of the company, and believe that
they, recognizing their and our duties
to the public, will not attempt to tie
up the operation of the street-car sys-
tenn of the Oakland Traction Consoli-
dated, and having such confidence 1 de-
sire to confirm my letter OF yesterday
and will meet a committee of the Oak
land Carmen's Union at the time and
place therein designated Very truly
yours,
"E. A HERON, president Of Oakland
Traction Consolidated"
AS soon as the message was received
President Ellison tried to get into COM
munication with President Mahon Of
the International Association in San
Francisco. Failing, to arrange a meet
ing for this side of the bay, Ellison
went to San Francisco, where he and
Mahon and Richard Cornelius of the
San Francisco Garments Union held
long conference The result of that
meeting Ellison made public tonight
in his announcement that the union
would not make a further move until
after the conference with the Traction
Company officials.
President Ellison refused tonight to say
what ground had been covered by this
afternoons conference In San Francisco.
He only reiterated that the union would
make no move pending the Monday meet
ing. AS evidence that the situation was
not to be changed tonight, Ellison left
the unions headquarters shortly before
10 o'clock, saying he intended to go home
to bed. The headquarters were closed for
the night.
COMPANY PREPARED.
Whether q strike will be called before
the Monday conference should the agree
ment committee learn definitely as to the
Traction Companys strategic preparations
for a possible tie-up is a question There
is nothing to hinder a complete upsetting
of the present situation of delay except
the fact that the union has not made
formal demand upon the company since
the strike vote" was taken. That vote
was to tie up the entire system If the
company did not accede to the unions de-
mands. The company issued statement
to the public after the vote was an
nounced, but the only communication
since then between the company and the
union has been with reference to a con-
ference At that meeting. unless a strike
shall intervene, the unions demands will
be the subject of discussion.
In the wake of the strike agitation has
followed much rumor and much gossip
concerning movements on both sides. In
the event of difficulty the Traction Com
pany will utilize it's new shops on Yerba
Buena avenue, west of San Pablo ave-
nue. as the headquarters for men, and
many of its cars will undoubtedly be OPP
Grated from that center instead Of from
the outlying barns. For service as such
headquarters the shops have been placed
in readiness. They have been furnished
with sleeping and eating accommodations
and supplies are in store there. This was
done as soon as the "strike vote was
taken.
Not an official of the company will adj
nit that any heavy Importation of fire
arms has been made. Not an official will
admit that large numbers of men have
been selected for employment in the event
of tie-up.
MARRIAGE LICENSES.
OAKLAND, March 31.-The Following
marriage licenses were issued by the
County Clerk today: Charles L. Dom
A a.. ao