The San Francisco call., 1906-04-03

We are at work on a serious problem and one
that vitally concerns all of us. That work has
not been concluded and until the conference
ends 1 shall say nothing.
Prior to the meeting with the Traction
Company officials President Mahon. Pres
ident Cornelius and President Ellison were
in conference at the union headquarters.
With them were the agreement committee
of the Oakland division. This was pre-
liminary to the later meeting.
At the same time the Traction officials
were holding a preliminary meeting in
their own offices. In neither case would
public information be given as to the at
titude which each side would assume at
the main conference. The discussion dur
ing the conference was most general and
informal Those who desired to ask ques-
tions asked them, and they were answered
by the person most familiar with the topic
broached.
Prior to the meeting the curbstone gos
sip carried story that the Oakland Trac-
tion Consolidated would decline to, receive
either President Mahon or President Cor
nelius. both of whom are members of the
general executive board of the Garments
Association. That this was wholly un-
founded appeared as soon as the carmen's
representatives met the Traction officials.
No objection was raised to them, or would
have been raised to any person who might
have been presented by President Ellison,
said the Traction Company officials.
MAHON TALKS.
Before going into the conference Presi-
dent Mahon said:
L trust the conference will bring settlement
Of all differences. and that tie-up OF the
street railways in the city will not be neces-
sary We shall make every effort in our power
to effect such settlement and the public may
he hat their
the welfare of the members of the Carmen's
Union, shall be paramount during the entire
session OF the conference.
One hundred men, the advance guard OF
the strike breakers who have been en-
ioyed by the Oakland Traction ConsoIi-
dated in anticipation of possible tie
up of the system, arrived today from the
south. The three passenger coaches
which the men occupied were switched
from the Santa Fe station at Fortieth
street directly into the Yerba Buena ave-
nue. yards of the Traction Company, where
the newcomers were given accommoda-
tions in the car barns. The barns have
been ready for several days to receive
the men. In the party were number of
street railway men from Chicago, who
have been through campaigns in Eastern
cities. Some of them showed the marks
of hard encounters. Watchmen have
been stationed about the yards and only
Traction officials will be allowed inside.
More men are said to be on the way
They have been rounded up as a precau-
tionary step, and will be sent back to
their respective places of residence should
the situation not demand their services.
The yards are stocked with large guam
titles of food supplies, while the barns
are also equipped with hunks and all
the paraphernalia of the kitchen and
dining table. Here will be the main head
quarters in the event of a strike Trac-
ton officials are discreetly silent as to
their future plans. They refuse to
admit even that there is impending a
possibility of disturbance. Meanwhile.
there has gone on in the open, for any
one to see who might desire to witness
1t, steady preparation for anything that
might arise from the present difficulties
All of the supplies taken into the Yerba
Buena yards were hauled in the day
time, and The work of protecting the
sheds and the shops by screens and
planks was done in broad daylight.
The Traction officials seem to have as
sumed the position that. if a strike does
come, they are prepared for it. At the
same time they have met the friendly
advances from the union in apparently
as friendly spirit as the committee from
the carmen evidenced in today's confer
ence. That the further proceedings of
the representatives will be awaited with
great concern by the general public is
manifest from the effect on business
which the disturbance OF normal condi-
tioDs has already had.
Immediately after dark tonight guard
of patrolmen, armed with clubs, was
placed over all the company property at
Emeryville, and number of men were
also stationed in the subway and on the
long trestle leading to the Key Route
ferry depot. Orders were given to these