The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
MAY SETTLE STRIKE TO-DAY
Conference Between Southern Rail-
way and Machinists Called.
Vice President Harrison, OF Road,
and President o'CUnneIi. of Ma
chInists, Hope for Adjustment.

Fourth Vice President Fairfax Harrison.
OF Tho Southern Railway, when seen yes
terday relative 60 the strike situation 'f
the lcachinists employed on the roaI
seemed very sanGuinc about the matter
of .u early settlement Of the dlficuluez.
Alr Harrison said that "a conference has
been called for to-day between the Off
cials oI tine r.zilway. the president OF the
International Association ot MachiujsJs.
,nG he members OF the maehiDisgs strik~
committee
II an the members OF the committee are
not able To- bee IN town TODAY, the meet
ing viii be postponed until tomorrow. ID
is ar. Harrison's wish that an members
oC tne committee should be present. as
Doe expects that this will Dee the final ad-
justuent of the trouble. Already, accord
Flg 60 the statement he made. the strik-
ers have voted in many towns ou The
proposition made by the railway yester-
day. and upon the proposition made 10y
James O'C0nnell. president of the inter
national body. Under Mr O'COnueHs plan
the men viii vote whether 10 continue the
strike until all matters are settled. or 20
return 10 work pending negotiations with
The Southern. The employees If the shops
iH Knoxville and Atlanta have shown
their confidence IN an early settlement hy
vOuu. TO return TO work while waiting
for the decision To he made.
According 10 Mr Harrison, the railway
viii take a firm stand iu regard To the
matter of apprentices These boys le
said. were turned over 60 the Southern
90 learn their trades 10y their parents or
guardians, and when SO placed under tae
tutorship of the company the parents
sign an agreement that the boys Will Ts-
1UafIr ff
wages. This payment of wages is made
OF a scale. their earnings increasing ac-
cordiug TO how long they have been in the
service.
The officials do not understand why the
union has demanded q raise of - cents
ln tile days pay of al maChinists, ma
cniuists' helpers. and apprentice boys.
They claim that this is unreasonable.
The men who are receiving $50 q day
viii receive q larger percentage Of in
crease than the men who are being paid
at the rate of $50 q day. There is no
Ill feeling between the men and the COM
panN declared Mr.. Harrison. and while
this state Of affairs continues there Is
every reason TO believe that an early and
favorable adjustment OF the matters Um-
der consideration viii De effected.
President O'Couneu. when seen ycSter-
day. also seemed hopeful that the affair
would be peacefully settled within this
week Both sides are willing to concedt
something. and this disposition viii lead
up 90 the point where an agreement pleas
us both 10 the machinists and the rail-
way officials VIII De reached.
Ia the Corporation Court On Alexandria
yesterday morning twenty-five dersties
with police powers. were sworn in by the
Southern Railway Company. TO act as
vatchmen around the machine shops in
This city.
Il looks as 81 the Southern officials
( contemplate putting ON nonuniOn ma
chinisJs IN place Of the strikers noxt
week. While no definite information can
Z be oDtaiIicd ON the subject, rs yet. the
+ opinion prevails that the southern Off
cials viii carly next week nm tSc places
OF Jbc strikers. The Scutsfvrn company
/ is also having a fence erected around
( their property