Evening journal., 1908-05-02
TROLLEY men TO
HAVE A MEETING
Officials Of City Railway to
be Invited by Organized
Employees
ORGANIZATION TO
GATHER TOMORROW

Employees Of the wilmington City
Railway Company who have Joined or
become interested In the union that
has been formed. were hopeful to-day
that the old scale OF wages received
by them win be speedily restored Or
ganizer ID. S. Fitzgerald, of the ANAL
gamated Association, said this morn
ing that despite all obstacles a very
large percentage OF the men have ioln-
ed the union. He said:
There has been considerable misun-
derstanding concerning the position OF
the railway meEs organization i'm this
matter. We were compelled 10 work
in secret for time because the men
We're being watched. That Is ali passed
The organization is formed.
To Have Meeting
on Sunday evening we propose 20
hold a business meeting. Il win not
be public meeting. but the employees
lof the company win be present and
officers OF the company win be invited
TO attend and go over the situation
with the men. The men win be willing
10 discuss the situation frankly and 10
listen to any statements made. a
strike Is the last method to which the
organization would resort, and every
possible effort will be made to avoid
one. II is not the intention Of the
organization to rush into any such
position. Tho men desire TO secure a
return TO the old rate OF wages that
Indeed. was meagre enough and de-
mand that their authorized representa-
tives shall be accorded the same cour-
teous business consideration that IS
given by the employees to the author
lied representatives, Of the stockhold-
ers Of the Interstate Railways Com
lpany The meeting on Sunday night
Twill be addressed by d. S. Fitzgerald
and p. ]. Shea, national officers Of the
Amalgamated Association OF Street
Railway men; John NJ. Dorney. gem
leral organizer Of the Brotherhood OF
Painters, Decorators and Paperhang-
lers Of America; General Organizer r.
tT. McSwiggan. OF the Flint Glass
Workers of America, and T. ] Buck.
LEY. president OF the Philadelphia Troll
Hey Mems Local Union. There win ais,
he several delegates from the Phila,
delphia and Chester Traction en-.
lployes."
Pleased With New Schedule
The street railway men were much
lpleased with the action Of the COM
pany in increasing the number OF cars
on some of the divisions, as Il will
mean more work for the men. Some
time ago the number of cars on these
divisions was reduced. as the company
lasserted that business had fallen on
land expenses had 20 be cut down
} Some of the men also say that when
this number Of cars was reduced II
was expected that while some motor
men and conductors would lose theii
Jobs the wages would not be reduced
Speaking Of this matter Organizer
Fitzgerald said:
zone Of the papers says The COM
lpany officials have determined to FIND
out If the warm weather has any ef.
feet on traffic. and to learn II more
people viii ride In summer than IN
winter Personally. I would suggest
that this problem be given TO any
pupil In our primary schools. as it 6.
, an admission on their part that there
must be something wrong with theil
books, as the books are the best cri'
. terions Of results. There is not 3
, lstreet railway In the country at thi.
, season of the year that Is not pre-
i pairing for the Increased summer
: traffic. They are employing more mer
land operating more cars than ever
land this same condition exists here II
Wilmington as In other places. Tit
street railway men are just now en-
ltering on their busiest season and the.
lare well aware of Il, and I'm entering
on that busiest season they are doinl
so at a decreased wage. their work vii
be harder, their wages smaller.
"Do the public blame them for or
lganizing to protect themselves? We
will leave the decision Of that question
to the public. The street railway mer
OF Wilmington are ready now, as the,
always have been, to assist the com
pany to put into operation and to pre-
serve a satisfactory schedule for th'
public service. and 10 continue th'
= courteous and obliging service the'
. have rendered IN the past, but at th'
Q same time we are prepared to defen'
=. our right to organize and to insist oi
? the restoration OF the old rate OF wage
! Is 1-2 which in itself was only JUS
4 about enough TO live on under presen
conditions There are at the presen
time 65 per cent OF the men here al
ready organized. and we have assur
= ances of friendship from 95 per cent
I OF the men employed by the compan!
s and we have no fear for the future"
Doesn't Expect Strike
] General Manager s. s. Hoff Of tn
s Wilmington City Railway Company
early this afternoon said he had re
y ceived no invitation to attend meet
: ing of the trolleymen's new organiza
e ton tomorrow night
. He did not think there would be an
5 strike of the local men. Il think on
men have better sense" said MI
lHof. He denied that sixty-five pc
cent OF the company's employees are or
ganized. and intimated that they hav