The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-17
ABSOLUTELY REFUSED
TO ARBITRATE
Pensacola Street Car Company Seems
to Think il Has a String Tied to
the State Troops
Jacksonville Metropolis.)


conference, with the officials of the
Electric company all the morning, but
It is believed now that no permanent
settlement will be reached.
= II the, present negotiations fail,
Governor Broward may be called upon
to attempt settlement.
There was much talk among labor
leaders Of calling a sympathetic strike
in case the negotiations fail today.
Everything continues quiet, but
when it is definitely known that there
is no hope of settling the differences
between the strikers and the company
outbreaks will be looked for.
Gov. n. Il. Broward. commander of
the Florida State Troops, is in the city
today, and was seen by a Metropolis
reporter, and questioned regarding the
strike situation at Pensacola, and the
probable withdrawal Of the troops.
Governor Broward is keeping in touch
with the situation by wire, and in dis
GUESSING the unfortunate affair, said:
"Adjutant General Foster has been
advised by me to bring about, iflpossi-
BILE, an agreement between the street
car company and .!ie strikers, and he
is well able to handle the situation,
and is doing all in his power to Sc
cure an arbitration of the difficulties.
The State Troops are in Pensacola at
the urgent request of the local author
tiles there, they being afraid of their
inability to protect lives and property.
notified the adjutant general that the
troops would only be in Pensacola as
long as the situation absolutely war
ranted their presence, and that he
would understand when it was neceS-
sary to withdraw them.
1.-The street car lines of Pensacola
comprise public utility and the pub
lie is the party mostly interested, and
it suffers the greatest Inconvenience.
Reasonable concessions in troubu-
lous times like these must be made by
both sides of the controversy, and an
agreement must be soon reached, or
positive action not desired by the
company will be necessary.
Authorities Must Act
THE local authorities at Pensacola
at any rate must prepare to handle the
situation at once, as the State of Flor
there at great expense to protect the
property of the street railroad COM
pany. Our soldiers are in Pensacola
at a great inconvenience, nearly ev-
cry one of them being an important
factor in the business of his commun-
ity. l hope that their patriotism is
fully appreciated by the officials, and
public of Pensacola, and that every
effort will be made at once to relieve
them. If the street railway company
remains stubborn, then under martial
law it might be necessary for the mil
itary authorities to take charge and
show the company how to operate
their Pensacola cars without friction.
Our soldiers are only in Pensacola to
preserve the peace, and l trust that
this day will bring forth results that
will cause the withdrawal of the
troops, and which will put an end to
the conflict. 1t is, however, / repeat.
I'D to the officials of Pensacola to take
action at once. 1t is also up to the
street car company to do all in its
power to reach an agreement by arbi-
tration, and to do it's duty to the pub
lic."
Much Feeling Exists
News received from Pensacola to-
day says there is still much feeling
against the imported men, and against
the street car management. Several
motormen were arrested yesterday
and today for failing to sound the
gong at approaching street crossings.
There is much friction existing be-
tween the mayor of Pensacola and the
sheriff of Escambia county, the latter
now declining to give proper aid,
claiming that he has but three depu-
ties. The sheriff is being severely
criticised by the people of Pensacola.
but he insists that he can do nothing,
if the troops are withdrawn, and trou-
BILE should occur again.
Objects to Unions
The street car company is not will
ing to concede anything which will
mean that their employees may in the
future be unionized. On the other
hand, the former employees want fu-
ture employees to be left free to join
the union if they so wished and have
also asked that the company take
back all men who went out on the
strike. There is certain percentage
of the men whom the company is not
willing to take back for reasons which
are declared to be sufficient to war
rant the discharge of such men, but
which have not been made public.