Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-09-30
CONDITIONS OF THE srRIxB.


President wattles meets fifty business
men for long talk. but nothing results
toward strike settlement.
The Bees proposal of arbitration by a
board of representative citizens, accepted
by the strikers, is promptly rejected by
the street railway company through
President wattles
wattles refuses to negotiate further
with the strikers.
Conference between wattlss and Ak
sar-Bsn representatives produces nothing
in the form OF a truce or adjustment and
wattleE asserts there is no change In
conditions"
Strikers hold parade ana are given
privilege by mayor for big allied union
labor demonstration Saturday,
Fifty prominent business men of Omaha
were in private conversation with President
G. w. Wattles of the street railway COM
pany for over three hours yesterday after
noon, but at the close Mr.. Wattles and
many of the business men stated that no
progress had been made in settling the
strike.
The business men were summoned to
wattles' office by him and It was under
stood the meeting was for the purpose Of
discussing the strike situation. Those who
were present were slow about discussing
what had taken place but enough was
CLEANED from the conversations with the
men to indicate there was considerable
difference of opinion, both as to the atti-
tude of the company has taken and as to
whether or not the differences should be
submitted to arbitration.
Strike Hurts Business.
The business men were unit on one
hot hat
business in two and will have disas-
trous effect on the Ak-Sar- Ben carnival
next week one of them declared.
Il went to the meeting with the under
standing that something was to be done IL
possible to settle the strike There was
considerable discussion and many volun-
tper suggestions. 40 vote was taken aud
no effort was made to endorse any method
of reaching agreement. There were
many differences Of opinion and at the end
/ am Of the impression little OF no progress
was made toward ending the trouble.
There was some talk Of arbitration, but
l do not think the meeting will result in
arbitration. 1t was merely an informal
| gathering Of business men to discuss the
situation.
Mr.. Wattles did not ask for suggestions
as to the best way to end the strike, but
! a
! suggestions"
Mr.. Wattles' statement of the object and
result of the meeting was very brief,
! About fifty business men met me on in
vitatiOn to talk over the situation. We dis
cussed it, but no solution OF the trouble
was found. The situation is exactly as 1t
was before. The company took it's stand
Sunday and that is where it stands today.
There is no change"
One Mans Opinion.
At least one man at this meetings. man
of large interests-it Is learned, expressed
the view that the street railway company
is not doing all 1t could to give the public
adequate service and not doing all It could
| to effect a settlement of the difficulties
that prevent it from giving good service
so long as 1t stood out unequivocally
against arbitration and all proposals OF
such adjustment and ignored the stEikAEs'
proposal of truce This man made knOWn
his views in highly vigorous language and
sought to win others to his way OF think
ing, but it is admitted that he failed in
this, for the majority at the meeting were
either non-committal or endorsed the
company's views, as set forth by Presl-
dent Wattles This one man laid stress, II
is learned, on the wisdom. fairness and
justice of arbitration as means OF solv-
ing this problem and giving to the people
the car service they deserve.
Charles r.. sherman Of sherman 4 Nc
ConneIl said after the meeting:
1t was the sentiment OF the meeting
that the street car company was doing the
best it could TO settle the strike troubles
with wisdom and fairness TO all concerned.
The representatives Of the street car com
pany felt that they should be allowed To
g. s-.AB
of the public and should be protected in
so doing and that outside interference and
suggestions of arbitration only served to
confuse matters the more. They felt that
the time for arbitration had passed They
intended to improve the service by putting
on additional cars during the rush hours.
They will seek to bring the best OF the old
men back into the service in time"
Empty stores Answer.
Business men who were asked by a re-
porter whether or not they were satisfied
with what the street railway company was
doing TO settle the strike we're reucent.
/ only one Of a number consented 70 be
quoted.
There is no use asking a question like
that" said one proprietor Of a department
store. These empty aisles are enough OF
an answer TO that question. but l don't
want to be quoted as saying anything"
Il don't see what the street railway
company could do further in view OF its
contract with some 200 and odd OF their
men" said Charles Z. Beden OF Thompson
& Beden, when asked for his opinion OF
the efforts Of the company toward a settle
p ment Of the controversy. 81 mean the men
who stood by the company in the earlier
stages Of the strike"
! a,a Ia Of
met with a committee from the Board OF
- Governors consisting OF c. If. Plckens, Emil
r Brandeis and Everett Buckingham. The
: conference lasted for over an hour. When
the committee emerged from the board OF
2 ldlrectnrs, room in the companY hnadnuar.