The Washington herald., 1909-06-06
CommerctaL and IndustriaI.

COHH6ICLdL ana lHQHSLTLQt.
Signs are not wanting that organized
labor in America is preparing to fight for
a larger share OF the proceeds of industry
under pressure of a rising cost OF living.
and this quite regardless of what Con-
gress may do about tariff revision. Hard
~ was the race strike Of the Georgia
white firemen settled in q way TO suit the
union or those fremen. partly through
threat OF Federal Intervention and partly
through the force OF public opinion In
Georgia against negro equality, when the
city OF Philadelphia afforded the nation
an object lesson in the power and sOlidar-
ity Of labor
In accordance with the agreement
reached, the trolley conductors and mo-
tormen who have been on strike in Phil
adelphia returned TO work Saturday, and
service on the lines was resumed. The
strike was settled al a conference between
union leaders. transit heads. and politi-
clans, who were anxious TO get the trouble
settled before the Republican primaries.
The men viii receive p cents an hour
and work ten hours day. Recognition
OF the union is granted.
Early on the morning OF May 90 all
ductors and notormen on the traction
lines OF Philadelphia We're ordered out
on strike, 20 enforce their rejected de-
mand for an increase of wages TO p
cents an hour and for better working
conditions. The demands had followed
close upon the heels of the compauys
announcement that from June l the
wages Of the men would be advanced
from p 70 % cents an hour. At the end
OF the first day more than 1000 Of the
$500 employees in the two classes con
CeTned had joined the strike and the
service was greatly crippled. The strik-
ers counted on much public sympathy
because OF the recent Outcry against the
abolition OF the six-fOr-a-uuarter tickets
IN favor Of the former scent straight
fare On Monday. when strike-breakers
were brought in and the entire force Of
the city government was engaged in pro-
tecting the property and remaining en-
plOyes OF the company. many Of the
lines were operat ted during the daylight
resulting in a number OF riots, but the
service was not attempted after o'clock
at night BY order Of Mayor Reyburn
all saloons were ordered closed from
6 D. m TO a. m. Large crowds
Of strikers or strike sympathizers
attacked the cars in transit at var
ious points. threw stones, and were
IN turn driven away by the police
with drawn clubs. Many arrests were
made. The mayor announced that II
II became impossible for the company
10 operate the system. he would take Il
over and operate II himself. this being
based on the fact that the municipality
IS legally n partner in the traction COM
pany. The great majority OF the people
walked 10 work or 10 places Of amuse-
ment, and numerous vehicles Of all de-
scriptions were employed by others.
BY Tuesday only a third Of the usual
number of cars were IN operation a part
OF the day, and at night there was still
a complete tie-up. while the labor lead
e-s were talking Of ordering out the en-
gineers and dremen in the power houses.
Still more dangerous riots broke out
Wednesday night. after the company had
paraded several hundred fresh breakers
end undertaken 10 run a night schedule
The city administration had felt so con
fdent OF having the situation in hand
that the saloons were allowed 20 reopen,
and the sale Of liquor added 10 the
frenzy OF strike sympathizers in other
trades. AIobs repeatedly attacked cars
run under police guard. beat back the
police. sent nOnuniOE operators 10 the
hospital in various stages OF injury. and
burned no less than twenty cars IN the
streets. About a hundred persons were
injured and many arrests were made.
RiOting was renewed on Thursday. and
the strike entered upon new and wider
phase when the worSmen on the ele-
waited subway system we're called out
by c. O. Pratt the strike leaders, who
declared that there was at that time an
IS per cent response Still further SYM
pathetic STRIKES were expected All day
Ill % ~ Trrrr1 -
ers, and the police were kept on the run
10 keep the riotous crowds ip any SEM
blance or order. Many Of the strike
breakers were compelled 20 leave their
cars and run for their lives.
The terms on which the strike Of the
white firemen the George Railroad
was settled on Nay % were in substance
that the men return 20 work under con-
ditions existing at the time the strike
began. the discharged fremen TO be re-
instated and all negro fremen at the
terminal stations 10 be dispensed with
The question as TO whether negro fire
men were to be eliminated altogether
was left for later decision OF the OH
ciaIs concerned. The railroad conceded
the main point at issue1-namely the re-
ognition of the seniority OF the whites
over the negroes. The outcome was due
in part TO the intervention OF the Fed
eral officials and partly 10 the fact, ap-
parent 10 all, that a large percentage of
the public was with the strikers. An ar
bitration commission is 10 determine the
remaining points at issue.
In the wheat pit at Chicago on the
18th ended successfully the manipulation
of the market in wheat by J. ". Patten
which was begun in October of last year.
when the price Of the cereal was at 81.
The price Of the closing Of the Patten
optiOn was S1.34. and the estimated prof
its 20 :he builder Of the corner and his
partners was g. 100000 The estimated in
crease 10 farmers was so, 100000, and the
added cost 10 the consumers was 100000,
CO.
At last the Cincinnati, Hamilton and
DAYTON Railroad, which has been in the
hands Of receivers since December, 1905.
has. been bought IN by the Baltimore and
Ohio interests
The reorganization committee for the
Seaboard Air Line Railway has completed
most of the details Of its plans. the
main points Sbeing elimination Of the vot-
ing trust. no foreclosure, fixed charges
10 be reduced 25 per cent. and no assess
ments on stock.
Congressional.
Having disposed Of the sugar, tobacco