The Washington times., 1909-06-06

Inc corporation which employed thesi
men, the Philadelphia Rapid TRANSIT
Company, was known to be an Object
Of special concern to certain official.
of the city government It was q
virtual monopoly. for AL purposes Oi
strike fighting. its means were limit
less. and its inhuence-as proven by the
ensuing six months-was almost equiva-
lent to that of the city government.
What would a labor leader do ordi-
1arily in the face of such circum-
stances? Either call strike and let
the men bear the consequences or back
away from such an antagonist.
What did Pratt do? The answer is a
fine Illustration of this new power that
has been indicated.
He came on the scene in November
1905 As chairman of the executive
beard of the car mems organization he
had turned to Chester to see If the
strike there. which he had not organ
lied or directed. could not be adjusted.
The men in Philadelphia had already
made an issue with the Rapid Transit
Company In Pratt's judgment they
had asked so much and so many things
that the corporation might reasonably
expect public support in denying the
concessions.
Takes the Roll
Of His Fighting Force.
How many men were enrolled TO fight
for the things they wanted2 he asked
of the roomful of men, all excited and
ready to walk out the next day. Nearly
all. Had the leaders rolls of them? Of
course What was the total? Well,
about 1900. What was the total Of men
employed on the cars? Well. about 5000
Then before there was any talk of a
strike 10 back up these demands it was
Pratt's judgment somebody would have
TO 30 some hustling 10 give the strike
scme chance to make good.
In the meantime Pratt had been look
ing into the relations of this company
10 the public of Philadelphia He
found it more than vague possibility
that the customers of the lines would
stand with the wo rkmen-if no mis-
taxes were made. al the more reason,
then, TO press peaceful negotiations.
Likewise, all the more reason TO be
wary Of an increase in wage Of 1 cent
an hour, WHEN 1t follows a withdrawal
OF transfer privileges from the public.
The increase was rendered May II. The
DAY following President John 3. Par
sons and General Manager Charles o.
Kruger declined 10 meet a committee
OF the men 10 talk the matter over. And
The day following that the trolleymen
voted under Pratt's leadership, TO de-
cline the proposed raise The reasons
were plainly put:
1t isn't a raise at all. It's a reduc-
ton Because the men are being made
10 cover twelve hours trips in ten
hours The whole thing is a scheme to
put the blame on the men for takin'
away the transfers. This is a good time
70 20 slow and hustle for more names
on the union rolls"
Pratt spent the next few days in
taking a census. How many men have
you got now2" About 1000 ''WeU.
50 after the rest What allied unions
are there?' The L road local and
the power plant men" How many of
them are there2" wen, so-aud-so
many" Have they any real griev-
ances?" 'They have" How much in
earnest are they2" THE power plant
men viii hardly keep at work through
the summer without better working
conditions, and the L men are in Just
about the position Of the trolley men"
Men Must Know
Why They Are Striking.
Then followed talks. not with the
leaders alone, but with the workers in
all these organizations. II there is to
be a strike according to the Pratt pro-
gram il must begin in a genuine knowI-
edge OF the situation. There can't be
any guess-work for the men. And the
showing of this knowledge was that
the L" men, the power-plant men, and
union workmen generally could be
a q
clared. Wherefore the old demands OF
December. 1905 were revived
Not quite Something had happened
20 those demands meanwhile They
had shrunk. In lieu Of a dozen there
were only four. Pratt explains the
process so:
More strikes are lost through asking /
too many -hings than through asking |
too many big ones Two or three is |
pretty nearly always the total OF the /
real grievances Get them and let the 1
rest take care of themselves. Make sure /
that the public know what you're after. /
You cant do that if YOU mix tne whole /
Thing no. Keep il simple and get II.
& you can, just by asking feS il. State /
2 so that YOU have th9 z-<S7lr support I
tae moment ths papers print your de-
RAzA
F-S@ Clle company turns YOU GoEm I
you don't have to argue with the pub |
He- You have your breath left for slow /
ones among the w0rkmen.T
the company did turn them down /
IN five days. on the eve Of holiday, /
Pratt struck. The whole proceeding /
0as characteristic. While the company
vas claiming that only % per cent Of 4
ifs men were orgsuized. Pratt had the /
Eames of - per cent. The DAY chosen
irhicted the least possible injury on
general business. ana yet brought the
strike Immediately 10 the attention Of
every citizen. The issues were kept
clear
25-cent wage in lieu of = cents
A chance 10 work ten hours without