Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-11

helpers of the five tranS-cOntlnental
express companies decided tentatively
early this morning to return to work
on Monday under the terms of the
agreements signed yesterday after
noon. If the Jersey City strikers also
approve the agreement the men will
go back; if the Jersey men reject the
agreement. the New York men will stay
out. Drivers and chautfeurs on strike
rot employed by The express compa-
nies are not affected and may settle
their differences as they choose.
New YORK, Nov. lO-The most I'M
ruly day of the drivers and helpers
strike against the five trans continen-
tai express companies ended with what
seemed a trustworthy promise OF
peace. A committee representing the
cnployes-not the union which has
organized and conducted the strike
and the executive officers of the five
companies, met in Mayor Gaynors Of
flee late today and signed an agree
ment for presentation at mass meet
ing tonight for ratification With the
agreement accepted by the men. the
strike Mil end tomorrow. The agree
ment in a form Of letter to Henry
h. Towne. president OF the Merchants
Association of New York. follows:
I'VE are willing to take back our
employees who are on strike, whether
or not they have joined a union, re-
serving the right. however, to decline
to take back any of them, whether
they be members of a union or not,
Nv t1l Or in cd
acts of violence and hostility
against us.
Those of our companies whose en-
plOyes have raised question concern
ing their hours of employment or rate
nf wages will agree, after the men re-
sumo work, at once to take up these
questions With their employees. Or with
committees Of them for the purpose
Of reaching a settlement which shall
be just and satisfactory to both par
ties, with the understanding that the
former hours and rates of wages shall
continue in effect until Dec ! next.
and on that date any changes mu
tually agreed upon shall thenfhecome
effective"
To this offer the representatives of
the strikers assented as follows:
THE undersigned, a committee rep
resenting the employees of the express
companies which join in the annexed
letter to Mr.. Towne. have received the
terms of the said letter in settlement
OF the strike ard advise the said en-
ployes to resume work thereon at once
and end the strike. We proposed these
same terms through the mayer last
Friday at els request, and adhere t"
Them now. at his request"
Before the agreement was signed.
the day had been turbulent, confused
and full of statements and counter
statements. There was more riotin2
than at any time during the strike
of labor, threatened an official investi
cation if matters did not end, to which
III. s. Julier. general manager of the
American Express Co, replied that 50
far as his company went, he would
welcome all the publicity possible
Counsel for the Adams, the United
States and the Wells Fargo Cos, OBJ
tanned an order from Judge Cox in the
United States circuit court, directing
the city to show cause tomorrow why
it should not be restrained from en-
forcing the ordinance which requires
carriers of interstate express matter to
take out city licenses. 1t is probable
that the companies will press this
point tomorrow regardless of the out
come tonight in order to settle the
matter for once and all, with an eye to
future possible strikes. Two hundred
applications for licenses were filed this
afternoon. In each case the applicant
was required to state whether he was
regularly employed or was strike
breaker, whether he had ever been
convicted of criminal offence and
whether he carried arms.
1t was directly due to Mayor Gaynor
that the agreement was drawn up and
signed. Last night the companies is
sued and today printed in the adver-
using columns of the newspapers, a
long statement defining their position.
When ! came to the Office" said
Mayor Gaynor tonight, land was shown
the published statement of the express
companies, | saw that, if boiled down
1t meant the same as the terms the
men agreed to last week on my re-
quest | sent for Mr.. Towne and asked
him to reduce it to such a short form
ana see II the express companies would
not sign it. He did so and they all
signed
i then got together the committee
OF the striking employees of the COM
panies and they signed paper agree
ing to the terms, Mr.. Towne is entitled
TO great credit for settling the strike
wish we had lot more of such men
as Mr.. Towne and there would he no
strikes"
The worst of the trouble today came