Evening journal., 1910-03-15
MAY END The
PHILA STRIKE
Rapid Transit Officials and
Men are Drought Together
In Conference
HOPE THAT TROUBLE
WILL SOON BE ENDED

BY United Press Leased apecial Wire.
PHILADELPHIA, March 15-Phila-
delphias street car strike and general
sympathetic strike may come 70 an end
to-day. Preliminary negotiations in a
plan to en- dthe strike by direct action
of representatives of the Rapid Transit
Company and the union carmen will
continue to-day, following the confer
ence held late yesterday by President
Kruger, OF the traction company, and
George II. Earle, Jr., one of the three
municipal directors. with President
Mahon. of the Garments International
Union, and a subcommittee of the
strikers.
While nothing definite was accom-
plished at this meeting. an influential
member Of the Rapid Transit Com
pany's directorate asserted today that
the next twelve hours are likely 70
bring the means to the end Speak
Ing for the strikers and representing
them indirectly the carmens organiza-
tion President w. d. Mahon said.
MANY difficulties were swept away"
President Kruger refuses absolutely to
say anything about the conference.
and the meeting is denied as official
by the Rapid Transit Company.
Mysterious Influence at Work.
There is mystery as to the influence
exerted to bring about the conference,
each side contending that "Ovcrtures
came from the other side" Neycrthe-
less the cordiality of feeling and the
optimistic attitude of both sides Is
taken as an indication that a settle
ment of some sort will be reached.
National Organizer Clarence O. Pratt.
who called the present strike and has
been conducting it, was excluded from
the conference.
The ''go between was Edward Low
Der Stokes, a member of the stock ex-
change, and a nephew Of the late John
Lowber Welsh. who at one time was
president of the Union Tranction Com
pany. the parent corporation of the
Rapid Transit Company.
At to-days conference other repre-
sentatives Of the transit company. II
is said, will participate The only
point Of difference between Mr.. Earl.
and Mr.. Mahon is what one of tn,
I committee of ten in charge of the gen
eral strike, describes as of no i'm
1 portance," and refers TO the means o.
[ getting these men together. Mr. Earl,
says the representatives of the striker
were brought TO his Office by Mr.
/ Stokes. whom he does not know, Will,
the committee says Mr.. Stokes came {,
them ana asked that they accompan,
him to Mr.. Earles office, there TO con
fer with President Kruger, both ot
whom would be glad to hold a confer
ence.
Although the union grocery clerks at
mass meeting last night voted to join th
sympathetic strike this morning. proprie
tors OF the large retail grocery store
stated to-day that their force was intac
and mp till late hour had not receive,
any reports of their clerks quitting. II
reply to this union leaders declare tha
the entire system viii practically be tiei
up before the day is over.
At the general offices Of the Acme Tel
Company, who own a chain of a score o
more stores, it was said that none of thei
men had deserted them. The same wa
said at the office Of the William Butle
Company, George Dunlap and Company
and Robinson and Crawford
Practically the same conditions Of af
fairs existed with the bakers and mil
wagon drivers.