Evening journal., 1910-03-03
AWAIT ACTION
OF COUNCILS
Mayor Reyburn Still Strongly
Opposed to Strike Arbi-
tratiOn
PHILADELPHIA CAR
SERVICE ALMOST NORMAL

BY On.'ed Press Leased Special wire.
PHILADELPHIA, March 3-On the
action to be taken this afternoon by
the Common and Select Councils of
Philadelphia will rest the industrial
peace Of this city.
Unless Councils can devise some plan
for an immediate settlement of the
present street car strike. a general
walk-out of the union men has been
ordered to begin at midnight Friday.
Unions representing $4,000 of them have
already signifed their intention Of
obeying the call for the strike.
officials of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company. Mayor Reyburn and
the city representatives on the Rapid
Transit board of directors refuse to
believe the general strike possible, or
TO grant any point to the strikers that
would end the present strike or avert
the. general strike.
Demand For Settlement.
Public sentiment in Philadelphia de-
mands a settlement of the street car
strike. which to-day entered into its
thirteenth day. Politicians, fearing loss
OF prestige. are seeking TO settle II.
Business men. who already have lost
millions of dollars as result Of the
paralysis Of business, insist on settle
ment. In the face of all this. the city
officials. who are working hand in
glove with the officials of the street
car company and against the strikers,
declare In positive terms they will not
grant arbitration.
It is more than likely that Councils
will take some positive action this af-
ternoon, but whether it is not already
too late to avert the general strike is
doubtful The political leaders have
passed the word that the car strike
must be ended and the general strike
averted If Councils can hit upon
n scheme TO force the company to
arbitrate the strike may be settled. But
the stand of the city and police officers
in going out Of their way 10 aid the
car company in its efforts to break the
union. has incensed the labor union
people to such a pitch that even their
leaders may be unable to hold them
in check and a general strike may
come wlly-nilly.
At a meeting Of the Central Labor
Union last night IT was enthusiastically
agreed 10 go out on the general STRIKE
Friday night al midnight. unless thu
street car strike is ended by that time
Riot and bloodshed would be almost
sure to follow II the company made
any effort to operate cars
Reyburn Against Arbitration.
In an interview with the representa-.
tives Of the United Business Mems As
sociation, Mayor Reyburn admitted las
night that the machine politicians and
leaders had been urging him to arbi
trate with the strikers He maintained
that he would not consent to arbitra
tion and declared he would go to the
point Of breaking with the organiza
ton before he would change his pres
ent attitude.
The street car company declares i
operated 1000 cars yesterday and 65
from dark until midnight Some dis
order was reported. the most seriou
being at Forty-sixth street and Ian
caster avenue. where a shot was free
through a car window No one wa
injured. Eight cars. caught in blocl
bv a derailed car on Frankford ave
nue.. were stoned. Police reserves dis
persed the crowds and made severa
arrests. Cars were stoned in other por
tions of the city, but none of the at
taclxs assumed the proportions OF I
riot
A mob late last night set fire TO tn
street car waiting room at Orthodo
and Richmond streets. in Bridesbure
The fire company. which responded
put out the fire and then turned tn
hose on the crowd that had gathered
Dispensing them. No arrests wer
made.
Petition Of $4,000 Names.
A monster petition which will have 2
least $1,000 names attached to 1t by
o'clock. the labor leaders say, will /
presented to councils at $50 o'clock Th
petition. signed by all classes. of peop
calls upon councils 10 force arbitration
While councils is almost sure to TAX
some decisive action there is considerab
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