The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-03-16
WANT ARBITRATION
At PHILADELPHIA
DEMANDS ARE MADE UPON BOTH
LOCAL AND NATIONAL
INFLUENCES.
BUSINESS MEN HOLD MEETING
Petition to Taft Urges the Industrial
Peace Commission to Act.-"Im-
mediate Action" Is Demand Of
Every Speaker.

Philadelphia, March 12.-The call
for arbitration of the differences be-
tween the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
sit company and it's 1000 or more
striking employees has become insist
ent.
Everywhere it is recognized that
the failure to arrive at any arbitral
agreement was the only thing that
stood in the way of the speedy calling
off of the general sympathetic strike
in this city, which practically has
paralyzed the city's industrial life and
which the labor leaders made renewed
threats to spread if the deadlock con-
tinued.
These threats, perhaps, were the
very things which most stood in the
way of an amicable adjustment. The
"Vested interests" as they are some
times alluded to by partisans but
which nevertheless, under present con-
ditions, are decidedly real factor in
the situation, dislike and resent the
hint of coercion.
But leaving this feature of the pres
ent conditions out of consideration
there came to the surface forces which
those who, for good or bad reasons,
can see nothing but a prolonged strug-
gle as the outgrowth of the existing
complications, will seemingly find it
hard to resist.
Business Men Meet.
At a meeting of business men the
call for arbitration was the keynote
from beginning to end of two hour
and half debate which eliminated
in demands upon both local and nation
al influences for the setting in motion
of forces to bring the trouble before
a mediation tribunal for settlement.
Determined forces for arbitration
have been made before in the course
of the struggle which started nearly
four weeks ago, and have failed. Each
day, however, seemingly brings the
situation nearer a crisis.
Stress on Influences.
Two hours and half of discussion
of the strike question by large gath.
ering representing more than 30 bust.
ness organizations of the city was pro.
ductive of the adoption of a resolu.
ton in which three separate influences
are invoked to bring the industrial
was to an end.
of the two local influences appealed
to, stress was laid upon the financial
powers of the city.
The city's banks, through the clear.
ing house association, are requested
to use their influences with the part.
ton or an equitable settlement, the
understanding being that especial re.
ference was had to the transit com.
pany.
Each commercial body represented
was asked, also, to bring every pos.
sible pressure to bear upon the coun.
cilmen to cause special meeting of
city councils to be called for action
which will induce the company and
it's men to come to terms.
Petition to Taft.
A petition to President Taft, pre-.
sented by Alfred H. Love of the Uni.
versal Peace union, was numerously
signed by the business men at the
close of the meeting. 1t suggested
that the commission for the promotion
of industrial peace, which has at it's
disposition the funds donated by Theo.
dore Roosevelt from the Nobel peace
prize awarded to him, be asked to act
in the crisis here.
Concessions to Strikers.
The company, through President
Kruger, announces it's willingness to
comply with Mayor Reyburn's request
for concessions to men willing to re-
turn to work.
In his letter to Mayor Reyburn,
President Kruger said:
II take the responsibility of saying
that as far as there are vacancies we
shall receive the men back until March
18, 1910, under the terms of our reso-
luton of Feb. rs, and believe that in
some way we can give them the fin
nncial assistance that you request. Of
course, we must Loyalty guard the
rights of the men who have been loyal
to us and we think it only fair to
point out, in this connection, that
we are now rapidly filling our ranks"
An excellent sign was the good or
der which prevails throughout the city.
Cars ran uninterruptedly in greater
numbers than since the strike began.
The strikers do not claim many new
accessions to their ranks and such as
there were the employers claimed
were more than Offset by assertions
from the strikers cause.
Trace Of Car Ferry Found.
Erie, Pa, March 12-According to
report here trace has at last been
found OF the wrecked Marquette car