Democratic messenger., 1910-03-05
Determined TO
SMASH UNION
Phlla. Traction Company Re-
jeCts All Peace Offers.
GENERAL STRIKE IS CERTAIN
Directors Finally Reject Arbitration
and Labor Leaders Have Perfected
Plans to Call Out at Least $4,000
Men--eusiness Men Alarmed.

Plans to Call Out at Least $4,000
Men-eusiness Men Alarmed.
Philadelphia. March 3.-Tha direc-
tors OF the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
company will throw their company in
to the hands Of receivers to smash
the carmen's union. Arbitration has
been thrown aside and the company
stands ready 10 fight the whole city.
On the other hand. the 124 unions
have pledged themselves to strike In
sympathy with the carmen next Sat
urday and are massing their forces for
a battle which will make or break
labor unionism in this city. Union
men that have been on the most
friendly terms with their employers
notified the employers that. although
they we're sorry. they would have to
quit work when the strike gong
sounds.
This Is the situation after days OF
effort on the part of influential mer-
chants and citizens associations to
bring about peace. Their failure is
due to the remarkable implacability Of
one man. George II. Earle. president
of the Real Estate Trust company and
one OF the citys three representatives
on the board of directors OF the Rapid
Transit company. Several times. when
the majority of the directors swung
toward arbitration. Mr. Earle stiffened
their backbones. At present the direc-
tors are unanimous
Mr. Earle's influence has been no.
where more manifest than upon the
Hon. John +. Reyburn. mayor Of the
city The mayor vacillated In the
winds of public opinion like shuttle
cock until Earle took him firmly In
hand. Since that day when Earle stood
out single-handed against peace and
overawed whole board OF directors
Reyburn has been OF all the lot the
most virulently opposed To arbitration.
There has been a good deal OF curl
osity as to why Mr.. Earle set himself
so stubbornly against all propositions
to bring the company and the men to-
gether. Mr.. Earle's own explanation
OF his attitude is set forth briefly He
does not believe that the results OF
arbitration could possibly be perma-
nent. He believes that the company
would have to make the same fight
all over again with set OF men who
have no respect for agreements.
Hope Of Intervention Remote.
The hope OF Intervention seems so
remote that employers OF labor are
preparing to make the best Of things
when trouble comes TO town on Sat
urday. Many plants expect 10 shut
up absolutely Others expect they
will be able to run on half time. II
looks as II the theaters will be dark
Managers were notified BY representa-.
tives OF the Theater Mechanics asso-
citation that n walkout was coming. OF
course there are countless factories
that are not nj the mercy OF unions.
but even these expect desertiOns, The
walking delegates Of the unions have
been busy proselyting all week. The
sionary work has been successful and
that they have put thousands Of for
mer non.union men on their lists.
lust how many men viii quit work
on Saturday is all guess work John
j. Murphy. president Of the Central
Labor union. boasts that he can crack
the whip over 1s0000 workmen. Few
save Mr.. Murphy believe that so many
men will strike. conservative esti.
mate puts the number at 10000. Mer-
chants whose business has suffered
are asking themselves: "If 5000 idle
carmen can bring about a series OF
riots that cost half dozen lives In
tured 200 people and made philadel.
phia shameful before the country.
what condition OF things is TO be ex-
pected II 10000 men are thrown Idly
upon the streets. all animated by re-
sentiment against the Rapid Transit
company?"
The very success OF the company In
reinstating service-which II has act
ually done to large degree-is ex-
pected to be an irritant when the gen.
eral strike comes.
The business men have come 10 the
conclusion that II Is useless to appeal
20 the Rapid Transit directors. Their
main hope is that councils may In
fiuence the company or that McNichol.
Ware and Penrose will he able TO
think up something"
Efforts Of Merchants Fall.
II seemed 10 be the theory OF the
peace delegations that Earle. as a
representative OF theA public. would
feel bound TO recognize the widespread
demand for arbitration from The pub.
lie. but from the announcements made
by Earle himself. as well as the com
pany arguments for peace had no ef-
feet. After Samuel d. Lit and Ga
briel Blum. as representatives OF the
merchants association. had long
conference with Earle and Vice Presi.
dent Clarence Wolf. the following an
nouncement was made:
''The merchants used their best ef-
forts with both sides TO have the
strike settled. but inasmuch as neither
side would reient from It's position.
their efforts were Of no avail"