Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-26
PHILA. STRIKE
NEAR The END
Company is Making Terms
With Carmen.
DIRECTORS MAKE DENIAL
IN Spite Of What They Say u Is
Known That Only One Grievance
Remains to Be AdJusted-FinsnoiaI
Interests For Settlement.

AOANieAAe TQf oCAAlcfneuks
Philadelphia. March I6.-The presi-
dent and directors Of the Rapid Tran
hit company have turned a deaf ear
% iuteryiewers.
The sudden reversal OF position by
George Il. Earle I'm treating with the
direct representative of union labor
after he had declared that mediation
was impossible astonished employers
Of labor.
Tho Rapid Transit directors have
been totterinE for hours. They have
been ordered by the banking interests
that own the majority of stock OF the
Rapid Transit company 90 come 70
terms with the strikers.
TO appeared sat Mr.. Earle was IN
control or the situation: that he could
make terms for the company. and
that be- would De able slngle-handed 20
settle the strike. just as DE had been
powerful enough alone TO prevent arbi-
tration. President Kruger stood out
from behind Mr. Earle and denied that
he had taken any important part IN
tho conference Monday between Earle
and the representatives OF the labor
unions
Mr. Kruger's clerk. an employee nam
ed Pierce. announced that the com
pany had not agreed 20 arbitrate any
thing and that the situation remained
unchanged. Mr.. Kruger refused to talk
20 newspaper men. and his fellow d.
rectors SHE'D from conversation like a
Fencible from a brIckbat.
Only One Demand to Be Adjusted.
In spite OF all denials. the Rapid
Transit directors have progressed so
Tar IN dealing with representatives OF
the unions that only one difference.
one grievance. remains 10 be adjusted
Not only has George H. Earle hob.
nobbed with William D. Mahon and
local strike leaders. but Clarence
Wolf. vice president OF the Rapid
Transit company. and an outspolIen
opponent OF compromise hitherto has
been talking amicably with Pratt him
self. Only few days ago the direc-
tors OF the Rapid Transit company
fired up when Pratt's name was men
toned
The strike viii be called on by the
unions. provided the Rapid Transit
company agrees 20 take back ALI OF
the men on strike That IS the present
obstacle. The company made one last
stand. Through Kruger Il said that Il
would protect the interests Of 400
men OF the Keystone union who had
remained loyal and that "a would not
re-employ under any circumstances
200 men whom a had discharged for
cause. II was willing 20 Increase
wages and improve hours. but Il could
not see It's way clear 10 taking back
al Of the men on strike.
William ID. Mahon saiG that the
company would take back all of the
men on none.
The Rapid Transit directors have
been meeting to discuss whether or
not they can stand up against Mahon's
demand. The alternative as Il has
been presented is recognition of the
unions Either the company must take
back all Of the men, with the under
standing that union recognition will
not be insisted upon. or It must recoE-
nize the union II II insists on remain
Ing loyal 10 the men who stood by il
IL the crisis
Both Sides Standing on Honor.
Although nothing definite came from
conferences between representatives
or the Rapid Transit company and the |
strikers, IL is practically certain that |
some sort Of a settlement will be
made within day or two. From a
light II he's become a firtation. Each |
SIDE Is saying that only honor" IN !
terYenes between a complete settle |
ment The obstacle does not appear to |
be insurmountable.
One OF the most surprised men IN
AL Philadelphia was John r. Reyburn.
mayor Of the city. The Hon. John fam
cfed he knew what was going on. II /
was Earle who persuaded him to pre- |
lent an uncompromising front to tbs