The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-24
REJECT PEACEPLAN+ 45 WERE KILLED
Philadelphia Carmen Turn
Down Agreement.
WILL TRY STATEWIDE STRIKE
Surprising Action of Trolley Strik-
ers in Repudiating Mahon May
Compel Them to Fight
II Out Alone.

Philadelphia. March 22.-The strik-
ing carmen have repudiated the agree
ment made between the Rapid Transit
company and their own international
president William D. Mahon. 1t came
as d surprise
After Senator Penrose had forced
the Rapid Transit company to grant
50 per cent more than the strikers had
demanded. after Mahon in the name
Of the strikers had eagerly accepted
ths terms and had shaken hands on
the bargain with the senator. Vice
Pre- sideut Clarence Wolf. OF the com
panN. and others in the conference:
! after the announcement by the sena-
tor and Mr.. Mahon that the strike was
over. the carmen's union offended the
mar Penrosc. who had obtained for
| them more chan they had asked
The most experienced in politics and
labor difficulties cannot recall a situa
tion 10 equal the present state OF af-
/ fairs. Penrosc. angercd. has returned
to Washington E T. GreenawaIt has
some 60 Wilkes-Barro 20 consult the
council OF the State Federation OF La
Dor as to whether a state strike shall
BE- called
The whole thing is In a muddle. and
tho only result that seems at all clear
/ is that the local carmen will have to
| fight it out alone There is no indica-
tion OF further conferences.
| The carmen say that they repudiated
the Penrose- -Mahon agreement because
they did not want the strike TO he set
| tod by politicians. and because there
was no exclusive recognition OF their
union in the peace treaty. AS a matter
OF fact they had log-rolled for the as.
! sisiancc of the politicians. beseeching
Senator Pcnrose 10 come over from
Washington to help them out and
they had never al any time the peace
negotiations were on demanded cNclu
sivo recognition They nullined the
| agreement because Clarence O Pratt
and John J. Murphy. president Of the
| Central Labor union. were passed over
by Senator Penrose and the Rapid
Transit officials and eliminated from
the several conf rences.
Acted In Good Faith.
The senator and the Rapid Transit
officials assumed and they had Ma.
| hons word for u. that whatever he
agreed 10. II fair would be binding on
the union. All OF the parties in the
hnal conference on Sunday night acted
in good faith. Mahun was delighted al
the terms bee had secured Penrose
WAS pleased al what he considered
was a good stroke The Rapid Transit
officials were not happy. Since they
hal TO Concede more than they ever
intended. but they were sick of the
loss the company had suffered. and
they were pressed hard by the finan.
cial interests controlling the Rapid
Transit stocks >and the securities of
the Union Traction company. the prin
cipal subsidiary concern in the Rapid
Transit company
After the agreement had been sign.
ed and sealed everybody in Senator
Penrose's Office felt so good that there
was handshaking all around. Mahon
ana the members of the subcommittee
of the committee of ten. who were act
ing with him. assured the Rapid Tran.
sit officials that the men would turn
10 and help the company rehabilitate
itself Makon guaranteed their 10y
aty.
The next step was considered by
everybody in the conference to be
purely formal. The articles of agree
ment granting to the strikers rein
statement in their jobs at increased
pay and the same priority they had en-
joyed previously. as well as arbitration
OF the status Of the l73 men discharged
fer cause. were taken by Mr. Mahon to
the strikers headquarters TO be ratl.
fed by the committee of ten. The com
mittee was bound of course by the
| action OF its subcommittee appointed
to deal with Penrose and the Rapid
Transit men. They declined to ratify
them and demanded straight recogni-
tion of the union.