The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-15
SEEK PEACE PLAN
Phila. Business Men Try
TO Settle Strike.
BRUTAL POLICE DENOUNCED
Wave of Indignation Sweeps Over
Quaker City as Result Of Club
bing Women and Children
on Broad Street
BRUTAL POLICE DENOUNCED

Philadelphia. March 1.-THE United
Business Mems associations. which is
composed OF merchants whose trade
has been hurt by the general strike.
put several peace movements in mo-
ton They voted enthusiastically for
every plan suggested. from a gentle
appeal to President TAFT to the threat
Of a receivsrship tor the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company.
They scct telegram 70 Seth Low.
president OF TIE National Civic FEEDER
alton. urging the Federation to arbf.
,rate between the Rapid Transit COM
Fany and its former employees. Mr..
lows reply was extremely disappoint.
tng TO the shopkeepers. He telegraphed
that the Federation couldn't act unless
appealed To by both parties Despite
the news that President Taft has de-
cided TO send here Commissioner
Neili Of the department of commerce
and labor, 10 Investigate and report to
him on the merits of the quarrel be
tween employers and labor unions.
there seems to be no likelihood OF ar
filtration.
The business men thought IL might
help to call on the bankers OF the city
any ask that they bring pressure to
bear on the Rapid Transit company
The hume Gus resolutions and sugyes-
tons were referred 20 a committee
Of thirty-fve. with power to act.
When Mayor Reyburn heard OF the
action Of the association he said that
he didn't see how he could change the
position he had taken. He had recriv-
ed telegram from F. E Grecnawalt.
president of the State Federation OF
Labor. requesting him to use his OF
fetal influence 10 secure arbitration
Iae -s-sssxor said he wasn't necessarily
opposed to arbitration. hut that he
didn't propose to 90 the arbitrating
The mayors idea was that If anybody
thought he could settle this strike by
arbitration. why let him 20 ahead.
President Kruger made coaces.
sion The mayor wrote that he had
been informed that the families OF
many Of the striking motormen and
conductors are well nigh in starving
condition u IS said pretty generally
that the strikers have received mighty
little financial assistance. and that
they are feeling the pinch sharply. The
mayor suggested that the company ex.
tend the time limit for re-empIoying
strikers TO March Is. and that II the
men return before March Is the com.
pany, on request. advance $40 to each
married man and s. 10 each single
man to help ,Aem get started again.
the money to be deducted from their
wages Al tho rate OF 81 week.
President Kruger replied that he
would take men back To I'll any va
cancies that would still exist by March
is. and that the company would be
glad 10 give the men the financial as
sistance suggested.
The union Is holding its own with
the men on strike. While some have
returned to work. many others are
Joining their ranks and arc being or.
ganized. There was not a particle OF
trouble in the city Friday.
II became known that offers OF large
financial assistance have been made
10 the Rapid Transit company in meet
ing the heavy cost OF a fight to a
finish with union labor. These prefers
ara OF actual cash contributions 10
the common cause OF capital which
those making them feel to be the pres
ent issue.