The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-03-16
STRIKE NEAR END
Philadelphia Transit Com
pany Makes 0vertureS.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR MEN
Both Sides Say They Expect Peace
Will Be Arranged Within Twen-
ty-four Hours After Mu-
tual Concessions.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR MEN

Philadelphia, March 15.-In all prob
ability the street car strike will be set
tied and the general strike called of
within twenty-four hours George II.
Earle, who blocked all efforts toward
arbitration. has surprised the whole
city by taking the lead in overtures
toward the labor unions. and the
transit company has joined him in
these overtures.
Suddenly the news flashed from Mr..
Earle's office that he was in confer
ence there with William D. Mahon
and other labor leaders and that Pres
ident Kruger of the Rapid Transit
company and Mr. Mahon were nego-
tiating.
Hitherto Mr.. Earle had put himself
on record as unalterably opposed to
arbitration in any form Mr. Kruger
had said coldly that the strike was
over and the company had nothing to
arbitrate.
But the Rapid Transit company, hav-
ing lost 81, 100000 in twenty-four days,
was in no position to lose any more.
1t was up against the certainty of a
receivership and reorganization,
which would have been exceedingly
costly to the principal stockholders,
among whom are the Drexels. Vice
President Clarence Wolf with Mayor
Reyburn AT his back and supported
hitherto by Mr.. Earle. would have
fought the strikers TO the end of time,
but something happened which de
prived Mr.. Wolf and the mayor as
well as Mr., Earle of the pleasure of
fighting.
A few men, financially powerful,
heavily interested in the Rapid Transit
company, decided that the thing had
gone far enough. and they deputed
Edward Lowber. member of the
stock exchange, as their spokesman.
Mr.. Stokes, representing the stock
holders of the Rapid Transit company
went to Mr.. Earle's office and asked
him If he would consent to have a
talk with Clarence o. Pratt and other
leaders OF the strike.
The president of the Real Estate
Trust company said he would be glad
TO talk over the situation with almost
any Of the union leaders except Pratt.
Mr. Stokes Travelled to the headquar-
tiers of the committee Of ten, that is
directing the strike, and put the mat
n n ha
were quite willing TO see Mr.. Earle,
and William d. Mahon, president of
the International Federation of Street
and Electrical Railway Employees,
was agreed upon as an acceptable sub
stitute for Pratt. The meeting was
arranged instantly, and Mr.. Stokes
guided the union leaders to Mr.. Earles
office.
With Stokes were Mahon, Frank Nc
Cusker, president Of the Textile Work
ers' union; Charles Leps of the Cen
tral Labor union and William T. Ira
cy, vice president OF the committee OF
ten. They went over all the difficult
ties in the way of a settlement Of the
ear strike. and finally President
Charles o. Kruger was telephoned for.
and he soon arrived at Mr.. Earles of
fee.
The meeting resolved itself into a
discussion between President Kruger
for the company and w. ID. Mahon
for the carmen. After grievances had
been thrashed over MahOn asked what
the company was willing to do. Mr..
Kruger replied that the company
would insist on taking care of l.4OO
men who had remained loyal to IL
and that there were $50 of the strik-
ers that would not be taken back un-
der any circumstances. Mahon said
that the company would have to take
all or none.
There was further discussion con-
Quoted amicably, after which Mahon
was asked where he could be reached
If ii becan~ necessary to call on him
suddenly. He told them that he would
be AT the strikers headquarters or at
his hotel Mahon said:
Certain propositions have been
made looking toward a settlement OF
the strike. Mr.. Earle promised TO put
several propositions up TO the transit
company as soon as possible. have
great hopes that peace will come with
in twenty-four hours"
Edward Lowber Stokes said: II be-
lieve the whole thing will he settled.
The matter was brought down TO
pretty fine point AT the meeting"