The Washington herald., 1910-03-12
COMPANY REJECTS
PEACE OVERTURES
Philadelphia Strikers Anx-
iOus to Force Arbitration.
MERCHANTS IN MASS MEETING
Business Men Appeal 90 seth Low,
President Taft, and Mayor Rey-
burn, but Get Little COmfOrt-Time
for Return Extended to March 10.
No Accessiona to Strikers Ranks.

Philadelphia, March 1.-THE United
Business Mems Association, which is
composed Of merchants whose trade has
been hurt most by the general strike,
put several peace movements in motion
this afternoon. They voted enthusiastic
ally for every plan suggested. from a
gentle appeal to President Taft 10 the
threat of a receivership for the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Company.
They sent telegram to Seth Low,
president of the National Civic Fedora
ton. urging the National Civic Fedora
ton TO arbitrate between the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Company and its former
employees. Mr.. Lows reply was extremely
disappointing to the shopkeepers. lie
telegraphed that the federation could not
act unless appealed 10 by both parties.
The business mems mass meeting was
lively. at times acrimonious. but out OF
II nothing definite came. Despite the
news that President Taft has decided 10
send here Labor Commissioner Nell to
investigate and report to him on the
merits OF the quarrel between employers
and labor unions, there seems TO be no
likelihood of arbitration.
Mayor Reyburn Firm.
When Mayor Reyburn heard OF the &C.
ton Of the association. he said that he
position he had taken He had received
a telegram from E, E. Greenawalt, presl-
dent Of the state Federation Of Labor.
requesting him TO use his official iEfiu-
ence TO secure arbitration. The mayor
said he was not necessarily opposed to
arbitration, but that he did not propose
to do the arbitrating. The mayors idea
was that If anybody thought he could
settle this strike by arbitration, why, let
him go ahead
President Kruger made a concession
to-day after a letter from the mayor
which may have important results. Tie
mayor wrote that he had been informed
that the families OF many Of the striking
motormen and conductors are well-nigh
in starving condition. It is pretty gen
orally understood that the strikers have
received mighty little financial assistance.
and that they are feeling the pinch
sharply.
The mayor suggested that the company
extend the time limit for re-employing
strikers to March l6, and that If tho
men return before March 1s the COM
pany. on request. advance SO TO each
married man and S to each single man
TO help them get started again. the money
TO be deducted from their wages at the
rate OF g a week.
Glad 10 Aid Men.
President Kruger replied that he would
take men back to ill any vacancies that
would still exist by March Is. and tina:
the company would be glad to give the
men the financial assistance suggested.
Mr.. Kruger pointed out, though, that the
company intended TO guard Loyalty the
rights OF the men who were loyal 10 it.
and that disappointments might follow
delay in taking advantage of the extern
sion OF time.
There is no doubt whatever that the
unions, despite their daily announcement
Of accessions, are losing men daily.
Strikers whose families are beginning to
suffer are drifting back by twos and
threes to their jobs. The committee of
ten. Pratt. Murphy, and the other chiefs
OF the general strike. are perfectly aware
OF the detection, and these men are
clamoring for arbitration. Several en-
ployers said to-day that they believed the
bottom is dropping out of the sympathetic
strike, and that soon there viii be moth
ing for the most well-meaning person in
the world TO arbirate.
Fail at Big Shops.
These men pointed out that the unions
have failed in their attack on the three
great open shops OF Philadelphia, the
Cramps, the BALDWIN Locomotive Works,
and the NIidvale Iron Works. The unions
pulled less than 1000 men from Baldwin's.
and some Of these returned after few
hours. At Cramps no impression was
made, and the labor proselyters were
equally unsuccessful at the AIidvale.
Upon information vouched for by a
director of the Union Traction Company,
it is asserted that the Public Service Cor
poTation of New Jersey has specially
urged the Rapid Transit management
TO stand fast by the position taken, and
that it will take upon its stronger Shout
ders a part of the financial loss sustained
by the Philadelphia corporation in down
ing the street carmen's union. The United
Gas improvement Company is largely
interested financially in the Public Serv-
ice Corporation Of New Jersey, which, be-
sides a system Of 65S miles Of electric
in Northern New Jersey, con-
trolls also important gas and electric
lighting and power properties.
Tt IS stated that manufacturers. not only
IN Philadelphia, but in other parts of the
United States, have offered to give
money assistance TO the Rapid Transit
Company upon the expressed theory that
union labor, as represented by the street
mems organization shoild -