Milford chronicle., 1910-03-04
TRANSIT co.
WON'T ARBITRATE
Philadelphia Gar Strike Now
Far From Settlement.
OPPOSES THE WHOLE CITY

Traction Magnates Turn Down All
Suggestions Tending For Peace and
Declare They Will Not Deal With
Former Employees - General Strike
Seems Certain.
Philadelphia, March 2-The Rapid
Transit company refused to accede 10
arbitration of any kind to end the
strike of their motormen and ccniuc
tors The company now stands in the
position of opposing the whole city.
The Rapid Transit company has an
nounced that it will not deal with its
former employees under any circum-
stances whatever. no matter what the
consequences may be. If the company
persists in that attitude a general
strike is certain next Saturday. and
the information is that an hour after
the big strike goes into effect troop
trains will start for Philadelphia with
regiments Of the National Guard
There is less hope for peace at this
time than for a week past. even when
the worst of the riOting was going on.
The impact Of public opinion re
suited in a meeting of the directors Of
the Rapid Transit company. There was
a strong belief when it became known
that the directors were to meet that
some offer of arbitration would be en-
tertained by the company. AS a mat
ter of fact. such a course would have
been welcome to a majority Of the
directors. They are men whose in
terests are tied up in financial or COM
mercial enterprises. whose prosperity
would be greatly reduced if a general
strike takes place. They raised their
voices in meeting. but they were over
ruled by the determined opposition Of
the city's representatives in the direc-
torate.
Earle Balks Arbitration.
These messages told exclusively the
other day how George H. Earle baked
single-handed a proposition to submit
the quarrel between the company and
its men to a seven-man board of arbi- 1
tration. Mr. Earle's pertinacity was |
manifested no less strongly With .
Reyburn and Carpenter to back him /
UP, he resisted all pacific suggestions. /
The following statement was issued: |
AT the conclusion Of an informal |
conference of the Rapid Transit direc-
tors President Kruger stated that the
company has not changed and will not
change in any manner its attitude in
respect to arbitration already outlined
in its reply to the ministers associa-
ton"
The defiance of the Rapid Transit
company was announced after ten
business men representing the big
downtown stores had called on the di-
rectors and had talked to Mr. Earle.
1t is known now that the Rapid
Transit company does not believe that
the union labor men affiliated with the
Central Labor union will dare to break
agreements with employers I
and that the company is depending on
this one factor to maintain its stand
against arbitration.
Reyburn Rebukes Ministers.
Mayor Reyburn after the meeting
Of the directors FASTENED into print
The mayor scoffed at the ministers Of
the city. saying that it would be far
better if they attended to their own
affairs, who he said. "are talking
about something they know nothing I
about. They do not understand the
situation. It would be far better if a
they would preach order and peace to {
heir parishioners. Why do they want '
% support a lot of men in the de- !
struction of other peoples property
md in murder? Why these men they
support would be the first to burn
lown churches"
The mayo said that councils would
Tide with the representatives of the
'ity on the Rapid Transit board of
directors against arbitration.
"They will never agree to arbitra-
ion" said the mayor Il don't know
bout a sympathetic strike. but if it
S coming. it will have TO come I sup
'ose It will make more trouble but we
re better prepared than we we're. The