The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-17
SETTLING STRIKE
Philadelphia Trouble Will
Be Adjusted.
FlNANClERS FORCE ISSUE
stockholders. Fearing Receivership
Decided Struggle Had Gone Far
Enough and Arranged the
Peace Conference.

Philadelphia March l5.-it is prob
able that the street car strike will be
settled and the general strike called
on within a few hours. The man who
tad blocked all Efforts toward srbi-
tration surprised a whole city by TAX
Ing the lead in overtures toward the
labor unions Apparently George IL
Earle reversed his position.
There was every Indication that the
general strike was petering out sud
denly the news flashed from MIR.
Earl's Office in the Real Estate Trust
company that he was in conference
there with William u. Mahon and
other labor leaders and that President
Kruger. Of the Rapid Transit company.
and Mr.. Mahon were dickering.
The fash was startling Mr. Earle
had put himself on record as unalser-
ably opposed TO arbitration in any
form. Mr. Kruger had said coldly
that the strike was over and that the
company had nothing to arbitrate
Strike Cost Company $500. 900.
But no chain is stronger than its
weakest link. The Rapid Transit COM
pany. having lost 81 .500.O 900 in twenty
four days. was in no position 70 lose
any more Il was up against the Ger.
tainty OF receivership and a reor.
ganization. which would have been ex-
ceedingly costly to the principal stock.
holders. Theer is no doubt in the
world that 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 deprived Mr.. Wolf and the
mayor. as well as Mr.. Earle. OF the
pleasure OF lighting.
The information is that a few men
financially powerful heavily interested
IN the Rapid Transit company. decided
that the thing had gone far enough
and that they weren't ready for a
| Transit reorganization. SO Young
man named Edward Lowber Stokes q
member OF the stock exchange and a
nephew Of the late John Iowhor
Welsh was put forward.
Mr.. Stokes. representing. 81 is az.
derstood. the underlying stockholders
Of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
company. went to Mr. Earle's oefce
and asked him IL he would consent TO
have a talk with Clarence o. Pratt
and other leaders Of the strike II is
not known what credentials Mr.
Stokes presented to Mr.. Earle
The president OF the Resi- Estate
Trust company said immediately that
he would be glad Ia talk over the sit
uation in q friendly manner with al
most any Of the union leaders exceDt
Mr.. Pratt.
Mr.. Stokes asked Mt Earle n WI
liam d. Mahon. president OF the Inter
national Federation OF Street and Elec-
trical Railway Employees would be an
acceptable substitute for Pratt. Mr.
Earle said that he had no objections
to Mahon- The meeting was arranged
instantly. and Mr. Stokes guided the
union leaders to Mr.. Earles Office
With Stokes were Mahon Frank
McCusker. president OF the Textile
Workers union. Charles Lens. OF the
Central Labor union. and William 7.
Tracy. vice president OF the committee
OF ten. There were two conferences
At nrst Mr.. Earle met Stokes L.eps.
McCusker apsi Tracy Then Mahon ar
rived. and together they went over
all the difficulties In the way OF a set.
uez6ent OF the car strike Mr Earle
dsd not feel able to answer all IN.
questions that touched upon the att
tude OF the company. so he suggested
that President Charles O Kruger be
telephoned for.
An interesting. even amusing. fea
ture OF the meeting was that the com
pany appeared TO assume that thu
overtures came from the - ikers The
strikers were sure that the company
had made the first advances. Both
sides seemed pleased and confident
that peace is in sight Edward I.owber
Stokes said:
Il believe the whole thing will be
settled. Certainly hope so The mat
ter was hrnnght down TO a pretty fine
point at the meeting"
Mr.. Stokes was asked II h. thought
the strike would be settled AT once
He said merely that he hoped so
Must Take Back All Men.
The meeting resolved itself into a
discussion between President Kruger.
for the company. and w ID. Mahon.
Tor the carmen After the grievances
had been threshed over Mahcn asked
| what the company was willing to do
| Mr. Kruger replied that the company
would insist on taking care OF 1900
men who had remained loyal TO II.
and that there were $50 of the strik-
ers that wouldn't be taken back under
any circumstances. Mahon said that
the company would have to take back
all or none
There was further discussion. con
Quoted amicably. after which Mahon
was asked where he could be reached
II It became necessary TO call on him
suddenly. He told them that he would
be at the strikers headquarters or at
his hotel
| Mahon said after the meeting:
| Certain propositions have been
made looking toward a settlement OF
the strike. Mr. Earle promised to put
several propositions up to the Rapic
Transit company as soon as possible
have great hopes that peace viii
come In dav or two