Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-03-15
OF BIG
STRIKE SEEMS NEAR
Ne gOtiatiOns TO
End Contest
Now On.
NEXT IL HOURS
spgolal ey untted Press Wirs.

Philadelphia, March 15:-The city
is quiet today. Negotiations to end
the strike were resumed this morn
ing. The general feeling now is that
the end Of the struggle is near
The strike orders issued to gro
Gerry clerks last night are not gener-
ally obeyed today. The union says
not many men received the order as
it was issued late.
President Kruger, Of the traction
company, refuses to talk. The car
mems president says many difficult
tes have been removed, and George
H. Earle says the next twelve hours
are likely to bring the trouble to
satisfactory end
There is mystery as to influence
exerted TO bring about the confer
ence looking toward settlement Of
the strike. Each side is saying the
other made oyertures. Organizer
Platt was excluded from the meet
ing. The "go-between' was Edward
Lober Stokes, member of the stock
exchange, nephew of the late John
Lober Welsh, formerly president Of
the Union Traction Company, pareht
of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company.
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.
Heavy Losses Had an Effect.
But the Rapid Transit company. hav-
ing lost $1,500o00 in twenty-four days,
was In no position to lose any MORE.
1t was up against the certainty Of a
receivership and a 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 LowbeF, a member of the
stock exchange, as their Spokesman.
Mr.. Stokes, representing sfsek.
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.
Union Leaders Quite Willing.
| 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 Ia
directing the strike, and put the mat
ter up to the unions. The leaders
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 Gn!1u and William 7. Ira
cy, vice president of the committee of
ten. They went over all the difficult
ties in the way Of settlement of the
car strike, and finally President
Charles o. Kruger was telephoned for,
and he soon arrived at Mr.. Earle's Of
fee.
Discussion as to Terms.
The meeting resolved itself into a
| discussion between President Kruger
for the company and W. D. 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 1,400
men who had remained loyal to it
and that there We're $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 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:
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