Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-03-04
COURTS GIVEN
The AUTHORITY
TO END STRIKE
OLD LAW IS DUG UP IN PENNSYL-
WANNA TO SETTLE TRACTION
DISPUTE.
MAYOR AGAINST ARBITRATION
Citys Executive Would Rather Break
with Politicians Than Propose Way
TO Settle Trouble.
POLICEMEN TO GUARD CITY HALL.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, March 8
Under an old law the common pleas
courts of Philadelphia may be called
upon to end the trolley strike Mayor
Reyburn announced this afternoon that
an act had been found, which it is be
lieved gives the county courts power 10
take steps TO have differences existing
between public service corporations and
the latter's employees adjusted. The
mayor further stated that he would not
recommend action by the city council.
but would call attention to this old law
The statute, nhich was passed by the
Legislature in 1893, provides that if Il
transportation company cannot agree
with the corporations employees one or
both sides eau apply to the common pleas
courts for the appointment Of Il board of
arbitration.
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit com
pany has hitherto taken a stand against
arbitration and therefore if the act is
taken advantage of the move will have
To come from the strikers side.
When the law was called to Organizer
pratt's attention, he said: Il know Of
no such law, but l am not surprised at
this late date that the Philadelphia Rap
id Transit company and their city hall
allies want to bring the controversy into
politically directed courts where they are
50 fond of bringing individuals who OPP
pose them.
1T is singular that the law was never
invoked before during industrial dis
puteS i'll Pennsylvania"
Ready for General Strike.
The action taken at the meeting of the
Central Labor union Wednesday night,
when that organization made final prepa-
TatiOns to carry the threatened sympa-
thetfc strike order into execution, was
discounted by the company which pro-
feSsed to believe that only Il small per
cent. Of the 100000 or more of union
worlmen would obey the strike order at
midnight Friday.
A Il conference held Wednesday night
between tie business mems representa-
tiVeS and Clarence O. Pratt. organizer of
the Amalgamated Association of Elec-
trio Railway Employees, Mr.. Pratt said
that he favored arbitration and would be
willing to do almost anything in his pow
er to prevent sympathetic strike He
suggested that the business men name an
arbitrator, the Rapid Transit company
name one. and that these two men select
a third, not necessarily Il member Of the
street car mems union. But from the
position assumed by the company this
proposition appeared to stand very little
snow OF even DelnS cOnSnered.
Mayor Is Determined.
The mayor was so strong against any
interference by outside persons that he
let ii be known he would risk an omen
rupture with the Republican organization
rather than give III to them He af-
firmed that his only duty as chief exc
cutive of the city so far as the strike
was concerned was to maintain order.
His position of representative Of the
city on the Transit company's board of
directors is eX officio and not elective.
the other two city directors being elected
by councils. The mayor said he was
therefore not bound by any resolution
adopted by councils
That the mayor was Indifferent over
the prospect of n break with the political
leaders was shown in q statement he
made i'll answer to question as to the
result of a certain political conference
held Wednesday. He said: "They want
ed me to change. and told me they were
getting kilograms from the political lead
ers in Florida, and that | was commit
ting political suicide if l did not change.
! told them | did not care about State
Senator McNichol, Recorder Ware, or
Senator Penrose or anybody else, or
whether | was committing political sui
eide or not. That | was going to stand
Just where L was, no matter what the
result
Pratt Expects Arbitration
The general opinion among persons
who were thought to be in q position to
know the feelings of the officials Of the
company was that there was little hope
of ayerting a sympathetic strike. Not
withstanding the obstinacy with which
the company treated any overtureS look
ing to arbitration, Organizer Pratt was
still optimistic today and maintained
that arbitration would yet be an accom-
plished fact.
An extra detail of policemen was or
dered on duty at the city hall to prevent
the friends of arbitration from storming
the council chamber, as was done in
1908, when 4 monster demonstration was
made against the obnoxious lease of the
city gas works
MANAGER FOR UNIVERSITY.