Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-03-12
Banks and Citv - SN..ed to
Use Influe. ~ .,SN Sides.
APPEAL TO o-s1C FEDERATION
Roosevelt Peace Commission Will
Also Be Asked to Assist.
COMPANY MAKES CONCESSIONS
Men Who Desire to Return VIII De
Given Work Up TO March 26-
Pratt Says offer is
duff.

PHILADELPHIA, March 1.-two hours
and half Of discussion of the strike ques-
ton by large gathering representing more
than thirt ybusiness organizations Of the
city was productive of the adoption of a
resolution in which three separate inf1u-
ences are invoked to bring the industrial
war to an end.
OF the two local influences appealed to,
stress was laid upon the financial powers
OF the city. The city's banks are requested
to use their influence to bring about arbi-
tration or an equitable settlement. Each
commercial body represented was asked
also to try to induce the councilmen to call
especial meeting Of the city council for ac-
tlon which will induce the company and its
men to come to terms.
The resolution took wider scope, how
ever, in directing that telegram be sent
at once to Seth Low, president Of the Ma
tional Civic Federation, asking that the fed
Grafton offer Immediately It's services as
arbitrator. The Traction cdqnpany, many
thought, would not lightly cast aside an Of
fer from the body to act as mediator, and
strikers have already announced they would
welcome arbitration.
Petition to Taft.
A petition 20 President Taft, presented by
Alfred H. Love of the Universal Peace
union, was numerously signed by the busi-
ness men at the close of the meeting. 1t
suggested that the Commission for the Pro-
motion of Industrial Peace, which has at
Its disposal the funds donated by Theodore
Roosevelt from the Nobel peace prize
awarded to him, be asked to act in the
crisis here.
immediate action" was the demand of
every speaker OF the afternoon The block
ing Of a settlement was variously attributed
in the speeches, some OF which were ex-
tremely warm In tone, upon the transit
company, the city officials and in a few
instances upon the attitude of the strikers
themselves in forcing a general walkout
and insisting upon recognition Of their
union IN any arbit. ztion they were willing
to endorse.
''The city hall could settle this in twenty
| four hours It it would" was one orators
declaration.
| Doubt was expressed In many quarters
whether any action taken by the business
men would have any Immediately beneficial
effect upon the situation. There was hope,
! however, in the results Of the appeal for
! Intervention from outside, while many of
| the business men seemed convinced that
their firm stand for action at home to end
| the strike would have it's due effect and
bring results.
! Tonight the company, through President
Kruger, announced its willingness to COM
! ply with Mayor Reyburns request for con-
cesslons to men willing to return to work
In his letter to Mayor Reyburn, President
| Kruger said: ...- ....
II take the responsibility Of saying that
as far as there are vacancies we shall
receive the men back until March 26, 1910,
/ M
ruary 25 and believe that in some way we
can give them the financial assistance that
you request. OF course we must Loyalty
guard the rights Of the men who have been
loyal to us, and we think 1t only fair to
point out in this connection that we are
now rapidly filling our ranks"
C. o. Pratt, leader of the striking car
men. declared tonight that the action of
the mayor and the responsive offer Of the
company was bluff"
In Its usual daily statement to the COM
mittee Of ten tonight claimed increases
in the ranks of the general strikers dur
ing the day and declared that the work.
ers of the state only awaited the word to
go in the movement here. The statement
indicated possibility OF further trouble in
declaring:
'If within forty-eight hours the present
general local strike is not settled every
labor organization now on strike will be
instructed to formulate demands for
wages, hours and conditions of labor they
deem commensurate with the increased
cost OF living now upon us.
Railroad employees, miners unions and
labor organizations of every craft and
trade throughout the state will be noti-
fled to take similar action"
Trenton Strike Settled.
TRENTON. N. j., March 1.-THE troll
ley strike in this city was practically set
tied late this afternoon when the Trenton
street Railway company granted the men
the wages asked-23 cents an hour. Other
! concessions are being discussed.
Ice Out at Pierre.