Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-02
NO FIAT
Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Rejects All Pleas.
POLICY NOT TO CHANGE
Director Earle Positive in Deter
mination Not to Yield.
STRIKERS ARE STILL HOPEFUL
Going Ahead Quietly Preparing for
Sympathetic Walkout-Some
Unions Will Not Join.

OulOuB W1ll MOI JOIN.
PHILADELPHIA, March 2.-As the
situation develops 1t becomes more and
more certain that there will be no arbitra-
ton of the questions at issue between the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and
its union carmen, and that. Saturday
Philadelphia will be given over to the
dangers and discomforts of a general
strike.
At 10 O'Clock the transit company Is
sued statement. in which 1t was said
that every member of the board OF d.
rectors was unit in supporting the
statement, issued last evening, in which
II was declared tnat arbitration Is not nor
will be considered. This is taken to
mean that, no matter what pressure Is
brought to bear, there will be no dissen-
sion in the board, and therefore no hope
OF peace. through the plans suggested by
the clergy and other associations of citi-
Gems.
No Negotiations Under Way.
"There are no peace negotiations on
foot. The strike is practically over"
This statement was made by George H.
Earle, one of the city's representatives on
the board of directors.
There is no change In the situation to-
day." he added. 1.-The directors OF the
Rapid Transit Company say the strike is
over. The delegation of Market street
merchants who called on me yesterday
did not place any proposition before me.
nor did they ask me to do anything To-
ward arbitration.
1--WE were together for two hours. There
was a general exchange of ideas, but
nothing was said or placed before me In
the way of proposition.
These gentlemen called upon me to
learn the true condition OF AFFAIRS. Tney
had read full newspaper accounts or the
strike. but wanted to know II there was
anything the newspapers had not given
to the public. 1 told them the situation
had been covered fully, and they went
away apparently satisfied.
Expects No Further Conference.
ct do not expect to have another con-
ference with them. Nor do / know II
they are going to take further action.
1T have received stacks Of letters In
the past few days from prominent men
of Philadelphia approving of the atti-
tude I have taken. Several communica-
lions are anonymous"
Have any threats been made in let
tiers to you?" Mr.. Earle was asked.
piled. There can be no second make
shift in this city. You will recall that
in the strike last June / was not q men,
Der Of the transit board.
"A gentleman insisted upon a settle
ment at that time. Philadelphia has had
h since"
1t is believed Mr. Earle here referred to
State Senator James P. McNichol. Mr..
Earle does not think that general strike
will lead to disorder.
If a general strike is declared next
he said. Il think the city and
federal authorities can maintain peace
and order"
This is the twelfth day of the strike.
since 1t began. Nearly 1000 were in
operation this morning.
There are fewer police on the trolley
cars. Many lines operate without extra
protection.
Mayor Reyburn says he believes the
strike will be over In a few days. and
that the company will take back as many
Of the old men as 1t has places for.
The settlement Of the strike Of the
street car men has narrowed down to a
question OF Philadelphia politics.
While the remarks OF the representa-
tive merchant who yesterday expected to
see the strike ended in forty-eight hours
have not yet come through, there Is still
a general 1cGunS tNdI agreement ID near
This in spite OF the most strenuous fight
talk by the transit company.
George III. Earle, jr.. president Of the
Real Estate Trust Company, Is the chief
source of resistance to the arbitration
proposals. 1t Is supposed that among the
nine directors representing the stockhold-
ers of the company there Is at least a fair
minority willing to consider arbitration.
AS for the three directors representing
the city. they would be normally the
by the city's interests. 1t is through the
stand of Earle that they are against
arbitration, too, or have been up to the
present.
The other two city representatives are
Mayor Reyburn and w. H. Carpenter.
equivocal. as. while he normally has been
talking against any arbitration, he has
made one or two remarks to the effect
that he was looking to an early settle
ment of some sort.
Director Carpenter said yesterday that
he had left the mo compromise ranks
and was for arbitration or whatever else
would bring quiet and comfort to the
city Immediately.
Banking Interests May Intervene.
There was expected to appear today
some evidence of move among the
banking interests to settle the strike in
the interest of the transit company q
creditors and bondholders. 1t ia generally
thought that a continuance Of the strike
may mean a receivership for the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Company.
whatever the directors OF the company
may think Of the desirability of such a
STEP the bondholders are naturally not
enthusiastic for 1t. Their protest may
take some efficient form today in the
shape of representations to the directors.
Some persons have limited that one OF
the elements in the situation among the
directors regarding the settlement Of the
strike is a distinct project to bring the
company to a receivership through q pro-
lonRation OF it's labor troubles
1t has been heard for some time as
the opinion Of various persons acQuaint-
ed with the facts that the company
would be the better off for a course
through receivership and q possible re-
organization.
In this connection. 1t is Of interest to
note that Director Earle has a high rep
utation for his good work in connection
with some important Philadelphia re-
ceiverships.
Strikers Expect Success.
Prominent leaders Of the union predict
that the same influences which brought
the men and the company together Ia
January. when negotiations were nearly
broken of. will again succeed and will
bring the strike to an end.
49, oh - Utt