Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-17
MAYOR CREDITED FOR ACTION
Is Chosen by Both Parties AS
Third and Neutral Arbitrator
His Selection Follows 15-
Hour Parley-He Locked Dis
putants in His Office.

Chicago. June l6.-Normai service on
Chicago elevated and surface lines was
resumed to-day as result of railway
and labor representatives and a council
committee headed by Mayor Thompson
"A greeing on arbitration. The homebound
thousands were transported from the
business district as was usual before the
strike
The formal agreement to arbtrate was
signed at noon. Mayor Thompson wss
credited with bringing it about and he
was chosen BY both sides as the third or
neutral arbiter. The ones representing
the men and the companies will be chosen
by the respective interests before Satur-
day. on which day the first meeting Is to
be held
The strike of 14TO street carmen was
called off shortly after five o'clock this
morning. All points at issue will be set
tied by arbitration. Operations of cars
on all lines was resumed as quickly as
the striking men could be notified.
MAYOR CHOSEN
The end of the strike which has tied
UP electric transportation .or two days,
came with the selection Of Mayor Will
liam Hale Thompson as the third mem
question at issue. Officials Of the COM
panies will select an arbitrator by Satur-
day, it was announced, w. d. Mahon,
international president Of the Street Car
Mems union. probably will be named TO
represent th,, men.
The selection of Mayor Thompson came
al tfe end Of l5-hour conference. which
began yesterday afternoon. Union leaders
officials of the traction lines and mem
hers of the mayors aldermanic strike
committee We're in attendance. When
labor leaders and traction officials an
nounced they could reach no agreement
Mayor Thompson locked the doors of his
office and told the men that he would
keep them there until solution of the
situation was reached.
After a heated discussion on the oues-
ton of selecting third arbitrator, Leon
ard a. Busby, president of the Chicago
surface lines mentioned the name of
Mayor Thompson. The committee repre-
sentnG the street carmen. headed by W.
u. Mcmahon, retired TO consider the sug-
geston. Within 10 minutes they re-
turned.
CHEERING GREETS CHOICE.
We'll take him." was the simple an
ibuil'e lidN eIeClTllleQ tne weary
group of men. Hand capping and cheer
ing echoed through the corridors Of the
city hall
Mayor Thompson unlocked the doors of
MS office and the labor leaders marched
out. their faces wreathed in smiles.
wait minute" called the mayor II
want 10 tell you men how much | appre-
ciate what you have done. l will accept
this responsibility and will do the best
can and see that a square deal is given
all around"
Sessions of the board OF arbitration
probably will be begun early next week,
it was announced. The plan decided up-
on stipulates that all questions at issue
will be heard without any advance con-
cossons having been made
Officials Of the traction systems tele-
graphed to eastern labor agencies not to
employ any more men as strikebreakers
Six thousand men already had been start
ell here. il was said. Sixteen hundred
strikehreakers arrived last night and were
placed under guard in lodging houses
and terminals Of the companies