New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-13
UNION MEN WOULD
HAVE ARBITRATED
Labor Leaders Regarded
Decision of P. S. c. as
Gain for Them.
NOW PLAN TIE-UP
OF BUS LINES
Parade Put Off a Day to
Allow Gompers To Be
Here and Speak.

While William p. Fitzgerald would
not indicate last night what the reply
of the strikers would be 70 the Public
Service Commission to-day, there IS
reason for saying that ultimately the
unions would have agreed 10 arotrale
everything in issue. Theodore T.
Shonts's firm refusal to submit 10 ar
bitration, however, made this acquires
cence fruitless.
In the days before the strike vote
Fitzgerald and his associates repeated
ly offered to submit everything, includ-
ing the propriety of the company CIR
cuating the individual contracts, 10
arbitration or to the Public service
Commission. Until these propositions
had been declined by the representa-
tives Of the company the leaders re-
fused to call a strike and referred back
the entire question to the men Tor
decision.
Fitzgerald and several OF his assocl-
atcs heard that the commission was to
make a decision late in the afternoon,
when in New Rochelle. In response to
the invitation of the commission, they
fastened to the city, arriving too late
TO meet the members. They went at
once to the Continental, where, after a
brief conference. it was announced by
Fitzgerald that statement would be
issued at $3.50.
I'VE should agree to srbitrate moth
ing but the question of wages" one OF
the national leaders declared. "Other-
wise, the best we get at this time is
truce and not peace. Anything that
the company may agree to. anything
that comes TO us from ShOnts or He'd
lev, will have a string tied 10 IT, and
they will be planning TO put another
one over on us"
This argument was put up IN the
conference Of the leaders, and was met
by the answer that the union could not
20 back on the position 1t had taken for
arbitration: that the decision Of the
Public Service Commission was a vic
tory for the men in that IL upheld the
principle Of arbitration for which they
had contended, and that 10 take posi-
ton refusing TO arbitrate would be TO
invite public condemnation, and, in the
end, defeat.
That the decision of the commission
was a victory was the opinion of such
leaders as Hugh Frayne, organizer Of
the American Federation of Labor and
chairman of the committee OF labor
leaders in CT" sc Of sympathetic strikes
and general a Il to the car men.
IL also was decided to go ahead with
the plans for a parade of the strikers,
Thursday being substituted for to-day
to permit Samuel GOmpers. now in
Washington, TO be present and speak
at the meeting, which will be held in
Union Square. The other speakers will
be Mr.. Fitzgerald and Mr. Frayne.
This was decided at a meeting Of
the conference conrlittee. At this
gathering delegates ION the United
Hebrew Trades. representing a mem
hership Of 200 1000, sat for the first
time. They volunteered to strike for
day TO show their position or to
parade if the union leaders so wished.
The committee received a report
from the subcommittee which sat with
Messrs. Gompers and Fitzgerald on
SUNDAY denying specifically there had
been any disagreement between the
two leaders. as had been reported, over
the question Of calling sympathetic
strikes.