New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-19
Settlement on Basis OF
August 7 Agreement
Requested.
LABOR HEADS SEE
HIM AGAIN TO-DAY
Walk Out on Dual Subway
Work Is Threatened as
New Weapon.

Diplomacy received a new oppor-
tunity to avert the threatened SYM
pathetic strike in a series OF confer
ences to be started, at the request
and with the full approval of union
leaders, in Mayor Mitchel's Office in
the City Hall to-day.
1t has already been agreed that the
threatened walkout of workers IN
every trade that would aid in tying
up the city's transportation service
will not be called until the new peace
plan has had an opportunity to bear
fruit. When the union leaders left
Mayor Mitchell yesterday it was gen
orally agreed that no decisive move
in the sympathetic strike would he
taken before Thursday.
The basis for to-day's conference
will be placed in Mayor MitcheFs
hands this morning in the form
of a letter from the street
car mems strike leaders. In this
they will set forth request
fiat some amicable settlement
Of the strike be reached upon the
basis of the agreement Of August T..
The letter will bear the signature OF
officers of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street Railway Employees as
well as representatives of the Amerl-
can Federation Of Labor.
Mayor Mitchell already has called
a conference of members of the COM
mittees appointed by the Merchants
Association and the Chamber of
Commerce and Oscar S. Straus, char
man of the Public Service Commits
sion. to discuss the contents of this
letter.
The conference, which is the most
nromising of any Of the numerous
neace meetings called since the ineep-
ton Of the present strike, grew out
OF n visit Of delegation of labor
leaders to the Mayors office in the
morning. James P. Holland. president
of the State Federation OF Labor; i.
V. O'Connor, Timothy Healy, Hugh
Frayne and Ernest Bohm made up the
body. ,,,
conference behind closed doors that
lasted an hour, the visit was for the
tvofold purpose of asking for an
other move for settlement along the
lines of the August ! agreement and
for complaining about certain police
infractions of strike neutrality, as
seen by the union men,. go.
The men were far from admitting
defeat, however. They pointed out
that they were endeavoring TO prevent
the calling Of the threatened sympa-
thetic strike and that they hoped
settlement Of the traction difficulties
might be reached before the demand
Of the rank and file OF their unions
became so insistent that it would be
declared in spite of them.
Incidentally, they mentioned new
weapon that they might use II Deces-
sary. They told Mayor Mitchell in the
event of sympathetic strike they
could and would call out the workers
in the dual subway system now under
construction. All work could be tied
up. they said resulting in untold loss,
both in time and damage to the I'M
completed tubes.
James p. Holland made it plain that
he had no idea that the strike was
lost as he walked from the Mayors
office after the conference. He has the
utmost confidence in the weapons still
in the hands Of the union leaders.
"Why, could call out $4,000 men
working in the new subwsys just like
that" he said, with a snap Of his
fingers. "But don't intend TO do that
until the Mayor and Mr.. Straus have
had an opportunity to do something"
Mayor Mitchell told the union officials
he was ready and willing TO do anything
in his power TO bring about an amicable
settlement, but frankly admitted he had
no tangible plan Of action. He imme-
diately called Mr.. Straus into confer
ence, however. and agreed that a writ
ten statement OF the desires of the men
was the first thing to be sought.
After hurried telephone message TO
Holland it was agreed that the letter
would be forthcoming at a late hour
tonight or early tomorrow morning.