Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-25
A SETTLEMENT DEMANDED

n FORE than a week has elapsed
| lVl since the Inauguration of the
street railway strike and the
public is becoming impatient over the
Failure of the company and its strik-
ing employees to reach some agreement
AS has been indicated over and over
again the thousands OF people who are
suffering great inconvenience as a re-
suit of the interruption of the chief
method of transportation in Harris
burg are not disposed to listen to ar
guments and discourses on why the
differences should or should not be
arbitrated.
There must be some middle ground
that will admit of an honorable ad-
pie are wondering why day after day
should pass without any real progress
toward a conclusion of the whole un-
fortunate controversy.
Leaders of the striking employees be-
lieve that they have a right to be
heard as an organization rather than
as individuals; the company, however.
insists that there is nothing to arbi-
trate. Thus the standstill Surely
where the issues are so vital to the
community, and the discomfort and in
convenience and expense involve so
many people not in the remotest de-
gree responsible for the differences
which have led to a practical suspen-
sion of the trolley service, there ought
to be real effort to discover a reas-
enable plan which will bring about a
prompt and honorable settlement of
the differences now existing between
the Harrisburg Railways company and
its employees.
1t should be said for those who have
utilized the strike as their most for
midable weapon that they have ex-
pressed desire to conduct the battle
in an orderly and law-abiding fashion.
They have protested against all disor-
der and have urged those who sympa-
thize with them to avoid any demon
stration which might reflect upon the
men who are standing out for what
they believe to be reasonable demands.
AS in all situations of this sort there
are those who seek to achieve their
own ends through Misrepresentation of
others. Fortunately for the interests
concerned on both sides these mischiev-
Gus influences have not been permit
TED to embarrass the main issue. 1t is
the earnest hope of the community at
large that nothing will be allowed to
transpire that will injure the good
name of Harrisburg. Mayor Meals
and those in authority have given
fair notice that persons guilty of pub
lie disorder will be dealt with in the
most drastic way. Toward this atti-
tude the strikers and their leaders are
in entire sympathy.
AS for the jitney element of the un-
usual situation, it should be said that
many of the licensed owners and some
of those who are without license have
been serving the people in a very nee
essary way. Those jitneurs who seiz-
ed the opportunity to break all traf-
fic regulations and disregard all pre-
cautions will not be permitted longer
to endanger life and limb. These indi-
viduals are naturally indignant over
what they believe is an invasion of
their rights" but they appear to be
entirely unconscious of their own in
difference to the safety of others.
But, without further discussion of
incidents of the strike, the matter
which concerns most of the people is
a means of prompt settlement. They
tion of the normal conditions without
delay. That is the insistent demand
which is coming up from every part
of the city. Get together is the key
note of every comment on the strike
situation.