The sun., 1916-10-17
CONFERENCE TO-DAY
MAY END OIL STRIKE.
Seven BayOnnc Committeeman
to Meet Standard Com
pany Executive.
DEADLOCK. Is PREDICTED
Idle Workers Insist on Wage
Increase-Mrs. j.. :.
Cram Stirs Police.

Cram Stirs Police.
George n. Hennessey, superintendent
Of the Standard oil Company's Bayonne
plant, will receive a committee OF seven.
representing the strikers, this morning In
an effort to settle the strike witch has
bsen In progress since u week ago yes
tsrday. There we're indications last
nisht that the conference would result In
deadlock. Strike leaders said the men
would not return to work except for an
Increase In wages The superintendent
was as emphatic in asserting that no
rise would be granted.
Asked BY a reporter for THE L II
there was any likelihood a wage in
crease would be granted. MIR. Fenncssey
said he could not discuss the question at
this time. In answer to another ques-
zion he said:
1--WE are willing to take the men back
at the wages which obtained before the
strike was called. That is the only basis
q which We will take them back"
Mr.. Hennessey admitted his reply 10
the second question answered the hrst
also. The strikers demand an Increase
Of 20 per cent. for those receiving 81 or
more and Of 30 per cent. for workers
paid less than 81.
Men willing 10 Compromise.
George Melcher. editor Of n Russian
aewspa per, whom the strikers commit
tee has selected rs its chairman. limited
last night that the men might be wiling
to consider n proposal to compromise.
but declared tNey would insist upon
'oome kind OF an increase"
Authorization to treat with the COM
pany was given the committee at a
meeting OF about a thousand OF the strik-
ers In Mydosh's hail yesterday morning.
II was plain that a large majority OF
the men were in favor OF standing their
ground. A suygestion that tn" COM
mittee he given power TO take Anal ac-
ton was owled down, and the commit
tee will report the results Of the COM
Ing conference to the main body OF the
strikers before definite action can be
taken.
The committee met late In the after
noon with James II. D~ougherty, the law
yer who represents the strikers now un-
der arrest and who is acting in an ad-
vtsory capacity in the controversy with
the company. Dougherty. meanwhile.
had communicated with Superintendent
Hennessey. and carried 10 the committee
the company's suggestion that the men
hould resume work at the existing scale
Of wages pending action Of the confer
ees. The committeeman rejected his
proposal unanimously.
STRIKERS Now Oraanising.
Hitherto the strikers have been ham
licapped by "A lack Of organization. They
Belong to no union and until the last
few days have recognized no leaders.
The committed OF seven Is composed Of
n mar each from several departments
Of the plant. A majority. even OF the
committeeman, speak hut little ENGLISH.
Al the meeting yesterday afternoon
Melcher acted as Interpreter between
the member and Dougheity. Meicher
said last night that the strikers OF the
Bayway plant AZ Linden, y. j.. were
forming n similar committee ard that
he had been asked to nead that llso.
There were 900 policemen In Mvdosh's
hall and In the n~eighboring streets when
the mass meeting was held Yesterday,
but the strikers gave them no trouble.
Melcher. who presided, and Dorgherty
and John Mydosh, who were among the
speakers. all urged the men TO stand
nTm Tor Wndt tneN tpilSluefed tntlr
rights and counseled them AGAINST the
use OF unla wful methods.
LYMAN Lazarus. Formerly City Re
eorder, who said he represented Mayor
0arven. struck the only discordant notes.
His advice TO the strikers to return to
work pending a settlement aroused a
storm OF Noe" ard he nearly invited
trouble when he declared hat Stanley
Mydosh was being held by the police,
"nrQrflcQ1v on "A charge NJ pntrHar anI
We can't get him out"
Settle this thing yourselves said
Lazarus. PAY no attention to the agi-
tators or the newspapers"
"Empty stomachs and Sad Hearts,,
THE only agitators,' Melcher inter-
Supted the speaker to say, "are the
empty stomachs and the sad hearts Of
the strikers
Mrs. J. Sergeant Cram, who has as.
sisted strikers In more than one labor
dispute. motored to Bayonne yesterday
morning, intending to attend the mass
meeting and. II IL believed. to distribute
checks to some Of the men. She was
advised by the police 10 leave town and
did so without having reached Mydosh's
hall.
Mrs. Cram drove first to police head
quarters 10 inquire the way to the meet
ing place, She said she had been In
vited by one OF the strike eaders. The
police told her II would be dangerous to
attend. When she left the station she
drove in the direction OF the hall, so n
detective followed her on a motorcycle.
But instead OF going TO the meeting
Mrs. Cram. who was then accompanied
by q reporter for a New York Socialist
newspaper, stopped near the Socialist
headquarters. at Broadway and Twenty
second street, and insisted that coniaa ~