The sun., 1916-09-19

strikes being declared in industries re-
lated 10 the transit situation. They
themselves, they say, are doing all In
their power TO avert sympathetic strikes.
and they havo asked me to use my Of
fees to make another attempt to bring
about an adjustment between the com
panles and the men on the basis of the
first recommendations made by the Pub
lie Service Commission n myself for
the preservation OF the agreement >of
August Z.
Tho committee told the that the long
shoremen had placed the power to strike
In the hands Of their national president,
Mr.. O'Connor. and that other trades
would vote to strike this afternoon"
Mayor ana Mr.. stpaas Confer.
Immediately after his conference with
the labor leaders Mayor Mitchell dis
cussed the situation with Chairman
Straus across the luncheon table. The
officials viewed the strike from every
aspect. seeking to evolve out Of II some
solution. The upshot Of their confer.
ence was a request upon the union men
for a letter which would set forth a
statement OF the labor side. the expecta.
tionA Of the leaders with respect to the
Mayor and the Public Service chairman.
and a presentation in detail Of the con.
cesslons ready TO be yielded to the trac-
ton heads and Of the concessions de-
manded In return.
Last Thursday n committee represent.
Ing the Chamber Of Commerce and the
Merchants Association called on the
Mayor and Chairman Straus with prof
fers Of help. As the general strike
threatened by the labor men will in
v6lve the main business activities Of the
city It was decided by the Mayor and
Mr.. S.raus to make this committee "a
party to the conference which is to be
held at IL o'clock this morning.
The letter OF the labor men will be con-
eldered at his conference. The Mayor
and Chairman Straus. with the Citizens
committee will strive to reach some basi
OF approach that may be acceptable 10
the traction heads.
Until this mornings conference II over
nothing will he done In the direction OF
getting Mr.. Shonts or Mr.. Whitrldgc "a
acQaiesce TO terms. Mayor Mitchell made
II plain last evening he has 40 concrete
solution IN mind. Chairman Straus had
no suggestions worked out before he left
for his home last night.
President O'Connor OF the L~ongshore-
mems Union. leaving the Mayor. went to
meet n committee of the Transatlantic
Steamship Conference. with whom he
had signed last September a two years
agreement for the longshoremsn. lie
spent n brief time with those men, He
had prepared a statement OF the Organi.
x%at!on's grievances and he left that In
the hands OF the committee.
MY ak with those gentlemen LASTED
I'VE minutes" he aid afterwArd. 81
presented " grievances, but I canno,
discuss them until they have been nc
cepted or rejected"
Lon1shoreman strike Unlikely.
Oakley Wood. treasurer and director
OF Barber a CO.. n OF the steamship
companies committeeman. said he did
not believe there would be a strike OF
the longshoremen. From what I know
OF Mr.. o'Connor and from his rcpu,a
ton AZ being the squarest and mos
businessllkc head OF any union In III.
country | am convinced he IL not goinl
to violate his contract. We cannot az
ford ut this time TO have a strike. a
for tho union. any strike, whether q
two hours or two weeks. started in sym
paihy for the striking carmen would b,
an absolute violation Of the longshore
mems contract with us. do not be
llcvc President O'Connor will break It,
After the conference In the Hotel Con
~tincntnl II was said that the Masters
Mates and Pilots Association woul,
} hold n meeting this evening to decide OF
OF a strike. The members OF this or
ga~nixation hold licenses from the Fed
eral Government and they are compellc'