The sun., 1916-09-22

the fight despite the extremity Of the
measures required In shown by the as
sistance publicly promised to the union
on City Hall steps By President 9ompers.
AZ ne and Strike Leader Fitzgerald left
the Mayors conference Mr.. Gompers was
asked II his plan to leave the city Tor
washington last night meant that he
was Withdrawing his support from the
labor situation In this city.
Absolutely not" he almost shouted
Turning to Fitzgerald. he continued with
emphasis: "When I made the statement
IN my telegram to you the other day that
Was with the New York GARNER In
their fight for recognition I meant It."
Then seixing tho lapels OF Ftsgerald's
toat ana looking him straight In the
eyes. he continued when ! say l am
with you I mean I am with you to the
end. to the last ditch"
From other sources II WIS learned
that the union leaders have succeeded IN
getting many other unions to send dele
gates to the conference that will convene
mt 2 O'Clock this afternoon In the Hotel
Continental. II is expected that labor
leaders from outside the city will also be
present. Mr.. Gompers told the citixens'
committee yesterday that the American
Federation Of Labor was absolutely be-
hind the carmen In their fight.
How Peace Negotiations Failed.
The negotiations that ended in the
failur TO bring peace to the troubled
labor unions began at . o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Al that hour Lindsay Rus
seu. Michael Friedsam and other MEM
bers Of the subcommittee Of the Citizens
COMMITTEE Of Fifty received a delegation
OF the union men In the rooms Of the
japan Society. 1855 Broadway.
The subcommittee conferred with
President Gompers. Mr.. Frayne. Ernest
Roehm. James =. Holland. president OF
the New York state Federation of Labor :
James II. Valley. counsel to the carmen's
union Leader Fitzgerald and Louis
fridiger. attorney for the local carmen.
Mr.. Russell In opening the meeting ex-
planned the object for which the commit
tee Of citizens was formed. namely, to
get the truth as to the causes for the
strikes on the transit lines. lie said a
hearing had been given to President
Sfonts OF the lnterborough and he asked
fo.' an explanation Of the Garments side.
Mr.. Fitzgerald did practically all the
talking. He reviewed the situation from
the beginning.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was asked on what rom
ditbns his men would return to work.
We said. according to persons AT the
hearing. that the men were willing to re-
turn to work and to restore the agree
ments OF August 6 and Z on the green
car and red car lines. and also 70 restore
The verbal agreement Of August 80 bear
ing on the lnterborough carmen.
Men Ready for Arbitration.
He said his men were ready to submit
70 arbitration the question Of the fair.
ness OF the master and servant con-
tracts" and the methods used by the In
terborough In obtaining signatures to
those contracts. These were the mini.
mum conditions, said Fitzgerald. on
which the men would return TO work.
Immediately after the conference the
subcommittee hurried to a room In City
Hall. where II reported to the full com.
mittee. Meantime President Gompers
Mr.. Fitzgerald and the other union mer
went into the Mayors office. where they
had a short talk with Mr.. Mitchell.
After the subcommittee had reported
TO its parent body Mayor Mitchell, Chair.
man Stratus and Police COMMISSIONS
Woods were invited into the conference
Next the labor leaders also were asked
10 appear. There again Mr.. Fitzgerald
and President Gompers made speeches
Mr.. Fitzgerald adhering to his condition,
for the return Of his men to work and
President Gompers asserting tina he ant
the American Federation Of Labor wer,
behind the fight OF the men for recogni
tion.
TIN conference ended at 6:As p. NJ
The memb' n announced a deadlock
Mayor Mitchell said that he saw no hop,
at once began to dictate q long letter {,
Mr.. Frayne.
This letter. thirteen typewriter mage,
IN length. reviewed the entire history o
the present Garments fight. the begin
ming OF the first set of strikes and thei
settlement through the efforts OF tn
Mayor and Mr.. Straus. IL dealt witt
the agreements OF August 6 and Z, II
which the traction heads agreed TO recog
nixe the carmen's right to organize, an,
with the verbal agreement between Gen
eral Manager Hedley OF the Interborougl
n the carmen's leaders. Fitzgerald an,
Fridiger. TO deal with the lcaders Of tn
carmen on the Interborouch.
Placing Blame for Trouble.
Then. getting down TO their conc,u
sions as to the blame for the strikes O.
the PETERBOROUGH and the other transi
lines. the letter says:
Our conclusion therefore. after a yer
careful consideration of the entire rec
ord In this matter. Ia:
81. That the PETERBOROUGH compan
preached a verbal agreement made o
the S0th day OF August Ivy Mr.. Hedle
for the company and by .fr. Fitzgeral
and Mr.. idige for the Inen, In refus
ing. on the 6th day OF September, {
arbitrate a question which had arise
subsequent to the making OF hat verbs
sSreement. This agreement was entirel
distinct from and independent Of the cor
tract Of settlement OF August 6.
This verbal agreement preached b
the PETERBOROUGH company. as alread
stated, was NOT underwritten by Chat
man straus or by the Mayor. but va
entered into in the course of the confe
ence which began on August 30. A
though the company was in the wrong
this matter It Is most unfortunate tn,
the ofices OF the Mayor or Of the Publ
Service Commission or of both were NJ
h invoked in place Of resorting to
strike.
Clears New York Railways Co.
-. The New YORK Railways Compar
did not breach the contract of seth
ment of August 8. The New York RAJ
ways employees, however. were guilty
a breach OF that contract In that thu
declared and i~naugurated a strike wit
out breach on the part Of the compaY
n in the face of the provisions Of Il
contract of August 6 which called 4
arbitration OF all questions at issue.
80. The men were guilty of like brec,
OF the various contracts of settlement