Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-23

There was small attendance AZ
the meeting Of the Chamber OF Com
merce which was held Friday evening
% consider what could be done about
-unE one OF the new aviation camns
'Ee Benton field and also TO hear
81, r'port on the railroad strike si,u,.
AS the committee from the Cham
.r found II. In calling the meeting
0'dcf DIR. j. +. Hill. the first vice
ps-d'nt, who presided in the absence
Ir' sidcnt Patterson, called atten-
30 the lack OF interest played par
..l4ly among the merchants OF the
CAS-. uut one OF whom was present
vEl.e he declared that this was a mat.
~. IN vital interest to all of them. AT
tr aIing the report OF the commit
&C. ou the strike situation and talking
ta walton matter over the meeting
was 1dJourned without action as there
.a. zen no reply as yet from the tel
scam sent 10 Admiral Peary, as it was
..F' 80 " ashlngton and Mr. Peary has
u... a' the BOwdoin Commencement
.Y .alouhtodly has not received IL as
$751;.
The committee. Mayor Meader. DR..
g.. Thayer and President A. J. Rob-
,f. of Colby. reported on their ef-
# tn settle the railroad strike, sub
hitting the report in writing and it
.H- jcad by the mayor II was as fol-
..ve-
Thc committee appointed by the
Watorville Chamber of Commerce for
'-c purpose OF trying to help settle
'H' controversy between the Maine
central Railroad and its Waterville
employees now on strike begs leave to
pro ent the following report
The committee the next day after
a., appointment wrote both President
Mcdonald and the local chairman of
striking employees. offering the service
o.. the committee in any way that
might be of use in settlinj. their dis
Tute. President Mcdonald at once re-
T..l, suggesting an immediate confer
cGrn IN Watorville, TO be attended by
'-- Committee. two representatives of
'-o railroad. and two representatives
me mon on strike. President Nc
frn7'd's suggestion was at once COM
lricated 10 the local chairman, who
thought II wise to decline President
NcDonald's suggestion. in view of the
fact that n meeting was soon to be
held in Portland under the auspices Of
'ho state Board OF Arbitration to con-
sder the whole question at issue as
o"oc'ing the interests not only of Wat
crvilc hut OF Portland, Bangor and
other places as well.
After the date Of this proposed
meeting. which the committee under
stands was not held. the committee
vro'e 70 the chairman of the State Ar
h'r1tion Board to inquire what has
boon accomplished toward a settlement
-t We strike The secretary of the
r01rl reported that two members Of
o." board spent two days in Portland
.n'crvcwing representatives of the
Dad and Of the men. but entirely
without result. The secretary suggest
Oh that our Waterville Chamber of
Commerce try TO secure the co-opera
ton Of the Portland Chamber in fur
Their attempt TO settle the strike. Act
ing on this suggestion. the committee
wrote tho Portland Chamber of Com
nerce. requesting that they appoint
committee 10 confer with the Water
vile committee In the hope that some
thing might he accomplished by such
Coz operation. The Portland Chamber of
Commerce very readily granted this re-
quest and "a meeting of conference was
appointed for Tuesday forenoon. June
lt Notice of the meeting was sent to
rr' dent Mcdonald and 10 the chair
MAJ 81 the local employees, and the
h.pc was expressed that representa-
uvcs both of the railroad and of the
men might be present The local chair
man at once informed the committee
nat representatives of the employees
would he present at the meeting. Presl-
Grat Mcdonald wrote that in view OF
t., rircumstances. he did not deem II
.-r for the railroad to be represented
W the meeting. but sal that he would
Ir sad to meet the Chamber or Com
MERGE committees in his office for con-
ference
The proposed meeting was held IN
the rooms of the Portland Chamber OF
Commerce. attended by the two COM
mit'ces and by several representatives
~ The men on strike, with Mr.. Humph-
r,, AS their Spokesman. The commit
'.rs nj once learned that the contro-
vrrsy NJ the present time is funda-
Wu.fllly not about wages. but rather
aN..t "A working agreement or what is
wmonly called recognition OF the
A.ou
AZ tho end OF this conference the
C.utmittccs called on President NC
Donald at his office. The committee
~ once asked President Mcdonald 10
..y the reason for not granting 'he
t''nInd OF the men on strike TOT
IS liking agreement, and recognition Oh
'1o.l union. He said he could not oo
without breaking faith with Others
Tho terms he proposed for the sette-
mont IN the strike, and which ne as
surcl tho committee were final. were
us follows: The shops to be opened
.uA tho men on strike to return 10
wo'l without blacklist or lockout anu
a'cr II months to receive working
segecment.
Tho committee on wednesday
morning met Mr.. Humphry and repre-
sontauvos of both Waterville and for.-
hnd employees. The committee report
cd the results OF the conference WIN
President Mcdonald and passed inc
forenoon discussing with Mr.. Humph-
ny and tho men the terms proposeu