Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-05
Defy Board, Says Mayor.

Defy Board, Says Mayor.
"This means that the men must
60 back to work or be in the open
defiance of the National War Labor
board" said Mayor Smith.
The men appealed to the War
Labor board last June to settle the
differences between them and the
company and agreed to abide by the
award of that board.
THE telegram states plainly that
that agreement holds good until
peace is formally announced By the
president after the peace treaty has
been signed"
President Wtatles, when told of
the receipt of the telegram, said:
That is exactly what we have
pointed out from the beginning of
this strike. We have kept our part
of that agreement to the strict letter
though It has cost US very dearly.
1t is a most serious thing to defy
the War Labor board or to break
an agreement"
Burnett, Ill, Silent.
Jerry Burnett, special organizer
for the street railway workers, was
i'll in his room at the Castle hotel
when informed of receipt of the
telegram about midnight.
The man who answered the te1e-
phone told him the contents of the
telegram. Mr.. Burnett stated that
he he did not feel we'll enough to
discuss the matter. The symptoms
of his illness are those of Spanish
influenza.
Original Agreement.
The agreement made between the
officers of the company and the
employees last June was as follows:
The parties hereto agree to sub
NIT to the joint chairmen of the ma
tional war labor board, as arbitra-
tors, the question of how much,
under all circumstances, including
the ability of the company to pay
and its general financial condition,
it would be fair to increase, il any,
the wages of the employees of the
company, and the question of fair
working conditions, the words work.
ing conditions not to include recog.
milton of the union, and agree to
abide by the award of said joint
chairmen, as arbitrators, and to per-
form the same" -.
In accordance with this agree
ment questions of wages, service,
etc, were submitted to the examine
ers of the war labor board and the
award referred to in the telegram
was dated July 81, 1918 and signed
by William H. Taft and Frank P.
Walsh, arbitrators.
No Conference Held.
Mayor Smith worked until
O'Clock this morning trying to get
action by the labor leaders. I'M
mediately after receiving the tele-
gram at | 80 o'clock he started out
in his automobile to try to get in
touch with the labor men. But with
Burnett sick and the others home in
bed, nothing could be done.
lie DelleVes, however, that they
will get together very early today,
and that all cars will be running be.
fore the day is far advanced.
One union committee member de-
clared last night that the present
strike isn't in opposition to the war
labor board"
Every car barn in the city was
picketed last night by strikers. They
were orderly, but let it be known
that they would start something"
ii any cars were started out.
Jitneys Come into Own.
The great number of automobiles
downtown last night caused much
comment. They were parked almost
as numerously as in the daytime.
The jitneys also continued to do
business until late hour. Prices
varied. One Ford had a sign stat
ing that the fare to Fortieth and
Farnam streets was rs cents. A big
truck gathered load at Sixteenti
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