Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-01
TROLLEY STRIKE


| II the government nrbtters anid ~ would
have to
matter, Mr. Wilson replied it would prob
ably he able to inducc the Public Utility
| Commission To permit An increase in
fare that would warrant doing no.
Next Mr. Rogers read the telegram
from Secretary of Labor Wilson. follow
ing which he continued to appeal 10 the
men tn accept the governments PROPOSE
ton, assuring them that the government
would help them.
"Are you going To spit in my face and
say you don't want the government to
help YOU" he asked Are you patriots,
| citizens, mem"
Some Of the strikers took exception TO
these remarks and two or three yelled
| Throw him out. after which they began
leaving the room
Mr. Wilson FASTENED to the door and
intercepted them Mounting n billiard
table, he addressed the men in concilia-
tory manner for about five minutes, again
outlining the eompany's position.
At the conclusion of Mr. Wilson's
address the men walked out on the lawn,
where some Of the older employees began
urging their colleagues tn join them in
taking out cars II was suggested that
paper be circulated, to be signed by all
who were willing 20 accept the govern
| meht's proposition and take out cars at
| once.
| Among the men there arose dispute
| over the wage increase asked. some
snid they had signed petition for ten
cent raise, while the only one presented
to the company before Yesterday, and
which bore 230 signatures, asked for six
cents.
COMPANY OFFERS EIGHT CENTS.
| After all efforts to settle the matter
on the basis Of eix-cent increase In pay
dating back to May |, and the four
| cent demand to be arbitrated, had failed
at 1910 this morning General Manager
| Wilson offered the men new proposition,
| on behalf of the company, and it WAS
this:
| That the mon return to work nj
once, the company guaranteeing an in
| crease in nav of eight cents An hour,
starting today, and not retroactive; the
rate TO Sc increased TO 10 cents il the
| Public Utility Commission permits an
| increase N two cents, instead OF one, IN
| the rate Of fare !"
Il hope you men will accept this
| proposition, Mr.. Wilson SAID, address
| ing the strikers. "and show Wilmington
| and Washington that we can settle our
differences without outside help.
| The proposition and Mr. Wilson 5
remarks were greeted with cheers and the
men at once began to prepare 10 vote on
the proposition
| The voting took place in the clubrooms
and was by ballot One vote was re-
ceived, however, from one Of the men
! met on the stairs rs the tellers were de-
| scendinp but two other men, who APP
peared at the door at the foot Of the
stairs and SAID they had Just come from
| Chester, and who wanted 10 vote. were
not permitted to do So.
When the result Of the vote was
nounced 1t was greeted with cheers and
everybody appeared 20 be pleased that
matters had gone that way. When II
was proposed that all accept tho result,
| regardless Of the fact that nearly halt had
voted against the proposition, the favor
able sentiment was unanimous and all
began filing out 10 take their cars.
The result Of the vote was known at
IL IS. which at time the strike was formal
" declared off, cars began to leave the
barn as soon thereafter as possible and
at l. SIS Sergeant Wardle and his squad
of policemen, who had been on guard for
two days, left and came into police head
quarters and the curtain was rung down,
the incident ending with everybody III
pleasant frame Of mind.
While the men were preparing to take
out their cars Manager Wilson had talk
with Joseph HAYDEN, one of the members
OF the strikers committee, and who had
advocated acceptance Of the eight-cent
proposition, during which Mr. Wilson
assured him that the company harbored no
malice against the men and that none
would be discharged Both assured each
other that the incident was at an end.
Half an hour after the resumption of
traffic one-third of the car supply was in
operation, and thereafter cars were put
in service as quickly as they could be
manned
Mayor Lawson last night telegraphed
to the Secretary of Labor, asking him
20 intercede, and today the mayor wrote
TO the secretary, informing him OF the
settlement Of the strike
Mr. Rogers today teiephoned TO the
Secretary of Labor who SAID because al
the settlement of the strike he would not
send written acknowledgement OF the
receipt OF the mayor telegram The
secretary expressed qualification over the
settlement and said il would relieve him
of the necessity of sending here arhiters
that are desired elsewhere. Mr.. Rogers
conveyed to Mayor Lawson verbal
acknowledgment of the secretary 8 receipt
OF the mayors telegram
Prior to the hour when the strike end
ed, ii 80 clock the only trolley service
in Delaware was on the Wilmington,
Chester and Darby line except that the
freight car was permitted to run to and
from the workhouse, as was the case yes
terday also.
There was no disorder during any of
the period of the strike. the men con
Quoting themselves IN a decorous and
business-like manner, and the police
guard at the barns had little to do
Because of lack of car service this
morning all sorts of "iitneys' were in
service, while thousands of working
people had to walk, in some instances
several miles, to get to their places of
employment Commuters used steam
cars where it was possible to do so, while
in some instances workers took the day
off, some plants in the suburbs running
short handed on that account.
LOCAL MEN INVADE CHESTER
Alleged to have tried to cause trolley
strike in Chester, Pa, nine Wilmington
men, employed by the Wilmington &
Philadelphia Traction Co, and among
the strikers, were arrested in that city last
night about O'Clock and each fined SO
and costs, when arraigned in City Court