Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-07

3 At the same time the men re-
moved the possibility of strike in
the near future by empowering their
executive committee to continue ne
gotiations with city and company
officials for the 60-cent rate, agree
ing to await the outcome of these
negotiations before taking definite
action in the matter. A conference
between the executive committee
and city commissioners will be held
sometime today.
Will Strive for Agreement.
As the increased fare cannot go
into effect until city officials with
draw their opposition to the advance,
it is expected that several other at
tcnipts to reach an agreement on
the wage demands will be made
The committee was instructed to
reach an agreement as quickly as
possible, although no definite time
limit was set by the men.
The settlement of the threatened
strike was brought about after hard
work by City Commissioner Zim-
man, President Ben SHORT and Busi-
mess Agent J. H. Mcmillan of the
Garments union, and Mr. Burke, rep
resentative of the national organiza-
ton.
Zimman As Mediator.
Mr.. Zimman has been a tireless
negotiator ever since the strike be-
gan to threaten. Last night, after
the final conference between the
men and the company officials had
indicated that there was hopeless
deadlock on the wage question, the
company holding fast at IS cents and
the men, demanding 60 cents an
hour, Mr.. Zimman offered to ad-
dress the evening meeting.
He was there all evening and
made number of speeches. He ap-
pealed, among other things, to the
younger men to accept the wage in
crease and not to compel the Older
men with families to submit to the
loss that going out on strike would
entail.
Already Won Victory.
Mr.. Mcmillan and Mr.. Short also
appealed to the men. They pointed
out that they have already won
splendid victory in securing an un-
precedented increase in wages,
amounting to about p per cent.
They suggested that it would be
wise to cooperate with the COM
pany to see what increase of rev.
enue the 7-cent fare will produce
and bring up the wage question
again later.
THE decision of the meeting is
that the cars will run as usual" said
Mr.. Burke. 1T means, however,
that the men hope to get 90 cents
an hour eventually. There will be
no strike, but negotiations will con-
tinue with the company officials out
OF which we believe additional good
will come for the men"
The melting of all the street car
men off duty last night jammed the
big room at Labor temple to the
walls. There, for four hours, the
ner sweltered while the battle ragged
back and forth between those who
demanded 80 cents or nothing" and
those who viewed S. cents as a good
enough victory.
The oratory ragged very loud at
times. The leaders had to overcome
Tie fact that the meeting of carmen
! held yesterday morning voted al
most unanimously for 80 cents or
nothing" Those who attended that
meeting, however, were far fewer
than those attending the big session
last night.
The men are not so anxious for
recognition of the union as they are
for improved working conditions"
said Mr.. Zimman after the meeting.
There are many points that they
have brought up which will, l be.
leve, be readily granted because
they will work for the benefit of the
company as we'll as for the good Of
the men"
Company Stands Pat.
The final effort of the men and
company officials TO "get together"
| was made late yesterday afternoon
in the company's offices following
an afternoon session in the city
council chamber with the city COM
missioners.
The men told the company Off
cials that they would walk out unless
their demands for 90 cents an hour
were complied with. -
President Hamilton and Assistant
General Manager Leusslcr pointed
out to them that they had alread~
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