Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-18
CAR STRIKE RENEWAL IS AVERTED, MEN
AND RAILROAD BOTH CLAIMING VICTORY
Public Service Announces That
Trolley Traffic Was Normal
at II O'Clock Today

Although the cars of the Public
Service Railway Company are in op-
Grafton today, for a time last night, it
seemed certain that the striking
trolleymen would be ordered not to
take out their cars at 4 o'clock tbs
morning as had been decided on yes +
terday by the vote OF the strikers in
eight divisions in New Jersey.
John l.. O'Toole, assistant to Pres Z
ident McCarter. of the Public Service
Railway Company, said car service
was normal at IL O'Clock. There was
some slight delay at o'clock, the
official time for the men to return
to work, but this was due to the fact
that some workers were late in reach
ing the barns.
The danger of the men renewing
the strike came about through state
ment issued by the president of the
Public Service, Thomas N. McCarter,
to the effect that the strike had been
settled on the company's terms. The
statement by Mr.. >McCarter follows:
"Of course L am glad that the
strike is over and that the men have
decided to return to work. The set
tlement is upon the exact terms Of
fered by the company before the men
went out, manly, withdrawal OF the
collective bargaining plan recently
promulgated by the company, a reiter-
alton on my part of my oft-expressed
willingness to meet, at any time, with
any committee of employees. whether
or not they belong TO a uniop- saaa q
positive refusal on the pI
company to sign a contract
Amalgamated Association o.
other union of employees, with refef-
ence to the operation of the property
of the company,-all of which was in
accordance with the principles and
policies of the National War Labor
e-4f rn1 ~.
and approved of, by the representa-
tives of that Board sent here TO ad-
just the difficulty.
Il trust now that all connected with
the company, whether as officers or
employees, will do their utmost to
serve the public as well as possible
and that the men will see the futility
of causing any such Inconvenience to
the public as has been occasioned dur
ing the past few days. when the same
result could have been obtained
through conference and negotiations"
The union leaders, IL is understood,
tried to get in touch with President
McCarter and deliver to him an ulti-
matum but were unsuccessful. 1t was
felt among the leaders that the Me-
Carter statement was an insult TO the
men and they were firmly for con-
tlnuance of the strike. 1t was finally
decided by tho leaders not to con-
tinue the strike inasmuch as an
agreement had been reached with the
War Labor Board to go back to work
provided the men ratified the deci-
sion of the union joint conferences
board, which was done yesterday by
a heavy vote. and the trolleymen
were of the opinion the public did
not care very much really how Mr..
McCarter felt.
After consideration IL was decided
20 IN have "a
strike continued. and the joint con-
ference board prepared the following
statement:
The employees of the Public Service
Railway Company of New Jersey,
who are also members of the eight
different divisions of the AmalGamat-
ed Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees of America, have
had I'm mind before and during this
strike not only the convenience or
a million people who daily patronize
the lines OF this company, but also
the submission OF their differences 10
the National War Labor Board 50 as
not to interrupt the service of the
company or diScommode its patrons.
For ten days the international ana
local officers of the Amalgamated AS
sociation have tried I'm every way con-
sistent with the dignity and honor OF
the women and men OF this orgasiza-
ton 10 adjust this trouble withous
inconvenience 10 the public or finan-
ciaI loss to the company.
I'VE have carefully avoided tread
ing upon the company's corns. but ap-
parently in view OF Mr.. MeCarters
statement in one of the evening papers
he has had no such regard Tor us
Our desire has been. in view OF the
suggestions of the National War Labor
Board, that we should attempt TO COM
pose our differences and not make
them more acute, TO do everything 10
avoid trouble.
(Continued on page 81
p. A. Hardware for Mouse Traps