The sun., 1919-03-15
THREAT TO SEIZE
NEWARK TROLLEYS
Mayor Gillen Will Try to Have
Public Service Railway
Charter Revoked.
TAFT SENDS CONCILIATOR
Plane With Wings Removed
Is Used for Conveyance
Of Passengers.

William II. Taft, chairman OF the war
Labor Board. after hearing In Washing
ton yesterday the main points at issue
in the New Jersey trolley strike, sent
an agent to Newark to talk with both
sides and try to have them come to-
gether before the board In Washington
on Monday for settlement.
Meanwhile Mayor Gillen OF Newark
said that the city, through the head OF
it's legal depa rtment, Jerome T, Congle-
ton. would ask the State Public Utility
Commission on Monday to revoke the
charter OF the Public Service Railway
Company and permit the city to operate
that part of the trolley system within
its boundaries.
The man selected by Mr.. Taft TO apply
healing unguents to the lacerated feelings
OF the disputants Is Charlton Ogburn,
Federal mediator with a knack for adj
justing street railway troubles. He and
James II. Valley of Boston, general coun-
sci for the Amalgamated Association OF
Street and Electric Railway Employees,
Will meet the strike leaders in Newark
at 10 O'Clock this morning. If the pro-
Framme goes as 1t was planned yester-
day Edmund w. wakeiee. vice-president
of the Public Service Company. will then
be called into the conference.
Company for Arbitration.
Tho company has already said IL is
willing to lay the whole case before the
War Labor Board. Conciliato Ogburn's
task Is to get the strikers to do the
same thing and 10 go ack to work
pending arbitration. Mr.. Taft wants
them to waive their demand for prior
recognition OF their union until the board
has chance to consider It. On Thurs
day, before going TO Washington. Will
lam Hepner, the strike director, said
there was not a chance in the world OF
the street cars running again until the
company agreed to sign a contract with
the union
Before Mr. Taft in Washington YES
terday Nice-President Wakelee con-
tended that the War Labor Board was
dealing with no new case but had fun
jurisdiction over both sides. because al
the time OF the strike last June they
mutually submitted their differences to
the board, and the agreement then made
according to Mr.. Wakelee had been VIC
lated by the workers. He said the COM
pany had paid out more than 100000
IN increased wages resulting from the
award. lie insisted that the new de-
mands. including the signing Of a con-
tract recognizing the Amalgamatcd As
ISOLATION. were contrary TO the rules OF
tta award
He declared further that the conduc-
tors and motormen had violated the first
principle OF the War Labor Board by
striking without consulting Il A.: that they
were guilty of violence and disorder:
that they had failed to submit to the
board any difference arising under the
award of last June, and that they we're
demanding rates and wages higher than
those granted by that decision.
AppesI.. for pnh,tcftx
zone side has lived VI to the award
and the other has not" Mr.. Wakelee
said. 81 recognize that the National
War Labor Board has no power TO carry
out Its DEGREES by force one OF the
things IL can do is to see that the public
is fully informed as to the true facts
and thus bring into play the powerful
Influence of public opinion"
Mr.. Taft asked II both Mr.. wakelee
and Mr. Valley. the union lawyer. could
rot return to Newark with Mr.. Ogburn
have President Thomas \. McCarter Of
th. mpany withdraw his opposition TO
the union for the time being, get the
men back 10 work and let the question
Of the rightfulness or propriety of the
association among the men come before
either side takes action in respect to it."
Mr.. Valley, asserting. said he would
meet the strike leaders in Newark and
sdvise them to submit any controversy
they have to the War Labor Board. II
am perfectly willing to sit down with
Mr.. Wakclee and see II ] can do any
thing TO settle the matter with them"
he added. The president OF the COM
pany, Mr. McCarter, Ia Responsible for
the suspension OF service.
His entire manner In dealing with
the men was Of domineering nature.
II he had exhibited the slightest con-
ciliatory feeling there would have been
no strike. He decided TO destroy their
union. After struggling for seventeen
years TO get a union the men had TO do
everything In their power to keep IT.
While personally I don't favor strike
wherever 1t can,-be avoided l believe
the men were justified In this instance"
Immediate Cause of Strike.
Mr. Valley said the strike resulted
from the attempt of the company two
weeks ago TO have i;a employees form
al association for collective bargaining
which amounted TO destruction of the
union. Mr.. Wakelee replied that this
could not be the real issue. for the COM
pany had withdrawn the proposal when
the men objected TO st.
Mayor Gillcn OF Newark, who has
long fought President McCRrter OF the
Public Service Corporation, said in ex-
planning his intention to ask for the
cancellation Of the street railway
charter that great discomfort among
the labocing classes was likely TO DO
bred by the company's offer OF a mlul-
mum wage of 80 n day TO motormeu
and conductors during the strike emer-
1T is my opinion."fho Mayor sHid
that no employer to-day can refuse to
recognize labor organizations without
having serious trouble on his hands.
wise management would recognize the
union at once and ,'s INIT the War
Labor Board to arbitr-yte the question OF
Increased wages and shorter hours. Tho
refusal of the Public Service Company
- recognize the union resulted in this
strike and the crippling our our trans
portation facilities, with great injury to
The business of the community and the
State"
Yesterdays sloppy snow, following
weather In which walking was a pleas
ure. increased the discomfort produced
~ The strike among 80 people Of north
err New Jersey. The multiplying flocks
Of jltneys and trucks supplied by fac
tories and stores for their workers did
rot begin to match the demand for
transportation in the rush hours
one ingenious man with n spare ir-
plane removed its wings and carried
several passengers In its fuselage With
its propeller beating the air the plane
less plane, on its bicycle wheels, shot
Up Bloomfield avenue from the direction