The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-17
Agreement Is Reached, but
Men Remain Out Pend
ing Ratification.
TO TAKE VOTE TO-DAY
1t Is Expected That CarSer-
vice Will Be Resumed
Tonight.
STRIKERS VICTORY SEEN
Main Point Was Insistence on
Recognition Of Their
Union.
STRIKERS VICTORY SEEN

eleven northern counties Of New Jer
sey, which for several days has af
fected the travel OF more than a nill
ion residents OF thirty-seven towns
was settled yesterday afternoon b,
Charlton Ogburn. conciliator in stree
railway disputes for the National Wa,
Labor Board.
The agreement, Joined in by tn,
Public Service Railway Company
which operates all street cau in tha
part OF New jersey and officials of tn,
'Amalsamated Street and Electric
Railway Employees OF America, viii
be voted upon to-day by the strikers
There Is little doubt that it will bt
quickly ratified.
Trolley cars will operate in New
Jersey beginning tonight IL the union.
accept the agreement entered into yes.
terday. The report to the joint con.
ference board will be made at 6 o'cIoct
this evening. and in the event that 1,
Is favorable the men viii be ordered
back to work Immediately.
ieuBeo 10 secrecy.
Since under the direction of Concilia
tor Ogburn both strike officials and the
Public Service Company were pledged to
secrecy until after the men vote to-day.
no authoritative information could be
obtained as to the nature of the compro-
mise that ended the strike. But the gen.
cral Interpretation was that II is a VIC
tory for the employees.
Inc chief contention precipitating the
strike was the demand OF the trolley men
for recognition of their union, and they
refused "a snhmit that point to arbitra-
ton. 1t is presumed that Conciliator
Ogburn persuaded President Thomas n.
McCarter and Vice-President Edmund
W. Wakelee of the company to accept
this point at a conference he had with
them yesterday morning. Mr. Carriers
plan for a cooperative league whereby
the men would obtain collective bargain
ing, insurance and sick dement's. has
been withdrawn. The trolley men de-
clared this league. which was offered as
a substitute for the union, was aimed to
destroy their organization.
As matter of fact, the same end
would be secured under the establish
nent of the cooperative league as would
pc opthlHtu Win the LABOR
union (it is being successfully carried
out In Philadelphia). but the employees
decided their strength would be greater
il supported by the parent orga MIA ton,
and so determined to stick to it.
The agreement yesterday came as a
complete surprise to the strikers. There
was a deadlock Saturday. and National
War Labor representatives were ready
10 start for Washington and report that
the company and employees were hope
lessly at loggerheads over the issue of
unionsm.
Makes Final Effort.
Mr. Ogburn decided to try once more
before leaving. and called President Nc
Carter on the telephone. They met at
1886 yesterday morning, with former
Senator Wakelee, and Mr.. Ogburn pre-
sented a new basis of settlement to the
Public Service officials. II was promptly
accepted.
1--WE expect the proposed bs sis to be
ratified Monday said Mr.. Ogburn. land
one OF the terms In the agreement ca Is
for the men to return to work imme-
dately upon ratification"
Beyond admitting that President Nc
Carter had withdrawn his cooperative
league plan William Wepner, presi-
dent of the trolleymens union. declined
TO comment upon the terms OF the set
Element until his men vote. Mr.. Nc
Carter also remained silent.
Newark trolleymen will meet AZ IL
o'clock. Paterson employees at 10 40,
West Hoboken and Jersey City men in
Hoboken at l o'clock. Edgewater men
at 2 o'clock. Dunellen men in PiaIp field
at o'clock, New Brunswick ~fyk, at
II 80 A. NJ. and Elizabeth strikers at
] 80 this afternoon to vote on the agree
ment ,.r
In all the eleven counties of rprer'
New Jersey cars were running only in
Bergen yesterday. In that county the
employees for the most part refused to-
strike and the normal schedule was
maintained all day. But no cars left
the barns elsewhere. The company ex-
planned its failure to run cars with the
few employees who remained loyal on
the ground that the men needed n rest
The police believe. however. that the
real reason was that an outbreak OF
disorder was feared. Sheriff Flavel ha s
$50 newly sworn Deputy Sheriffs ready
10 man cars to prevent strikers inter
fering with the operation of cars in
Newark, and in Jersey City 800 police
men were assigned to the duty.
The strike has cost business in New
Sfy orNNidl eXclu0-
ing the loss by the Public Service Rail-
way Company. Merchants declared that
their trade fell of as high as rs per
cent.
At the Public Service Railway Com
Dany's Offices last night II was stated
unofhcially that the conference yester-
day had definitely settled the strike and
that there would be no further need of
arbitration by the National War Labor
% oRd (As.l.U
this noon for Washington to make his
report TO William Howard Taft, chair
man OF he board.
The agreement has been accepted by
the joint conference board OF the en-
ployees' unions. At union headquarters
It was said that the dispute may still
80 to the National War Labor Board
for an award.