Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-03
ONLY FEW PENNIES AN
HOUR IN WAY OF
SETTLEMENT
LAST OFFER GIVEN
ATTEMPT TO GET MEN TO SHAVE
DEMANDS OR COMPANY TO
CCME UP TO MEET SCALE
SOUGHT ENDS IN FAlLURE-RE.
FEREhDUM ON TODAY.

With only few cents per hour pre-
yeating their reaching an agreement.
Saturday, wage parley between G. o.
K p officials and the executive board
of the Amalgamated Association or
Electrical Railwaymen ended in a
deadlock. both sides standing pat on
their demands and offers. Today
members OF the local branch of the
national union are voting on the com
rany's last wage proffer and the al
tentative of strike.
What the outcome of the strike vote
will he is Of course only speculative.
but sentiment, ii Is said, is equally
distributed among the motormen and
conductors on both the strike and
terms made bv the traction 'hief9
There are about seventy members or
the association with headquarters IN
Ottawa. The poll will require the
greater portion of the rlay 10 ccmnlete
and bv night the ballots should all be
in and counted Thi' morning il was
announced about half OF the company
employees had been given their ballots.
This afternoon when the remaining
nan iliNNfl lfllb'fh PiAt ~ u iti'ii '''
their runs thew were dealt ont the
little slp Of white paper carrying the
c1mnany's best offer and the strike
question.
Vote Result in Doubt
Officers Of the union warn diSin"ljn.
nd to make any statements on what
they thought the outcome of the refer
pndum would be None Of the motor
men or conductors would let drop an
inklnc OF their feelings toward the
two imnortAnt questions n issue. ihe
vote is being secretly taken on the
Au0tralian ballot system and when
the to'lv is scored tonight the mem
bers themselves VIII not know how
their fellow workers made "A choice OF
a strike or accordance OF the com
tranys best terms.
Should the maioritr favor ado ting
the ~cale prnffered by the interurban
officials. their decision viii serve as Il
guide to the minority who favored re-
fusal of the terms and a walk-out lhe
hallOt will be carefully guarded an'l
the result announced at the earliest
possible moment.
Walk-out to Wait a Month.
The strike according TO President
Farl Prad'ey. who served as smokes
men for the interurban employees at
Saturday, conference in Joliet. if
voted win not take place in thirty
days This will give both sides time
tc nrepare for the proposed wak-out
II the men decide by a majority vote
in favor of quitting their posts until
l, allowed
The Final Offer and Demand.
The marley which was held in Gen
eral Superintendent F. r. Fishers OF
ficas In Joliet. resulted in both sides
Of the controversy getting pretty close
together and then ending in q dead
lock The company made its high bid
at 46c an hour for first year" mnn
and 55c an hour for those longer IN
the service The union demanded Sc,
two cents more than the traction Of
fer, for these Of its members with less
than twelve months eynerience, and
SIC an hour for the "old men" The
trick" disnatchero want sac and
chief dispatchers 5Sc an hour. This
price TO the man at the boards in OF
tawa headquarters is said to he sat
1SIucINTN W Tue OlllflHlS vi llt WIN
psnv.
In its offer for 4Gc--5jc the com
pany. It Is said. proposed to Day the
men back wages governed bv the ne"
scale. for the months of September
and October
Win Two Yee~s Point.
The scale now being uaid the train
men is &C an hour for men who have
heen in the &. o. e. P.'s employ longer
than two wears. and 40c for men work
ing more than twelve months. whil'
PC is the rate per hour allowed mer
who have worked less than year.
Under the agreement entered intt
nv the companv tho nresent clnsait'
cation system Is abolished, and met
who have been emocved more than
year WITH he paid the ton rri"e withou
regard to the results of today's vote
Regulars Sent 70 Colf5x.