Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-31
To avert
TROLLEY STRIKE
WaIkout Scheduled to Take
Place at Midnight Tonight
on Public Service Lines.
MEN VOTE FOR STRIKE
City Officials Act to Provide
Transportation in Event
Strike Is Called.
MEN VOTE FOR STRIKE

NEWARK. July 31.-Willlam
Wepner, chairman of the joint con-
ference board of the amalgamated
association of street and electric
railway employees, received an in
vitation shortly before 2 o'clock To-
day, to cbnfer with representatives
of the Public Service Railway Com
pany in the public service Offices at
half past two.
The invitation came in the form of
a telephone message from Mr.. Boy
Ian, who told Mr.. Wepner Mr.. Nc
Carter would meet the members of
the joint conference board in his
office at $3.50 to discuss arbitration.
The invitation was accepted by the
union heads.
The strike vote of the Newark di-
vision of the Public Service Railway
company t~rolleymen. showed that
out of approximately 1900 Notes
cast, 1929 were for a strike and 81
against, according to William WEEP
ner, chairman of the joint confer
ence board of the union. Early re-
turns of the vote from the other dis
tries indicate a proportionate vote,
the union heads say.
City officials of Newark and other
communities affected by the walk out
are perfecting their plans for hand
ling the transportation situation in
their localities. While no disorder
is expected in view of the statement
of Thomas n. McCarter, president of
the company, that he would not i'm
port strikebreakers to man the COM
pany's cars during the strike, Direc-
tor of Public safety William j. Bren-
man of Newark has ordered the can
collation. of all police vacations dur
ing the emergency.
If the strike is voted, the men will
quit work at midnight tonight in
stead of 4 a. m. tomorrow, Mr.. WEEP
ner said. Crews will run their cars
into the barns at that hour and the
strike will be on. No reason was
given for the change in time for
calling the walk out.
Mayor Breidenbach of Newark is
sued a proclamation today calling
upon all persons owning automobiles
to aid in solving the traffic problem
attendant upon the strike by carrying
passengers whenever it is possible.
The mayor will take up the strike
situation with the city commission
at its meeting today but it is not
known what plan he will offer for
the solution of the problem.
Chairman Wepner issued a state
ment al noon today quoting wages
paid trolley men in other cities and
declaring that the mems demands
are not unreasonable.
The trolleymen's strike, sched-
uled to be called at midnight tonight
to enforce the mems demands for a
80 per cent wage increase, a six day
week and improved working condi-
tions, doomed as a stern reality to-
day as an overwhelming vote in IA
vor of a walk out rolled in from each
of the nine districts in which the
question was balloted on last night
The total vote will be announced
by William Wepner, chairman of the
joint conference committee of the
union here today.
The Essex County trolleymen are
expected to hold a mass meeting in
Newark tonight to discuss the con-
duct of the strike.
Newark city officials are still hop
ing for a last minute compromise,
Although Mr.. Wepner stated yester-
day any compromise measure put
forward after the strike vote had
been taken would be too Late
officials closely in touch with the
situation believe today that if a sat
~isfactory arbitration plan could be
evolved the men could be induced
to rescind their strike vote, or, at
least, postpone the strike order pend
ing negotiations.
The final mobilization of emer-
gency jitneys throughout the strike
zone is taking place today. Joseph
Crawford, supervisor of transporta-
ton for Newark announced today
that he had applied to Grover Whal'
en-. commissioner of plant and struc-
ture of New York City, for the use OF
so buses during the strike emergency
Newark is prepared. he said, will
nearly 100 extra buses to handle the
situation.
While the formal strike call has
not been issued as yet, it is consid-
cred but a question of a few hour:
when the strike notices will be post
ed in every car barn of the Public
Service Railway Company.
(C~ontfnuen on page ~