Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1910 — BIG STATE STRIKE HAS BEEN GALLED [ARTICLE]

BIG STATE STRIKE HAS BEEN GALLED

Monday Set For Laborers To Lay Aside Their Tools. PEACE PLANS PROVE FUTILE Rumored Gov. Stewart Will Call a Special Session To Pass Compulsory Arbitration LawPeace May Yet Come. Philadelphia, March 18.—Settlement of the car strike and the return to work of the union men who struck in sympathy with the carmen, turns upon the condition of the reinstatement without prejudice of the 178 motormen and conductors who were discharged by the transit company. This condition blocked an agreement between the company and its men. Vice President Wolf of the P. R. T., who represents a majority of the board of directors, refused to grant the terms offered by C. O. Pratt, leader of the strikers. Wolf maintains very firmly that the company shall not be challenged in the right to hire and discharge workmen. Pratt contends that the right to hire or discharge is not attacked, but that the company's abuse of the right is the point at issue. There were conferences yesterday afternoon and last evening. At times the settlement seemed certain. But Wolf remained unmoved and insisted that the company could not stultify itself by re-employing the 178. Pratt, having been informed by E. E. Greenwait, president of the state Federation of Labor that a state-wide strike would be ordered for Monday in case the company remained obdurate, pressed his demands with confidence. No other issue remained between the company and the men, but the one mentioned could not be got over. As soon as .Greenwalt was told that an agreement seemed unlikely, ho telegraphed orders-to all unions affiliated with the State Federation to go on strike Monday next. The order advanced the sympathetic strike four days. The call originally named Friday, March 25 There is a story that a special session of the Pennsylvania legislature is to be called by Gov. Stewart in case the P. R. T and the men do not copie together in the next day or two for the purpose of enacting a compulsory aribtration law. There will be more conferences today between representatives of carmen and those acting for the transit company