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Show STREET CAR MEN AND EMPLOYING COMPANY BOTH SEEK ARBITRATION Both Bides In the controversy between the Utah Light and Railway company and Its employees still believe an amicable settlement will be reached. The difficulty Is now la the hands of President W. H. Bancroft of the company com-pany and 0. O. Pratt, chairman of the International executive board of the Btreet car men. ' So far as the members of the local union are concerned, the entire matter is in the hands of Pratt. This was derided de-rided on at a meeting of the employees of the company which lasted from 2 o'clock 'until 5 o'clock - this morning. Pratt was given carte blanche. Shortly after 9 o'clock this morning Pratt sent a letter to Mr. Bancroft by special messenger. Up to 2 o'clock this afternoon no reply had been received. re-ceived. The letter asked for a meeting between Pratt and members of the local union and Bancroft or such representatives representa-tives of the railway company as he saw fit to designate. At 2 o'clock this afternoon, Pratt said: "I still have hopes strong hopes that we will be able to get together and settle our difficulties. I believe that Mr. Bancroft or some of his representatives, repre-sentatives, delegated by him, will meet and discuss the situation." Pratt in Full Charge. "In the event that Mr. Bancroft refuses re-fuses to meet you or to recognize you in this matter, what will be the result t" was the question put to Pratt. "That is a matter that I do not care to discuss at the present time. We will decide that question when we meet it. The matter has been left in my hands as far as the members of the local union are concerned. I shall, however, take no decided step until I have consulted the members of the local lo-cal executive committee. "I am perfectly willing to listen to the side of the company, if a meeting can be arranged. As I have already stated, both in the present trouble and that of more than a year ago, we want an amicable settlement. I still have hopes." Said a member of the executive committee com-mittee of the Utah Federation of Labor La-bor this afternoon: "We are with the boys both morally and financially. We understand their fight." Letter to Bancroft. The letter sent to Pratt by Bancroft Ban-croft follows: "I take this means of Informing: you that your employee, who are members of Division 882 of the Amalgamated Association As-sociation of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, representing- approximately ap-proximately 450 men, at a mass meeting held this morning- decided that they were not able to reach an amicable understanding- with the representatives of your company com-pany as to the conditions of future em-ployment em-ployment relating to wages, etc, aa has been requested by them of your company in writing-. "It waa, therefore, by unanimous vote, decided to officially place theit grievances In my hands as the accredited representative represen-tative of their organization for the purpose pur-pose of determining If further effort to bring about an amicable adjustment of existing differences between the Utah Light and Railway company and their employees, who are Involved In the present pres-ent controversy Is possible. "With a view of obtaining a perfect understanding and an earnest desire to aid. If possible. In securing an amicable adjustment that will insure uninterrupted and mutually satisfactory continuance of present relationship between the parties involved, It would be my pleasure to arrange ar-range a conference with yourself and such representatives of your company as you may select and myself and a committee com-mittee of your employees who are members mem-bers of our association. Trusting that this request will meet with your approbation and co-operation, and awaiting your early reply, I am sincerely sin-cerely yours, C. O. PRATT." Big Crowd at Meeting. Nearly 400 motorraen, conductors, shop and linemen of the Utah Light & Railway Rail-way met In Electrical Workers' hall, 11 West First South street, at 2 o'clock this morning to consider the report of the executive committee as a result of the meeting with General Manager Joseph 8. Wells Saturday with regard to the re-guest re-guest of the men for an increase In wages. This meeting, which was behind closed doors, was the largest In point of attendance in the history, of labor organization or-ganization In this city. - As the night shift men left their work they went at once to the hall where they discussed with their fellow workmen the. situation. As the hour for the meeting approached ap-proached men came In singly and In groups. Many day shift men had left their beds to attend the meeting. During the nearly three hours that the conference confer-ence was In session every member of those present took the opportunity to discuss the entire situation pro and con. The men were greatly encouraged by the presence of the linemen and men from the different sub-stations. The street car men claim that more than 95 per cent of the employees of the company are with them in their request for an increase of wages, which also Includes In-cludes an Increase to the shop men. This morning, notwithstanding that they had been up the greater part of the night, the men reported for duty as usual and there was no hitch in the running of the cars. "We are still hoping for an amicable settlement," said one old employee of the company at noon today. "We feel that our cause Is Just and with that feeling we propose to do whatever our committee commit-tee recommends should It meet with our approval as members of the union, and there Is no question but what the recommendations recom-mendations of the committee will be approved ap-proved by the men." |