(Copy)

May 21st 1913.

Colonel Charles E. Johnson,
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Colonel Johnson;

Our committee has had under consideration for several days the question of the misunderstanding in regard to the wages of some of the street car men growing out of the agreement made by you with this committee when you were in Asheville.

We have gone over the correspondence very carefully, and have had a number of conferences with the street car men, hoping that we might be able to bring about an adjustment of this misunderstanding.

In all of the correspondence, up to your last letter to Mr. Plummer, and in all of the conferences we had, there was no question raised as to the wages of the two year men, and it was understood by all of our committee that the difference was only with respect to the one year men. We think our position in this matter is sustained by all of the correspondence that we have before us. The members of the committee realize that they are largely to blame for this misunderstanding, as the figures should have been verified before you left. We also believe that part of this responsibility rests with you, as it was a business matter, and should not have been left open so that there could have arisen any misunderstanding as to the amount agreed upon.

We feel that none of this blame should attach to the street car men, because they were not represented at this meeting. The committee also feels that it was acting to a certain extent in the capacity of a mediator between your company and these men.

In view of all these facts, and with the desire to bring about a speedy and amicable adjustment of the misunderstanding, the committee has decided to undertake to get the one year men to accept 19¢, provided you will let the 21¢ rate stand as the wages to be paid the two year men.

We believe this is an absolutely fair settlement of this misunderstanding, and that neither party to the transaction would be making any sacrifice of principle, and certainly but little financially.

Governor Craig has telephoned here saying that he felt that he was to blame for this misunderstanding, and that he desired to assume the full responsibility for it, and urge that the street car men should not resort to a strike to settle it. The committee will not allow Governor Craig to assume this responsibility and blame, but, as stated above, it believes the blame to rest equally upon all those who had any part in the transaction. For these reasons we believe we are not asking you to do anything but what is right in the matter.

The committee appreciates the kind manner in which you treated with us in the settlement of this strike while in Asheville, and believes that you will not now allow a technicality to stand between you and the complete adjustment of this unfortunate misunderstanding.

We are sorry that you seem to misconstrue the motives of this committee in your letters of May 6th, to Governor Craig, and of the 15th, to Mr. Plummer, for there was certainly no intention on the part of this committee to underestimate what you had conceded in the settlement of this matter.

With best wishes, we are

Yours very sincerely

Signed Go S Powell
Chairman.

Enclosed in: 1913, May 21. Powell to Craig.