St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-05
Inhabitants of the West Division of
Chicago Try Ii.


''all-night" meeting held by the Conductors
and Car Drivers association of Chicago a
motion was made that strike of all the
conductors on all lines of the West side
division of the railway be inaugurated at
a. m, and that every member of the asso-
citation be at the several barns at that hour
to see that no ears should be started. The
motion was carried with cheers. A demand
for the reinstatement of fourteen discharged
employees was the cause of the strike. One
thousand men are members of the associa-
ton, and the company with whom they are
corteSting owns the street car facilities for
the entire portion of the city known as the
West side. As consequence the residents of
that portion of the city are experiencing all
the beauties of an extended strike. The great
body of the population were compelled TO
foot it" to the business district. The
streets were filed, however, with express
wagons and carts converted for the time
into carry alls. and a number of antiquated
Omnibusses were reSurrected for the Occa-
sion to carry passengers. The Street Rail-
way company attempted to run car out at
10 a. M, but a threatening crowd of 500
strikers and sympathizers pushed the con-
ductOr of the car into the street.
II WAS EVIDENT
from the remarks one heard along the
street that many were in sympathy with the
conductors and drivers, and therefore sub
mitted gOOd-naturedly to the inconvenience
imposed upon themselves by the strike.
The hope was frequently expressed that the
West Division Railway company would be
compelled TO comply with the demand of
the employees, and that the latter would be
able TO hold out until complete surrender
OF the company was obtained.
The committees at the hall remained
faithfully on watch. and were pleased at the
nOn-receiptS of reports of disOrderly conduct
on the part of the strikers. 1t was reported,
though, that some deputy sheriffs had been
Offering sailors large sums of money if they
would take out the cars. but the old ''Shell-
backs" refused. On all sides the commit
tees were assured they would be heartily
supported by the trade and labor unions and
their determination was strengthened TO
continue the struggle when, during the
afternoon, it was stated that barn hand
on Madison street had been offered SIS to
run out a car, and on his refusal to do so
had been discharged. The following was
issued and circulated along the thorough
fare trayersed by the railway company's
lines;
THE sTIKERs' CIRCULAR.
JUNE so, 1SS5.-To the Citizens OF Chi
cago: We, the conductors and drivers of
the West Division Railway company, in meet
ing assembled, do beg to inform you that we
are in nowise accountable for the inconveu-
fence you may have TO undergo in cOnse-
quence of the strike that has taken place this
day between us and our employers, the West
Division company. a few days ago the diff
ferences existing between us and the com
pany were, as we supposed, amicably settled
and good feeling restored, when, to our great
surprise, the men who were the most promi-
nent in bringing about this amicahle adjust
ment were summarily discharged. We trust
that you will extend TO US the sympathy and
announcement that you have extended to us
in the past
After this Mr.. Kleekner was seen by
reporter to whom he said: 1.-The trouble
originated few days ago. The COnduc-
tors and Drivers association made de-
mand on the company for an equalization
OF wages, and for the removal of an often
sive official named Charles Higney. SUpt.
Lake informed us that our demands would be
complied with, and even went so far rs to
ask us if we wanted anything more. You
can readily imagine our surprise, then,
when the company gave notice TO fifteen of
its oldest employees, who had been prom
inent in the movement for the equalization
of wages, to quit ON the grounds that they
were incompetent"
do you regard these fifteen men as be-
ing Incompetent"
mo, sir. We all think the pretense on
which they were asked to quit is very tiimsy.
Some of the men had worked as long as
seventeen years and Others not less than
three. We could do nothing but ask for
their retention in their positions. We did
this, and gave the company until last even
ing To comply with our demands. y COM
mittee was sent with resolutions to the
company, but it was treated with contempt,
and the result is that we have gone on a
strike"
What do you think will be the result?"
THAT is hard to tell. We will behave |
ourselves like gentlemen, and we ask moth |
ing but fair treatment at the hands of the |
public. We are sOrry that the citizens |
should be Inconvenience. but we could not,
in justice TO ourselves, submit to the tyrany |
of such a sOulleSS monopoly any longer"
''Will the trade and labor unions aid |
you?r
I'VE have received every assurance to
that effect"
Up to noon on Friday there had been no |
serious trouble with the strikers. At q a.
m. the West Division Railway company
started out few cars from their barns at
Western avenue. About one block from
the starting point they found their progress
barricaded by lumber and gas pipes piled
upon the track, which the police cleared
away unmOlested by the strikers. Fifteen
patrol wagons loaded with police were
placed along the street. and every street
corner on Madison street had Il strong guard
of police, Madison street bridge being
double guarded. When the cars reached
Ashland avenue and HOyne avenue the
strikers or sympathiZers had gained access
to
LOT OF SHOvELS
which had been used by the gas cOmpany's
trench diggers, and piled huge bank of
cOmpany's gang, finding the shOvels left
by the strikers, had taken possession of
and locked them up, SO that when the pO-
lice arrived they found only the wOrkmen,
minus their Shovels. The police captain,
il is reported, asked the men for their
shovels, and OH their replying that the fore |
man had locked them up, ii Is stated the |
police commenced using their clubs on the |
gas works employees, and several were ter |
ribly beaten, some having their heads split !
OPEN
Under the protection of the entire reserve |
police force the West Division railway sue
ceeded in making their way into the bust |
ness part of the city, and encountered no |
opposition beyond that mentioned at HOyne |
avenue, which proved not very serious. The |
cars We're filled with policemen, and in fact |
the entire thOroughfare
WAS LINED WITH POLICEMEN,
and west of Ashland avenue no vehicles of |
any kind are allowed on the street. The |
police made more than 100 arrests.
The cars made their return journey to |
Western avenue without any encounter, |
and were started east again for another |