New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-04-17
STREET CAR STRIKE.
Not Horse Car Running in st. Paul or Mime.
apolis-.-A Thousand Men Standing ont.


Not Horse Car Running in st. Paul or MINES
apolis---A Thousand Men Standing out.
The street car drivers of St. Paul and
Minneapolis, numbering over thousand
men, are out on strike, and not q car is
running, except on the cable lines Of St. Paul
The street car company reduced the wages of
drivers from seventeen cents to fifteen cents
an hour, and in addition thereto demanded
that the men should sign a paper pied ging
themselves not to join any labor union or
association. The sympathies of the public
seem to be almost entirely on the part of the
men.
IN MINNEAPOLIS.
The company and the police attempted to
run the cars, and while doing so, this incident
occurred:
As this car, the third one, pulled out from
the barn. and the second one, which made
the round trip, moved away from the barn, a
lady OF rather slender form, wearing neat
black bat and plush cloak, stepped from
the outside of the crowd and quickly mount
ed the car. She had hardly taken standing
position beside the stout young fellow who
drove before she began her mission She
was Mrs. McCurdy, the young wife of
driver who was among the strikers, but who
was not at the barn at the time his wife
boarded the car. The lady paid no attention
to any one but the driver. She stood close to
him, and she used her right hand in gesture,
came in here to ask you not TO drive this
car. Will you not leave and be an honorable
man?
The driver announced that if he left the
car somebody else would gladly take his
place
Il appeal to you, young man, as wife and
mother. if you have any respect for honest
workingmen, who are simply asking what is
right, not to take this car any farther. I beg of
you not to work against these men. beg of
you in the name of humanity not to work in the
place of a man who is striking to keep himself
from stat walton. am the wife of a striker. My
poor husband has worked night and day for the
company, and what he got was hardly enough to
keep his little family. If you have one spark of
manhood. If you have wife and children whom
you respect, you will not be the servant of a
man who is irving to crush the men. I am go
ing to stay with you and keep you company. I
don't know that this is just the thing for lady
to do, but could not help it. I will behave
myself and not say anything that is wrong or
unladylike. But do hope my appeal will
touch tender spot in you and that You will not
continue to drive"
The laoy's earnestness attracted much at
tention along the avenue. She continued to
petition the driver until Eighth street was
reached. She looked into the face of the
driver but saw no sympathetic responses,
and after her effort she appeared to feel dis
reporter and asked if there was conductor
on the car. The conductor was pointed out,
and Mrs. McCurdy stepped down upon the
side platform and reached from post to post
as she passed to the rear Of the car.
Are you the conductor?" she asked in a sor-
rowful tone.
YES, am, replied the silent, stoical man who
faced the front and leaned against the near rail-
ing:
well, sir, leg of you not to work in the
places of the strikers. II is strike for justice
upon the part of the poor men who have been
trying to support families upon low wages Will
Won not heed my appeal? Have you no honor?
Have you no respect for homer"
Il have no argument to make with you" re-
piled the conductor, whose name is w. T. La
Dleu. and who did not appear to be in the least
affected by the woman's appeal
You can have no argument" she quickly
Piled There is no argument for man in your
position to Offer"
What will you take and let me alone? I will
give you SO Genus it you will keep quiet" said
the conductor.
Il not to be bought off, said Mrs McCur-
dy. i would not work against my fellows for
$4,000 certainly would not work for So or
$40 as you are doing"
and men can do as they please | have been
around good deal. and there are thousands Of
men who would be glad to take this place."
Il suppose there arc, said the lady.
II am instructed to collect fares" said the con-
ductor, and IT you are going to ride you Will
have to pay"
L nave nickel CnaC WILL give Tor the pr1V1-
lege of riding with so unusual sort of man."
and she pulled out her slender pocketbook
A reporter paid the ladys fare, and she
turned to the scribe and said:
I.thank you sir. cannot touch this mans
for about five months. We live upstairs at
2419 Fifth avenue south. I have not always
been in poor circumstances. We lost all by fire
university for five years. He is capable OF filling
almost any position, but had to accept a position
as driver
The woman stood up while the car made
the trip to First avenue north and return.
She felt that her work had not been sue
cess, and as she left the car at the barn she
looked discouraged. A few gentlemen
handed her a small sum of money AS she
started for home.
IN ST. PAUL
The street car men are confident that they
will win the night, and the meeting which
they held at the united labor headquarters
on East Seventh street last evening was of a
most enthusiastic character j. A. johnson.
of the Brotherhood Of Carpenters, presided,
and numerous speeches were made by the
striking drivers, urging all to stand together
and success was assured. The committee
that waited on President Lowry reported
their chilly reception stating that he abso-
luteiy refused their proposition to sub
NIT the question to arbitration. Having
failed to secure settlement Of the difficulty
in this peaceable manner, they were COM
PEELED to take more extreme measures and
order the men to quit work during the after
noon. This step was taken as last resort,
their desire being to avoid any Inconvenience
to the public. When a fair offer Of arbitra-
ton was declined in the most decided NJ an
ner, nothing else could be done. Miss Eva
Mcdonald, Of the Minneapolis Trades and
Labor assembly, was present, and urged the
strikers 70 stand firm and their cause would
triumph. She declared that the reports that
the strikers in Minneapolis had been the
cause of the trouble there were false, as all
the disturbance was caused by outsiders. who
are always ready to take advantage Of such
Occasions to make trouble.
81 The trades and labor assembly held
meeting at the same hour in an adjoining
hall, Presidents James Coughlin in the chair,
and after listening to statement of the case
made by the officers Of the street car mems
union, passed the following resolutions:
Whereas. The street railway company Of Min