St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-13
Moral and Financial Support
Is Pledged by the Trades
Assembly.
An Offer to Arbitrate the Diff
ficulty Made by the
Men.
Cable Line Employees Have
Not Yet Decided What
to Do.


Paul city railway, numbering some 800
i'll all, struck yesterday afternoon
against the reduction in wages to go
into effect tomorrow, and at o'clock
last evening not a street car was NOV
ing in the city. The cable line was op-
Grating as usual, but every horse ear
was under cover, the horses were
stabbed, and policemen we're on guard
at each of the five big barns of the COM
pany. The presence of the officers
seemed unnecessary, as few of the
striking employees loitered about,
and there was no demonstration
of dsorderly character at
any time during the day. The stoppage
of the cars began first on the Lafayette
avenue line at 2:3O p. m. the order to
strike being received at the barn on
Greenbrier avenue some time in ad-
vance of that at the other barns of the
company on University avenue, West
Seventh street, Rice street and at the
corner of Oak and Ramsey streets. As
the cars came in, the drivers were in
formed of the order to go out. They
quickly housed their cars, turned over
their horses, and waited for the next
car to come in. At o'clock
only three cars were running,
two on the Lafayette avenue
line and one Oh the University avenue
route. The drivers said they were NOT
members Of the union, and proposed to
stick to their places. The car on Uni
versity avenue was taken off by the
company after one trip. The two cars
on the Lafayette avenue line ran until
6 o'clock. when they were ordered
stopped, and not street car wheel was
turning in st. Paul. The walking was
good. the air cool and bracing. and there
was almost no complaint from the hun
dreds who found themselves compelled
to foot it home after the close of business.
The strike, which was expected by ev-
erybody, came on quietly and was ac-
cepted quietly as the inevitable. But
what change it made in the appear
ance of the streets! 1t seemed as if
something had suddenly dropped out of
life. Nobody gives an inStant'S thought
to the bells of the horses or the rumble
of the cars as they pass regularly. but
when this ceases suddenly, as yeSter-
day, everybody looks up to inquire
what's the matter? So it was that long
before the last car was in the barns
about everybody in st. Paul knew that
THE STRIKE WAS ON.
Some shoppers were inconvenienced
in getting to their homes, and many
were left stranded a good distance from
their habitatiOns, but people generally
took the matter gOod-naturedlv and
looked on it in the light Of new eX-
perience. 1t is the first street car strike
in the history of st. Paul. How the
maiden effort of the employees against
a reduction of wages viii result is a
question of but few days. Both COM
pany and employees express confidence
as to the outcome. The company un-
doubtedly is confident. It is question
if the employees are.
The grievance committee appointed
at the meeting of the street car en-
ployes' association between midnight
and o'clock yesterday morning did not
call on Supt. Scott or General M anager
Barr, of the street railway company, as
expected, but went at once to Minneap-
oils and sought an interview with
President Lowry. The committee,
which consisted of Andrew Cosgrove,
William Dow and Thomas Arm
strong. was given full power to
settle the differences between company
and men or order a strike. Mr.. Lowry
declined to make any concessions. He
held that a reduction in wages was
necessity. and that consequently there
was nothing to arbitrate. The commit
tee reported to the district assembly, K.
of L., which is in session at Minneapo-
lis, and returned to St. Paul to order the
strike.
The employees are one and all satisfied
that this would be the outcome of the
conference, and expected every minute,
after noon was passed, that the order to
tie up would be given. ltwas not looked
forward to with any apparent eagerneSs.
There was none of the suppressed eX-
element which usually precedes an up
rising of labor in an attempt to right
real OF fancied wrong. OF nearly a score
of drivers talked with by a GLOBE repor-
ter between noon and 3 O'Clock not
one expressed even satisfaction at the
outlook. Rather, they seemed glum
and depressed, and after work had
been stopped and the men were gath
cred in groups about the barns. there
Was UuI ltJlC olOWu do u q
successful outcome. At the Offices of
the company there was not ripple of
excitement. The strike seemed to be
taken just as an everyday occurrence.
In this manner, with the COM
pany quietly determined and the en-
ployes as quietly quitting work at
which some have made a living for
years, was inaugurated the great strike.
! That matters Will remain in this Quies-