Telegram-herald., 1891-05-02
MOREPAYORNO WORK
Street Railway Laborers Throw
Down Their Tools
AND DEMAND LIVING COYPEySATIoy
For = Days Work-Oraeriy. Dsssrniss q
strike. Net for shorter Hoarss but
for VI ages sumcient To Keep
the W oif From the Door.

The laboring men N the employ OF
the Valley City Street and Cable Com
pany, engaged on the Lagrave-ss. and
Wealihy-ave. line IN replacing the old
tracks with the electric system. struck
for q raise in wages At noon Friday.
There were about one hundred Of them.
They have been getting $l.25 day,
and want $i.5o. The men quit work
very quietly, making no other demon
strauon than that of walking away
from the job. leaving their tools on the
ground where they bad been used.
Picking up their coats and dinner pals
they gathered IN small knots upon the
street corners. IN the shade OF tne trees
and at the entrances To saloons Many
heated discussions arose between the
less intelligent of the foreigners, but
few conciliatory sentences from the
English-speaking contingent served 70
allay and quiet all Signs OF excitement.
In the afternoon the men assembled
at Central Labor Union Hall and took
preliminary steps toward completing
an organization of Laborer's Union.
During the afternoon others were IN
duced to Join the strike, SO that now
they claim u number nearly 200. The
men on the following streets have quit:
Cherry-st., East-st., Sherman-st., Wen
ham-ave.. Lagraye-st. and Wealthy
ave. and Ottawa-st.
Drivers and Conductors Not In It
The strike of the msn in no wise af-
fects the drivers and conductors and
they will not be requested to JOIN In
the movement unless IT Is necessary 10
force the company to accede TO the de-
mand made tor the Increase. During
the afternoon the strikers to the num-
ber OF about l25 followed hy an equal
number OF sympathisers gathered about
the corner of Lewis and Lyon-sts.,
where the foundation for the new
power house Is being construc-
ted. Here the leaders OF the
strikers asked the men engaged at work
on the power house TO JON them, but
this they declined to do saying that
they were satisfied. The decision was
received goodnaturedly and was quick
ly passed from one &c another. The
sudden appearance of the city ambu-
lance gave rise to the rumor that .
collision had occurred between the
power house men and the strikers but
proved to be absolutely false. After
receiving the answer Of the power
house men the strikers, q majority of
them carrying their dinner pals, moved
ND Louis-st to Waterloo-st. where they
expected to hold meeting, but pres
entity returned and marched in body
to the Central Labor Union hall where
the meeting was held.
what Their Grfevancs 10.
Several of the men were interviewed
at their meeting, and occasionally one
could be found VINO spoke English.
The remainder were Polocks and Hol-
landers. They say that for five weeks
past they have been working at Sl.25 a
day on the promise of u raise about the
first OF May. One Of them said he
asked Mr.. Campbell, assistant superin-
tendent, "Are we going to get ralse?'
and he replied, ''No sir. We won't
raise wages until we are obliged to; not
e. cent! All who want to work
at $i.25 day may do so. and it they
don't want to they can go home" This
they say was like powder in magazine,
and tossing their shovels and picks IN
the air they jumped the job. Al the
meeting they were addressed by mem-
bers of the organizing committee of the
Central labor union and advised 10 use
no violence, as some hot heads had
threatened. A committee WAS sp-
pointed to wait upon the
street car officials with =
request for better pay. The committee
men are James Lampman, Gerrit knlp-
pans, Frank Smith, Rudolph Gazzel
and Chauncey Goddard. They decided
TO meet at $50 Saturday morning at the
corner of Lagrave-st. and Wealthy-ave.
and nearly 200 We're expected to be
there. In the evening committees of
men were appointed to see all the labor
lug men possible to induce them To stay
out with them on the strike. Each
committee had Pole and Hollander.
as interpreter. Some OF the strikers
are hot-headcd and counsel violence,
but most of them are cool and want
only peaceful methods used.
Finched to Get Enough to Eat.
One OF them said yesterday: at is
ali man can do to keep soul and body
together, for we have little work during
the winter. We can't average over $3.50
q yesr; and It's outrageous"
The strike left the streets in the worst
condition possible as the work was
stopped right IN the midst OF disorder
and confusion. The company has ad-
vertised for 100 more lahoring men TO
apply on the grounds but the men say
they are not TO he had. They hope for
financial assistance from the labor
unions also. The committee called at
night and interviewed Mr.. Campbell
but obtained nothing but an answer
that he could make no promises. If
anything turned up he would
let them know. Then the men
concluded that they had better see
somebody who had some authority 10
state something definite. They turned
back and called for Manager Chapman.
The TsLEeRs1-HERsLp representa-
tive had inst finished talking vlth Mr..
Chapman IN the Office. but the men
were told that Mr.. Chapman vss not m.
Mr.. Chapman stated 20 the TFIEeRss-
HERALD that the raise would not be
made, and II the men didn't want 10
work they had the privilege of laying
Oft. He did not come out and tell the
committee 40, however, but left them
with no answer Whatever.