The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-11
THERE WILL BE NO STRIKE
A Majority Against 1t Given by the
Brotherhood of Street-Car Employees.
Organizer Gruelle Suspends Them as Members
of the American Federation of Labor and
Takes Their Charter from Them.

All day yesterday the Brotherhood of
Street-car Conductors, Drivers and Motor
men was engaged in taking a full poll of
its membership on the question OF ordering
q strike or accepting the proposition Of
President Fowler regarding the stablemen
who quit work. This proposition to give
the striking stablemen employment on the
construction work now in progress. and re-
instate them in the stables as fast as va
cancies might occur, and giving the stable
employees 10 cents per day more, with half
an hour less work. was discussed for sever
al hours at the brotherhood meeting Thurs
day night. 1t was finally decided to refer
the question of accepting it or ordering q
strike to a vote of the members. For this
purpose q teller was appointed for each
line, whose business il was, yesterday,
TO see each man on his line, explain the
proposition to him, and take his ballot.
which was cast in secrecy. They were told
that II the majority was for striking aman
would be stationed at each stable before
cars were taken out this morning to inform
them of the fact.
o'clock. and the count began in the Office of
the Labor Signal, Messrs. Ingram, Hend-
ricks, Dugan. Huston and FELTON, acting as
tellers for the brotherhood. L. NJ. Gruelle
anu Wllliam -. smith were pres
emf as representatives of the
American Federation of Labor,
The vote stood 134 against and 81 for q
strike. a majority against the Stablemen's
Union OF forty-seven votes. The vote at the
Louisiana-street barn was a tie. and at the
New Jersey and Sbelby-street barns the
men gave a majority for a strike. AT the
other barns there was a deoIded majority
against going out. as were the votes on the
Illinois. West Washington and College
avenue lines.
The result was considerable Of a iisap-
pointment to the stablemen. Organizer
Gruelle. for the American Federation Of
Labor, at once informed the tellers that
the brotherhood stood suspended. and de-
manded its charter. Eli Hendricks was
overheard to saw that the charter would
not be given up, even If he had to take it to
his house for safe-keeping. Gruelle decided
TO act promptly, and went to Marmont
Hall. in which the brotherhood
can Club. This club was then
in session. and Gruelle's request to be al
lowed possession of the charter was re-
fused, on the ground that the club had no
right to dellvec il to any one outside of the
brotherhood. The organizer then claimed
1t as the property of the American Fedora
ton, but had to wait until the club adj
jOurned before he could enter and take it
from the wall. The suspension was the al
tentative awaiting the brotherhood if
it should fail to strike. Gruelle
when asked the specific grounds for the
suspension. replied: For failing to support
the Stablemen's Union, as one union should
support another He will report the case
to the executive officers of the federation,
to whom the brotherhood can appeal. Ex-
pulsion Will follow the hearing, unless the
result is hen favorable to the brotherhood.
Among the members, the outcome of the
vote could not have been unexpected. Il
think the result Will be no strike by a big
majority" said q conductor on the Clifford
il and nearly every one of the boys / have
talked with did the same thing. l struck
four years ago and struck out. and / don't
want any more OF 1t except as q last resort.
l think the compaDy's proposition abOut
the stablemen is as fair a. anything we are
likely to get and if a strike Is ordered, in
stead of accepting it, | don't believe half
the men will go out. /. for one. will stay
right where / am. Too many of us are
married and are trying to pay for property
to undertake q light unless we have to-"