The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-06
is MUCH TALK OF A STRIKE
Street Railroad Employees Disappointed
and Exasperated at Mr.. Frenzel.
lie Withholds the Badges, and Offers Them
Practically Nothing-Action Deferred
Until Monday Nights Meeting.

The question ito strike or not to strikef"
is agitating the street railroad employees
just now, even more than it did before the
recent tie-up. President Frenzeps course
since the board of arbitration made public
it's findings has been extremely exasper-
ating to the men. They hold that mis- course
is entirely contrary to the spirit of those
findings. Though the conferences between
President Frenzel and the brotherhood's
committee. consisting of President Martin
Dugan, William De Motto and John Cor
less, were under the seal of secrecy. it is
known. as stated yesterday, that Presi-
dent Frenzel holds this position: The
board held that the company could
control the badges. but the men
were entitled to compensation for
that no badges or other frank for free rides
shall be held by the employees, that they
shall be released from any obligation to look
ont for the c~ompany's interests when OF
duty, and that when called upon for extra
work an account of the time shall be kept
and settled for according to the scale. He
has the letter of the decision with him
and Shylock had the letter Of his contract
with him..
There is no question that the feeling
among the men is strongly toward a strike.
In the decision of the arbltrators. that the
badges were q compensation and not q
gratuity. they believed they had won q SUBJ
stantial victory, and they went to meet
Mr.. Frenzel in a spirit of fairness, will
ing to make an amicable adjust
ment. The Interpretation he has put
upon the decision, and his stubborn un-
budgIng attitude have proved a keen and
bitter disappointment, and were 1t not for
the advice of the more conservative few
they would strike in q minute. They feel
that they have gotten decidedly the worst
of o bad bargain. and IL will be no easy
matter TO persuade them to submit to IL.
The b~rotherhood's committee last even
ing held o long consultation with their at
torney, A. w. Wishard. in the ~latter's of.
flee. This also was under the seal of
secrecy. However. the chief point decided
was that no meeting of the brotherhood
will be held until tho regular time, next
Monday night. That means no strike
until Tuesday morning. at least. by
Monday night the committee will be able
to make recommendations to the brother
hood. These were outlined last night, bnt
they are subject TO change. 1t Is probable
that further conferences will intervene
and several people who are supposed to
have some influence with Mr.. Frenzel will
endeavor to have him change his attitude.
Ii he continues to hold his present ground
it will be difficult TO avoide q strike.
The members of the committee last night
expressed the desire not to publicly discuss
the matter, but one of them. John Carless.
is thus quoted by an afternoon newspaper:
Mayor Sullivan bulldozed us into arbitration.
He said IL we didn't submit the difference TO ar
D~itration and 20 back TO work he would run the
cars by force"
what Is the feeling OF the brotherhood as to
Mr.. Frenzel's proposition"
every man 1 have talked with is In favor Of
striking again. A great many of them want to
tie the lines up right now. We oil realize that
Mr.. Frenzel does not and never did intend TO
give in one inch, and it Is q waste of time to hold
any more conferences with him. The indefinite
shape In which that arbitration board left mat
tiers is the cause of all this wrangle now. Its
action gives Mr.. Frenzel room TO wiggle, and,
in fact, leaves us at his mercy, just as we were
before. Why didn'tthat board decide one thing
or the otherie