The Indianapolis journal., 1893-07-01
TIE STRIKE is STILL ON
But the Teamsters' Union Is Not Press
ing Ii Very vigorously.
Mayor Sullivan Called Upon by the Men to
Assist in Settling It-Coniractors Will
Not COncede Anything.

There were no men az work on South
West street yesterday. The street re-
mained in the same torn up condition as 1t
was when the men threw down their
shovels day before yesterday. and the only
sign of activity about the place was some
SCORE or more of the strikers who stood
guard all day from the shaded portions OF
the sidewalk. Yesterday morning. at
o'clock, the hour for going to work. nearly
all of the men who have been employed on
the street appeared on the scene. but none
OF them offered TO go TO work without the
company coming to their terms. This the
company did not do. Foreman De Ruiter
was on che ground. but he made no very
great effort to induce the men to 60 TO
work.
One by ode the men began leaving. until
only a few were left TO watch the proceed
ings. The situation remained the same
throughout the day. Some plumbers. max
ing q connection at one of the houses on the
street, sent a colOred man out in the street
to dig q trench. He was seen BY the strik-
ers, and they thought for a moment that he
was a man who had gone to work for the
paving company. They descended on him
In O body, but he succeeded IN letting them
know VINO and what he was before they
molesLed him. Among the men who re-
mained on guard during the day was huge
negro with q wealth OF side w whlskcrS and q
fierce mustaohe. he Is blacker than an
Egyptian night Is reputed TO be. and has
toDgue that can wag iaster than nywheel
10 q locomotive. Heis the man that took q
foremost part IN the strike OF the western
Paving Company's men, on the Circle, and
was always the hrst TO advocate force.
HIS tactics have been pursued at West
street. and while there has been no oppor-
tunIty for q practical illustration of them,
the bravsdo of his talk has been Just as
great There was one thing which CON-
mended the men TO all who might have OBJ
served them, and thet was that, while
there are several saloons In the Immediate
vicinity, there were no signs OF any OF
them having patroniZed them.
The prospect of the strike spreading Is
much less than it was on Thursday. The
contractors are taking very apatnetic
part In the matter. and the strikers. seeing
In consequence that they are not apt TO
gain much, are not pushing the hight with
AS mncD vigOr as they have been. lt Is
serted that several or the contractors on
public work are rather oourting q strike,
and would rather bave one than not.
They say that at the prices which
they are now paying for labor they
can make little or nothing on their
contract. and. should strike become geDg
ersl. it will give them an excuse to stop
work altogether for the present. They
could not be held good on their bonds
should such be the case. and give them g
chance TO weather through the financial
furry. This is not openly avowed by them,
nor IL it denied. One thing they are united
on. They will not give any increase of
wages over what they are paying now. end
another Is that they will get men cheaper
If they can. Manager Fletcher. of the
Acme company, which is doing the work
on South Vest street, said yesterday that
he would be able TO employ any number Of
men at less wages than are now being paid
by him and other contractors IL the union
would allow them to work. They are. be
said. nonunion men, but are afraid TO 60 to
work, thinking that they will be moDbed
by the union men. Manager Fletcher also
claims that the very men who quit working
for him Thursday did not want to do so. bus
were compelled TO by the union. He say 8
they are willing to go to work again at
once If they were allowed to do so.
He also said: The Acme Paving and
Cement Company has to say that there are
no differences nor difficulties to be adjust
ed between their men and themselves.
The men In their employ made no demands
and did nOt go out on strike, but were in
Inundated and forced by the mob
20 quit work, and are ready
TO resume soon as they are salts
fed they will not be hurt. The company
has no concessions to make and will not
recognize the Teamsters' and Shovelers'
Union In any manner"
He also empEstically states that the men
have been paid all that she union scale
called for, and that no reductions had
been made, as is claimed by the union.
1t was rumored among the men on tn o
street yesterday that the company in ntended
TO throw mp the job. and try TO sublet it.
I'VE dOan give - who has the Job" !"
remarked the negro with the flourIshing
whiskers. "they's got TO pay us what we
after or there amt no work done on this
here street." There wac, however. no
truth In the rumor. A committee of the
union called on Mayor Sullivan yesterday
and asked him TO interoede with she COM
pany in it's behalf Mayor sullivan is not
In n position to refuse such re-
quest. Election time 10 drawing closer
every day. and he is well aware
of the fact that labor organizations are not
too friendly TO him anyway. He promised
to do W that he could for them, and there
the matter was allowed to stand. He has
had no conference. OF. at least. none in his
office. with any of the contractors, and
Just what leverage he can bring to bear on
them Is not known. He was asked yester-
day about it. and replied that he knew
nothing. and was dsinclined TO talk on the
subject
The members of the Teamsters' and
6hoveNers' Union held meeting last
night at the unions hall, on Washington
street but did nothing of i'm Dortance. The
situation was talked over. and it was de-
termined 10 allow things To stand Just as
they are for q few days. or until the con-
tractors make concessiOna 1t was not a
large meeting and there seemed TO be little
or no enthusiasm.