Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-17
TROLLEY LINES TIED UP.
Philadelphia MOtOrmen and Conduct
OrS Go On a strike
Every Car in the City Expected to
be Stopped This Morning at Four
O'clook-The Men Demand Ten
Hour Day at 50. and Vestibuled
Oars They Also Want the Priv
ilege Of Organizing.

Philadelphia, Pa, December 16.-At
4 o'clock tomorrow morning the street
car lines of this city will be tied up in a
general strike.
That step was decided upon late to-
night
The conductors and motormen are
waging war for an increase in wages,
shorter hours, and the privilege of be-
longing to the Amalgamated Associa-
tion Of street railway employees. Dis
satisfaction has been growing for long
time, but reached a high pitch imme-
diately after the recent consolidation of
all the local lines into one company
the Union Transit.
Then action was precipitated by the
numerous discharges from the compa-
ny's service of men belonging to the
Amalgamated Association. Many con-
ferences have been sought by the vari-
Gus committees representing the rail-
way men, but all have been rejected
by President Welsh and the company's
Board of Directors.
A few days ago w. D. Mahon, of De-
troit, president of the national organiza-
ton, appeared in this city and took
charge of the affairs of the malcotents.
A crisis was reached to-day. At a
meeting held this morning committee
of one was appointed to convey an ulti-
matum to President Welsh. He did so,
and returned with the information
given by the president himself that
there would be no answer and that no
person connected with any labor Or
ganization would be recognized.
This report was received tonight at
"a meeting of the committee having
charge of the railway mems affairs.
Meanwhile number of subcommittee
who had been polling the street car
lines made their reports. According TO
these, the sentiments Of the motormen
and conductors was almost unanimous
ly in favor of a strike.
After long and earnest discussions
it was finally declared that a general
strike on all the lines of the company
which controls every car in the city,
would be inaugurated either at a ver-
late hour tonight or the first thing II
the morning, when the first day cars
start out. President Mahon said that
nearly all the men employed would go
out, Irrespective of whether they are
members of the Amalgamated Associ-
alton or not. He said that that associ-
alton numbers closely to 4,500 men and,
with the others, over 5000 men would
stop work at the appointed hour
Early in the day it had been decided
to hold a monster mass meeting to last
all night, at HarmOnica Hall, Twelfth
and Spring Garden streets. lmmedi-
ately after the strike had been declared
the men repaired to that place. As the
big meeting was about to be called to
order. a citizens committee, headed by
Ex-Governor Pattison and Thomas Mar
tindale. appeared and asked for a pri-
yate conference. The general impress
sion was that they meant to induce the
men not to strike.
This was granted and the leaders
retired. When this move was taken,
il was in the neighborhood of o'clock.
At II o'clock they were still confer
ring and evidently with great earnest
ness. for their voices could be heard IN
high tones in the body of the hall.
The demands Of the men in detail are
these:
First-That ten consecutive hours
shall constitute a days work, with not
less than thirty minutes for meals, ana
for which the sum of two dollars shall
be paid.
Second-that all cars shall be vesti-
buled for the protection of motormen;
said work to be done within a reason
able time.
Third-That sweepers, snow ploughs
and triDeT shall be considered as spe-
cial work. and shall be subject TO IN
creased pay. ou 10
Fourth-That no employe shall be
discharged for belonging to the Anal
gamated Association or any otner or
ganization, except for just cause. mat
all men discharged by reason OF their
affiliation with said organization snail
be Immediately reinstated.
Shortly after II o'clock the conference
was over and President Mahon stepped
forward announcing to the waiting
street railway men the decision OF their
committee and asked them to ratlfy IL
nv standing up. The crowd arose as
one man and gave vent to a shout
of accord. The greatest enthusiasm
prevailed. .,on,,-
indicated that the men were most ear
nest in tbeir purpose to quit work at
o'clock and rest their success on the tu-
ture The meeting then broke up, the
men repairing to the various parts ol
the city where their late comrades
gathered. The strikers committee Unen
went into executive session.
n