The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-13


West show grounds, and over which a
heavy traffic was anticipated today
The men appeared ugly and as trouble
was feared General Manager Aitken
yesterday afternoon telephoned Sheriff
Clemons to send posse to Carbondale
The difference between the employees
and the company has arisen from the
discharge of three men. whom the COM
pany officials say We're removed be-
cause of incompetency, but the men as
sert that it Is because a knights OF
Labor assembly has been organized
among them and these three are the
officers.
Posse VIII Go Today.
Yesterday the situation remained un.
changed as far as the service was con
cerned; the officials and men around
the barn manned the cars and infre.
quent trips were made.
General Manager Athens appeal tc
Sheriff Clemons has resulted in the
sheriff ordering his force Of deputy
sherffs and bailiffs to go to Carbondale
this morning. They will ride over the
lines and learn the feeling Of hostility
among the men or those who sympa-
thize with them. The outbreak atiLee's
crossing, near the Wild West show
grounds, where ties were piled on the
tracks and switches spiked, is sup
posed to be the work of vagabonds, who
are attracted by the show.
If the men do not return to work this
morning the management will proceed
to get men to run the cars.
The rumor that the Scranton street
car men might go out on q sympathy
strike has no foundation in fact. They
belong to a different branch of the
Knights of Labor; that Is, the Scranton
men belong to District Assembly No. 16
which has cut loose from the Sovereign
Hayes-Martin regime, and the Carbon
dale men have sworn fealty to present
officers of the Knights of Labor.
The company has agents out getting
men to fill the strikers places, and it is
said that one man who worked extra
for the Scranton Traction company has
gone UP scabbing.
For some time the employees of the
Lackawanna Valley Rapid Transit
company, which operates Carbondale
street car lines and those running be-
tween Peckville and Forest City, have
been agitating the organization of an
assembly of the Knights of Labor. A
week ago they organized, thirty-siX in
number, and assumed the name Gar
field assembly, No. 1920, Knights of
Labor. Thomas Gallagher was elect
ed master workman, Martin Gallagher
secretary, and William j. Jordan treas
urer.
Claims of the Men.
A meeting of the assembly was held
last Friday evening at Edmunds' hall,
Mayfield. Saturday morning when the
men went to the power house to take
out their cars they learned that notices
had been left with the car dispatcher
setting forth that the services of the
three men, Thomas and Martin Gala
CHER, and William J. Jordon were no
longer required. The men Immediately
regarded it as a blow at their action
in organizing a labor society and re-
fused to go to work until their fellow
workmen would be reinstated. Su-
perintendent Duncan told the men that
the reason for discharging the three
was for incompetency. Such an excuse
was looked upon by them as too ridicu-
went on strike without delay. The
men claim that those discharged are
three of the most capable employees
under the system and they will not re-
turn to work until they are reinstated.
They are impressed that the manage
ment intends to forestall any effort to
organize a Knights Of Labor assembly
and that the three that were dis
charged committed no other offense
than to be elected as officers of Assem-
bly, 1920. Imbued with the spirit of op-
posing the company until the manage
ment accords them the right to organ
ize as they see fit, the men have taken
a bold stand and refuse ITO return to
work until that which they allege is
their right Is recognized. They have
issued the following manifestO:
Company Called Enemies of Labor.
To the Friends Of Labor:
On May the motormen and conduc-
tors of the Lackawanna Valley Rapid
Transit company organized a union for
their mutual benefit. Yesterday the
company proved themselves the enc
mics of labor by discharging three men
supposed to be 'leaders" of the or
ganization, for no other reason than
that they sanctioned and assisted in the
formation of a local assembly of the
Knights Of Labor. The whole force of
thirty-five motormen and conductors,
excepting two, have resented this un-
called for and unfair act on the part of
the company and have quit work.
We therefore appeal to all friends of
labor in this city and vicinity to stand
by us in this struggle between labor
and its enemies, and ask them to dis
courage the action of the company.
AS the result of their refusal to go to
work the street car service was prac-
tically crippled Saturday and yesterday
between Peckville and Forest City. 1t
was reported that only five cars were
running Saturday, and these were
manned by the officials and men around
the barn. General Manager Aitken
sent out to different stations along the
lines Saturday the following ultimatum
and 1t was posted in conspicuous places:
To conductors and motormen Of the
Lackawanna Valley Rapid Transit
company:
In deserting your posts feel assured
you have been misled by misrepresenta-
tions and threats to act against your
better judgment and the interests of
your families. give you this oppor-
tunity to correct your mistake and here
by notify you that If you return to your
work before O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing you will be reinstated. All those
refusing to report for duty by that time
are discharged permanently and their
places will be filled by men who will
be kept In the permanent employ Of
this company during good behavior.
(Signed) Jno w. Aitken,
General manager.
REMOVED FROM THE FORCE.
Mayor Conuell Has Given Patrolman
d. p, Roche His Dismissal.