The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-17
LAST EDITION
4:l5 O'CLOCK.
A BIG STRIKE.
PhiladelphiaMOtOrmen and
Conductors Quit.
All Lines in the City Stopped
This Morning.
The Police Charge and Disperse a
Big Crowd.
A Brick Thrown at Car Missed Its
Mark.
The Police Charge and Disperse a
Big Crowd.
A Brick Thrown at a Car Missed Its
Mark.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 1.-THE big strfk0
of the motormen and conductors of the
Union Traction Company was begun at
A O'Clock this morning and he lines of
the company all over the city are practi-
cally tied up. There mas peen no dis
cord. President j. Lowbe Welsh, Of the
Union Traction Company, who is per-
soDally directing the affairs of the COM
pany, says hundreds of men are applying
Tor employment and he asserts that near
~ all the cars will be running regular
by noon. Cars are running on Chestnut
street at frequent intervals.
A crowd of idlers cut a trolley rope OF
a car at 10th and Market streets early in
the day. The police charged and dis
perred them. One of the policemen after
ward said there were no strikers in the
mob. Shortly after car mad left the up
town depot OF the 9th and 9th streets
branch somebody on the sidewalk threw
brick at the passing vehicle but 1t miss
ed its mark.
The wife OF non-strlking conductor
at the same time jumped on. TO car and
fairly pulled her husband from the plat
form. The car continued down the street,
minus conductor. Policemen wero
placed on the front platform OF early cars
on the Tenth and Eleventh streets cars,
but as there was no likelihood or trouble
they were Withdrawn after one trip.
|
repeated efforts were made by the com
| pany to run cars, but they oniyt.succeed-
| cd in going n short distance w ben they
were forced to stop, obstructlons of all
kinds being placed upon the track, and
| several cars were drailod.
| Up to 8 O'Clock bur 10 cars had left the
| uptown depot at Fifteenth ard Cumber-
| land streets, where nve lines ceafer. at
a. m. only eight cars had left the Fifth
and Sixth streets depot, anot her important
station. On the Fourth and Eighth streets
lines cars were running at intervals OF 10
minutes, and in West Philadelphia they
were from 20 minutes to half au hour
apart. The cars running were manned in
most instances by extras and green men.
In some instances conductors who had
refused TO strike were acting os mOtormen
with new men on the rear end.
AS the day progressed many CT the
| men who had started TO work early this
morning abandoned their cars. The
strike caused an enormous increase in the
| suburban business.
| about 5000 men and the officers of the
employees association assert that two
| thirds OF them are members of the organ
| ization. At the meeting early this
| morning the leaders declared that trcy
| would take all of the non-uniou out with
them, and they seem to have kept their
| words.
The men complain CT unfair treatment
| on the part of the company, and their
| grievance has been growing for some
| time. Their demand is for work day OF
| ten hours with 81 per day and reasonable
! time for meals. They also want protec-
| tion from the weather and recognition OF
| their organization.
Shortly after the three big trolley COM
panies werejconsolidate into one great or
| ganization known AS the Union Traction
J Company, the issue OF froe transfers was
| abolished and sold in exchange tickets
| costing three cents extra, thus increasing
| the fare OF many regular riders to eight
cents.
This action caused great popular oppo-
| sition and the traction officials claim
| that IN making their demands and strik-
! ing at this time, their operatives arc TAX
| ing advantage of the temporary unI cpi-
| larity OF the company.
The most serious disturbance so far 70
ported today occurred shortly before =
O'Clock on Chestnut street, between
Eighth and Fifteenth streets the busy
part OF the city. A crowd collected near
Eighth and Chestnut streets, where the
conductors and motormen OF two cars
were induced to leave their posts. After
the crowd had broken the windows In
these cars. line of six cars was seen
coming down Chestnut street. The mob
started for them with yell and motor
men and conductors as soon as they saw
the angry crowd coming. deserted their
posts and fled. The mob attacked the
GERS, smashed every window, tore the
Tenders from the shboards and did ell
possible destruction. group OF reserve
policemen gathered, but they were practi-
cally powerless.
Inside of half an hour there was about
two cars to the block on Chestnut street
from Stb to 18th, each surrounded by .
bowling mob.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the Sth street
| line was blocked for the first time. The
company's efforts have been concentrated
on this line, and the tic-up there is
regarded as a heavy blow TO the com
pany.
About tho time OF tho Chestnut street
disturbances q NOR collected on SAMSON
street. one block below. and attacked a
car, completely wrecking In.