The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31
STRIKE DECLARED oEE.
Boston Street Car Employees Decide by
Return to Work.

Boston Street Car Employees Decide by
Return to Work.
Boston, Mass, Dec. 25.-The West
End strike, declared off by the supreme
council OF the motormen's and conducN
tors union at an early hour this morn
ing, came to an end, in fact. as the hours
of Christmas day rolled by. Following
close upon the successful operation Of
early morning cars, old employees of the
road applied for reinstatement in such
large numbers that regular trips of cleo
trio cars on all lines were resumed and
accommodation for the travelling public
was ample long before noon. AS the
hours passed, the number of cars in com
mission steadily increased and so quiet
were matters that no one would have
known of yesterdays tie-up The West
End management, true to its ultimatum.
engaged such of its old employees as il
desired, but declined the services of those
prominently identified with the strike.
Boston, Dec 25.-What threatened tor
be the most extensive strike in the histc-
ry of the city was averted by the action
or the supreme council of the motormen
and conductors, when, after a prolonged
session, the strike was declared of at
l2:30 a. m. This morning traffic has
been resumed on all lines and save for
a scarcity OF passengers, owing chiefly to.
the dullness Of a holiday, matters quick
ly assumed their usual aspect
The speedy ending of the strike began
to. be anticipated yesterday afternoon
when, in spite Of the efforts of the union
men, the employees Of the South Boston
lines refused to join in the movement, and
until early in the evening the cars were
almost the only ones to be seen on the.
streets. BY q o'clock, however, one or
two cars of the Grove Hall line were
seen, and later n few desultory trips were
made on the other lines.
Meanwhile the executive council of the
union was trying to convince the strikers
that the movement could not be expected
to succeed when il had been begun in VIC
ation OF the promise Of the council to de
fer the step until the directors Of the road
should have time to consider the agree
ment presented by the men. AT last the
argument of the company prevailed, and
although the decision to declare the strike
of is not satisfactory to many of the EN-,
ployes, nevertheless the subject has beerz
presented to them In such light that
they can see no other way of maintaining
the honor of their committee or the union
AS soon as the news of the committees
action became known preparations were
morning on all lines. At the usual hours
the men began to report and while some
changes were made owing to the general
withdrawal of the cars at 10 o'clock, there
was little TO indicate that anything unusu
al had occurred. At union headquarters.
this morning not person was to be-
found, inc executive officers being at
their homes enjoying rest after the hard
work of yesterday. At the Offices of the
rai - ast bs roll IF
ployes was going on briskly, large mum
beers of applicants crowding the apart
ments and the streets In the vicinity OF
the entrance as fast as the men were en-
listed and were assigned for duty, and the
number of cars was constantly Increased.
The first official, act of the West End
management this morning was to dis
charge 120 conductors and motormen Of
division @ (Charlest0wn. President
drivers union, headed the list. More
than 100 discharges were also made on
division 2 Qennox street line) and 1t TX
said that black list has been prepared
by the company which contains the
names of every. employe of the company
who actively participated In the strike
President Young says the strike In off a.
far as a supreme council of the union IL
concerned. He admits that some Of the
men nave ulSEPRhrueu tne uCtOH.
The action Of the conference committee
may ignore the ultimatum of the supreme
council and inaugurate another strike. II
is generally thought among the conduct
ors and motormen that the action Of the
supreme council means that the man
ayers have until next Monday to sign an :
agreement submitted by the men
recognizing them as union instead Of
individuals. IL the company refusess to-
do this another strike may follow,
One of the men said tonight that iT
the company refused to recognize its con
ductors and motormen as union and the
present council did not order strike, the
resignation of the present members would
be demanded and new council repre-
senting the sentiments of the men would
be installed. The conservative members,
however, argue that strike now would
Ia the height of folly. In event of
strike being ordered many Of these men
would refuse to go out. Today and yes
terday the recruiting Office of the Wesl
End registered about 1000 men who are
supposed to be competent, besides recein
ing hundreds Of applications by mail.