Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-26
CARS ARE RUNNING AS USUAL
Boston Street Railway Men Declare Their
Strike OFF for the Present.
MEN ARE FAR FROM SATISFIED, HOWEVER
Some of Their Leaders Have Been Dis
charged, and They May Ignore
Advice of officers and
Walk out Again.

BOSTON. Dec. 25.-The west end strike,
declared of by the supreme council of the
Motormen's and Conductors union at an
early hour this morning, came to an end in
fact as the hours OF Christmas day rolled
by. Following close upon the successful OPP
eratlons of early morning cars, the old em-
ployes applied for reinstatement in such
numbers that regular trips Of electric cars
or all lines were resumed and accommoda
tion for the travelling public was ample long
before noon. AS the hours passed the num-
Der of cars in commission steadily increased
and so quiet were matters that few people
from observation would know of yesterdays
tieup. The West End management, true
to its ultmatum, engaged such of it's old
employees as 1t desired, but declined the
services of those prominently identified with
the strike.
What threatened to be the most eN-
tersive strike in the history of
this city was averted by the action CT the
supreme council &C the motormen and con
ductors union, when, after a protracted
session, the strike was declared on at 1880
a. m. This afternoon traffic was resumed
on all lines, and except for a scarcity of
passengers owing to the duliness OF
holiday, matters quickly 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, the em-
ployes of the South Boston lines refused to
join in the movement, and until in the
evening these cars were almost the only
ones to be seen in the street BY o'clock,
however, one or two cars of the Grove Hall
lines were seen, and later a few desultory
trips We're made on the other lines.
Meanwhile the executive council of the men
was trying 10 convince the importunate
strikers could
coed when 1t had been begun in face of the
promise of the council to defer the strike
| until the directors of the road should have
time to consider the agreement presented by
the men. At last the argument OF the com
pany prevailed, and although the decision
to declare the strike off is not satisfactory
to many OF the employees, nevertheless the
subject has been presented 10 them IN sucn
a light that they can see no other way OF
maintaining the honor of the committee or
Of their union. As soon as the news OF
the committees action became known prep
arations were made to reopen operations
early this morning on all lines. At the
usual hours the men began to report, and
while some changes, necessary to the gem
eral withdrawal OF the cars at 10 o'clock,
were made there was little to indicate
that anything unusual had occurred. At
union Headquarters this morning not per-
son was to be found. the executive officers
being at their homes. At the executive
offices of the company enrolment was going
On, and a large number Of the employees
crowded the streets and apartments near
the entrance. AZ fast as the men were
enlisted and were assigned for duty tho
| number of cars was constantly increased.
The first official act of the West End man
agement this morning VEG to discharge l20
conductors and motormen of division go
| (Charlcstown). President Young of the Con
ductors. Motormen and Drivers union
headed the list. More than 100 discharges
were also made on division (LenOX street
lne), and It Is said black list has been pre-
pared by the company, which contains the
name of every employe of the company
| who actively participated in the strike,
President Young says the strike is off rs far
as the supreme council OF the union Is CON
cerned. He admits that come Of the men,
having been discharged, may ignore the ulti-
matum Of the supreme council and inaugu-
rate another strike. 1t Is generally thought
among the conductors and other men that
the action of the supreme council means
that the managers have un-il next MONDAY
to sign an agreement submitted by ihe nen
recognizing them as a union instead of in
dividuals. If the company refuses 10 do
this another strike may be ordered. The
more radical of the men say that the
supreme council and the conference COM
mittee have failed to represent the sen'i-
ments of the union. One. of the men said
tonight that If the company refuses to recog-
nize its conductors and motormen as a union
and the present council does not order a
strike, the resignation of the present mem
bers would be demanded and a new council
representing the sentiments of he men,
would be installed. The conservative mem
bers, however. argue that a strike now
would be the height of folly In the event
of strike being ordered many Of these men
would refuse to go out.
Today and yesterday, the recruiting Office
of the West End registered about 1000 men
who are supposed to be competent, besides
Of NV, au