Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-26
SIGNS OF TROUBLE
Still Seen at Boston on the
West End Electric Road.
Men Dissatisfied at Settlement Strik-
ers Discharged by Wholesale.
Sore Feeling Exists and Further Trouble is
Expected at Any Time.

Boston, Dec. 25.-There is much dis
satisfaction expressed openly ex-
pressed among the old employees of the
West End Street Railway Co. at the
outcome of the strike, especially over
the order by the company, last night.
to the effect that the strikers who de-
sired to return to work must run their
chances of being again employed on
personal application, and must take
their places in turn and below what
ever new men We're put on in the
strikers places. The mutterings
against the alleged injustice of this
order have been loudest, today. on the
Charlestown and Cambridge divisions,
it being stated in the former that fully
one-third of the old employees, who ap-
piled for reinstatement, We're rejected
by the division superintendent. Many
OF these men were prominently inden-
titled with the strike as leaders, and
had been in the service of the company
for years. 1t is claimed that. Thurs
day. the starters and inspectors who
ran cars were told if they were in
suited by any striker. to report the
matter to the superintendent. and
y iitli tiidt IifISpi dpi'ii'u itI tHliJloy =
ment when the strike was over, he
would be told that he was not wanted
in the employment of the company.
So far as known. but one man has been
discharged for this reason. The old en-
ployeS are aware of the fact that the
company is hiring number of new men
who are being broken in. in some in
stances new men being seen on both ends
of the same car All the new men are
provided with new caps and numbers.
and the strikers regard this as an hdi-
cation that all the men who struck and
have been re-hired, will be discharged
one by one. until all the places are filed,
within short period. by these new men.
The men on the Charlestown division
are anxious to precipitate another strike
unless the discharged men are taken back
before the new men are broken in. They
declare that the pitmen and firemen in
the power station are ready to join them
whenever they are asked. and believe
that If a strike should be again ordered
it would be far more successful than the
one just declared off
In Cambridge the men are very out
spoken against what they term the
treachery of one of the chief officers of
their district union. They claim that he
WAS really responsible for the break in
the ranks of the strikers on that division
which was the first sign of weakening
shown upon the entire system. and they
do not hesitate to make the charge that
his action was brought about by influ-
enceS of Il pecuniary character.
1t cannot be learned to a certainty just
how the company stands in regard TO the
number of men ii has TO run its ears.
Cars We're running as usual, today. on
holiday schedule. which means "A much
less number of ears than on ordinary
days. so that no test of the company 5
strength can be made before tomorrow
Judging from late reports. a large num-
her of new faces will he seen upon the
t.lectrics tomorrow. for the company is
said to be making wholesale discharges
81. 1T an