The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-25
MUCH INCONVENIENCE CAUSED
sUBURBANITES FORCED TO WALK
AND SHOPPERS DELAYED.
Trouble started by the Employees Re-
fusing to Accept an Agreement
Made by Their Committee.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Iournal.

tions but the wheels of business managed
| to turn, though perhaps slower than usual.
| People who were in hurry either walked
| or hired cabs-at least all who who lived
| in the west-end suburbs and were not close
| to the steam-car lines.
| The employees of the West-end Street
railway Company struck yesterday morn
| ing, and by noon the main line and its
many branches were tied up. AS conse-
quence there was a temporary embargo on
downtown Christmas shopping. and thou
| sands of business men and CLERKS who live
in the out-towns were late in reaching the
city.
The strike began at 8 o'clock yesterday
morning and lasted till l2:39 this Christ
mas) morning. The strikers wanted their
union recognized. and on Wednesday had
determined to strike. but early Thursday
| morning their committee agreed TO post
| pone the tie-up till Dec. 80. The agreement
| was unsatisfactory to many of the men,
| and they refused to take out their cars. At
! the close of the day both sides seemed de-
| termined TO continue the struggle.
| The situation last night was that the
| West-end road the largest stree t-railway
company in the world, whose tracks cover
| 295 miles which has five thousand cars
| more than three thousand of which are in
daily use, and which gives employment to
| about 4,S00 men, was at war with the Mo-
| tormens, Conductors and Drivers Union,
an organization composed of over three
| thousand men, who declared that the strike
would not be settled until the Nest-end
| consented to treat with them a union.
The truce agreed to by committee of the
union early this morning caused so much
| indignation that the men took matters into
their own hands, as stated. and about day.
| light yesterday began the strike. which de-
veloped SO rapidly that at noon General
Manager Rugg acknowledged that the road
| was tied up. little later the West-end
| road formally asked for police protection at
| outlying carhouses.
Just before o'clock i'm the afternoon an
| attempt to cars with nonunion men was
made and there was no demonstration of any
! kind. Two members of the State Board of
Arbitration talked over matters with Presi-
dent Young. of the union. who stated that
there was nothing to arbitrate with the
West-end company. The police officials ex-
pected the strike to be a long one and is
| sued orders for the entire police force to re-
main on call the men being housed at the
| stations and fed at nearby restaurants.
During the afternoon cars were intermit-
naturally crowded so heavily that fare-tak-
ing by conductors was almost impossible.
| Holiday interests served to lessen the at
tention given to the trouble, especially as
the steam railroads put on extra suburban
| trains One phase Of the strike was the
| strange appearance of the main thorough
| fares, usually almost blocked with traffic.
| by the entire absence of cars. To offset
this the sidewalks were literally jammed
| with people.
| The early evening saw an increased num-
ber of cars on the South Boston and Cam
| bridge divisions due probably to the i'm
pressing into service OF inspectors, fore
men and other subordinate officers of the
| company. On these two lines there was
little evidence OF a serious strike. Affairs
drifted along until soon after midnight,
when the strike was declared off. This ac-
ton came like bombshell at 1873 this
morning But it remains to be seen, when
daylight comes. If this second action of the
Supreme Council will be Needed. Follow
ing is the statement made by the Supreme
Council to the public, explaining its po-
sition:
ITO the Public-The Supreme Council
was given power to negotiate for an agree
ment with the management of the west
End road. The council performed its duty,
and in doing so found the president lack
ing in authority to make any settlement
without consulting with his board of di-
lectors He asked for further time, which
was granted. The men repudiated this
to do one of two things-sanctiOn the re-
pudation of the men. and thus violate our
agreement with the president or refuse t to
be silent party TO a continuance OF the
strike. We chose the latter and would
keep our agreement with President Little
as gentlemen at all hazards.
THE COMPANY'S STATEMENT.
The West-end company yesterday after
noon issued a notice to its employees
stating that those who voluntarily absented
themselves from their duties would be con-
sidered as having withdrawn from the serv-
ice of the company. The company has is
sued a statement which gives history of
the strike from President Lttles point of
view. In opening mention is made of con-
| ferences between the union and the officers
of the road and of letter setting forth
that President Little had no authority to
sign the 1897 agreement with the employees
except by vote of the directors. The state
Representatives Of the employees stated
that they would recommend action i'm ac-
cordance with its terms. and would notify
| Mr. Little by 10 o'clock what action was
agreed 10. When 10 o'clock came they tele-
phoned for delay: A little before u O'Clock
two members of the committee returned
and reported that a majority of the full
committee had agreed to in no way inter
fere with the running of the cars. and that
the matter should remain in allegiance until
Dec. 30. pending the decision Of the West
| end directors. The matter supposed to
| be closed for the night.
'"The first ntimation that the West-end
| officials received of there being any trouble
was a notice from the car stations that tne
! men were refusing 10 take out their cars
| this morning. This afternoon a part Of
| the committee that was present last night
came to Mr. Little and said that they had
attempted TO carry out their agreement In
good faith. They stated however. tha,
some of the men could not be controlled.
| THE West-end officials feel that they
have done everything In their power to pre-
vent a strike. They recognize fully their
responsibility and the inconvenience and
| loss that a strike causes 10 all the people in
Boston and suburbs. They were willing &c
go TO any proper length TO avoid such q
calamity. They have never refused TO sgr
the agreement presented by the union. bui
| distinctly told the Representatives OF the
men that the matter would be presented tc
the West -end directors II they would only
| give them time, to do II.
The managers OF the West END Railway
recognize and are not In the least unmind.
full OF the Inconvenience and loss which the