The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-24
POOR CHRISTMAS WORK.
Boston Street Railway Men on
Strike Sudden Change Of
Front.

BOSTON, Dec. "a, 1S96.-The West End
Street Railway employees are in revolt
against their leaders who last night de-
clared in favor of granting the company
one week in which to hold a directors
meeting to consider the demands of the
men. AT labor headquarters last night
there was a succession of stormy meet
ings. Varying action was taken, and the
situation is very much confused this morn
ing, but 1t appears now that general
strike will be ordered today unless an
other change of plan is brought about
Last night. after the Conference Commit
tee had reported and decision mad been
reached to give the company a weeks
grace the men gathered at the headauar-
ters
There was heated criticism of the COM
mittee. Delegates from the various divi-
sions declared that they dared not go
back to their constituents with the order
many that the company only desired de-
lay in order to bring men from Maine,
New Hampshire and Vermont to replace
The strikers. In the meanwhile, at the
division headquarters, excited meetings
were being held. The Lenox street divi-
sion declared it would strike by itself if
no other division would join it. Reports
came also that divisions and had de-
termined to strike. The Supreme Coun-
Gil finally concluded to take action. Some
of the more conservative were opposed
to reversal of the decision reached to
wait a week, but large majority favored
complying with what was believed to be
the wish Of the men, and it was deter
mined to notify President Little by mes
senger of the change.
It is probable that some effort will be
made to avert tie-up, and a further
conference may be held with the officials
of the company. The chief obstacle to
a delay is the fear of the men that it
will enable the company to collect a
force to supply the places of the strikers
and that when the directors meet they
will be in position to defy the en-
ployes.
1t is possible, too that shorter delay
than the one agreed to last night will
be granted.
M. L. Young, President OF the Street
Railway Mems Union, said this morning
to reporter:-''We could not control the
men, Some of them have gone out We
must act in a united manner, and the
only thing that can be done is for all
to stop work together. By noon today
every car on the system viii be stop
ped''
The men on several divisions positively
refused to work unless the company
signed the agreement that the employees
have been Urging, and these men refused
this morning to take out their cars. The
leaders urged the men to wait, but it
was impossible to change their determi-
nation. President Young of the union
says that at 5:45 O'Clock his morning he
notified all the divisions OF the action of
the men who struck and that the strike
officially began at that hour. Some of
the employees declare that the committee
had no authority to agree to a postpone
ment of the tie-up, and charges of fraud
and underhand dealing were made
against the committee, and there was
much excitement at the meeting in strik-
ers' headquarters.
A conference committee representing the
Drivers and Motormen's Union has gone
to confer with the West End directors.
Cars are running very irregularly from
Charlestown neck: there is talk of shut
ting down the power house at noon.
only few cars are running from Win
ter Hin, West Somerville and Everett to
Eoston.
At Bridgeton a motorman was ordered
by an officer of the union to run his
trip to Boston and return to Newton and
then leave his car.
Mr. Young, speaking for the Conductors
and Motormen's Union. The
twelve o'clock today if the agreement is
not signed before that time
President Little and General Manager
Sargent of the road, refuse to discuss
the strike. President Little and other
officials were at the West End Office until
1870 this morning The West End people
felt secure In the agreement made by the
labor leaders to postpone action for one
week. .
General Superintendent Ruga says:-"we,
relied upon the agreement to postpone
action, but some of the men have not
recognized the agreement and have struck.
At present the strike Is only on the diyi-
sions comprising Charlestown, Roxbury
and Brighton cars, the second and sixth
divisions
A proposition, the nature of which has
not yet been given out, was made by
President Little at the conference with
the committee for the conductors and mo-
tornlen.
The cars are gradually disappearing
from the streets, and it is evident that the
order to abandon the cars when they
reach their terminus is being obeyed
by the conductors and motormen. The
Thomson-H Houston Company has offered
to furnish power to the West End Com
pany If the latter's power house en-
ployes strike.