The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-25

Boston, Dec. IA strike OF the en-
ployes of the West End Street Railway
company was inaugurated at 5.45 this
morning. All the drivers. motormen.
and conductors, to the number of $500
men, are affected. The other employees
of the company are in full sympathy
with the strikers and may quit work at
any time that that occasion demands 1t.
The strike was only accomplished
through the men revolving against
their leaders counsels
The men have no complaint to make
on account of pay. They are ready to
admit that they are the best paid
street railway employees In the country.
They insist that they shall not be
called to work more than ten hours
in twelve; that their union be recog-
nized as representing them officially,
and that all dealings between the COM
pany and men be made through the
union under an agreement.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS ANNOYED.
Not since the strike of the West End
Railway employees in February, 1887.
has the general public SO fully realized
its dependence upon the street railway
lines FOR transportation between the
various districts of this city as today.
With the exception of the cars of the
Lynn and Boston Railway. which use
the power and tracks of the West End
company from Chelsea through
Charlestown to Scollay Square and the
cars of the United Staes mail service,
which have been running as usual,
there has practically been complete
tie up of surface cars during the after
noon and evening. Coming just at
Christmas. the strike has greatly in
convenienced thousands who wished to
visit the city stores to purchase their
gifts and all thoroughfares have been
crowded with pedestrians, despite the
biting wind that has prevailed. Early
this morning an enterprising teamster
put on line of passenger barges be-
tween Charestown and Scollay Square
and he reaped Il harvest. Later lines
were started up under the manage
ment of the strikers. The steam rail-
roads have been dangerously over
crowded on account of the sudden de-
mands made upon them. During the
late afternoon and early evening the
suburban traffic over the Boston and
Albany road was immense.
This afternoon the committee of the
Conductors and MOtormens' union that
held the conference with the West End
directors last night. agreed to weeks
poStpOnement of the strike. called upon
President Little In order to place them
selves right in the eyes of the West
End officials. They explained the ap-
parent violation of the agreement en-
tered into last night by saying that the
men took matters into their own hands
and the strike was a fact even before
the supreme council was aware of 1t.
All this and more was submitted to
President Little and it was again inti-
mated that nothing could avail until
the agreement was signed. The presi-
dent reiterated his statement of yes
terday, that he was pOwerleSs to sign
the agreement and that. even IL he did
SO, it would be worthless without first
being accepted by the executive COM
mittee of the company. The West End
Street Railway cOcpany tonight iI
sued notice to its employees, in which
it stated that all employees who con-
tinue in the service of the company
will be protected. but that all who vol
unfairly absented themselves from SER
vice will be considered as having with
drawn from the employ of the COM
pany.
The company advertised for motor
men and conductors today and it was
said tonight that in response q large
number of men had been secured.
SIGNS OF WEAKENING.
At 9 o'clock tonight came the first
signs of weakening on the part of the
strikers, when it was reported that 100
uen of division No. I, which includes
Cambridge, Arlington, Newton and
West Somerville. had gone back to
work, and as result few cars are
running tonight between Boston and
Harvard square, Cambridge. Some
fifty or sixty men also returned on di-
vision No. (South BOston).
Over the Charlestown division the
~ ikapS "a hnt
brought from other cities to take their
places there will be trouble.
THE STRIKE DECLARED OFF.
Boston. Dec. 25.-The street railway
strike has been declared off by the su-
preme council of the Conductors and
MotOrmen's Union and the men will re-
turn to work today