Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-05-20
STRIKE STILL ON.
Milwaukee Public Boycotts the
Street Railway.
Question Hinges on Taking All Of the
Old Men Back.

Milwaukee, Wis, May 1S-The strike
inaugurated by the employees of the Mil
waukee Electric Railway and Light
company for an advance of L cent an
hour in wages and recognition of their
union today enters upon its third week.
1t is quite generally admitted that tie
strikers would be willing to withdraw
their demands and go back to work If
the company would take them in body.
A large proportion of the public believes
that the company should do this and has
inaugurated a boycott to force it to take
the men back. The company runs its
cars quite regularly, but they are poorly
patrOniZed, while the buses operated by
the strikers and others are crowded.
The company claims that it cannot in
justice to the new men discharge them
at moments notice SO as to reinsta re
the strikers.
Nearly every union affiliated with the
Federated Trades council was repre-
scented by a large portion of its mem
bers in the parade of the strikers and
their sympathiZers Sunday, and throngs
of people formed a channel through
which the procession passed along the
entire route. An hour was occupied in
passing a fixed point, and, from end to
end the actual column covered the
streets for distance of four miles
At the gate of Schlitz park unnumbered
spectators were gathered at noon from
the north side of the city to witness the
dissolution of the marching files and the
Inauguration of a picnic, and from
o'clock in the afternoon till the late
watches Of the night, the park con-
tanned a multitude of merry-makers.
Speeches were made by Dr. J. n. Ma
COON, Victor L. Berger. Rublee A. Cole.
President Mahon of the Amalgamated
o9 d., L
President Flint of the local union of the
same organization and Frank J. Weber
of the Federated Trades council, all of
whom appealed to the public in the street
railway mems behalf, and urged the
ratification of the boycott against the
company. Concerts were given in the
grove by Wards band, a programme of
variety specialists was carried out in the
main pavilion. and the crowd amused
Itself by contributing it's patronage to the
refreshment tables and other devices con-
Quoted for the benefit of the strikers
fund. The affair Melted a considerable
amount for the support of the strike.
financial aid as well as moral sympathy
being an object of the demonstration.
It was positively announced Saturday
night that cars would run Sunday. but
af.er canvassing the situation early yes
terday morning it was deemed unwise
to attempt 1t.
at was represented to u.s." said Cen
eral Manager Wyman yesterday, that
there would be many strangers in the
city representing outside labor organza-
lions who might create trouble. We
also decided to take no chances on ac-
count of the large parade of the strikers
and their sympathizers. Chief CT Pc
lice Jansen said last night that he did
not advise the company to suspend run
ming the cars. and that he believed he
had plenty of men to prevent interfer-
ence by crowds.
According TO the various statements
made by strikers yesterday fully 40
buses were running throughout the city.
OF this number seventy were run by eX-
street railway conductors and motormen.
While the rest were operated by livery
men and men from other cities who
brought their vehicles and horses to Mil
waukee with the expectation of reaping
a harvest at the expense of the street
railway company.