Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-18
STRIKE ALMOST OVER.
Nearly All of the Cars Running
in Milwaukee.
The Strike Leaders, However, Claim They
Have Chance to Win.

the like of which was never before seen
here Not a street car was run during
the day and at shutdown the police had
not made an arrest on any charge. The
mercury showed 90 degrees in the sha de
and the sidewalks were thronged with
people trudging to the parks and beer
gardens, while thousands were carried
about by BUSES and other conveyances.
The reason for this peculiar state Of
affairs was the strike of the employees OF
the Milwaukee Electric Railway and
Light company, who went out week
ago to enforce their demands OF an IN
crease in pay from 10 to 70 cents an
hour and also recognition of the union.
Hoodlums had created much disturbance
through the week by stoning cars and
logging" policemen and imported motor
men. Therefore it was deemed best not
to attempt to run any cars on Sunday,
when the streets would be crowded with
people.
Shortly before noon there was a pa
rade in which the motormen and con-
ductors showed 800 strong and the cleo
trical workers turned out with 200 men
in line There were about 1000 men in
line. President MahOn of the national
association, President Flint of the local
union and several other labor leaders
made speeches. The leaders say that
not a member of the union has deserted.
The decision not to run any cars was ar
rived at Saturday evening at con-
ference held between the street railway
officials and the city authorities. 1t
was looked upon by the strikers and
their sympathizers as complete back
down The fact is that the company was
earnestly advised not to attempt to run
cars, as by so doing a riot, or dozen
of them would probably be precipitated
The state board of arbitration has been
called upon, and is now in session here.
This afternoon the committee of the
I,ofn nd fOfo
the mems side of the dispute. The board
then sent word to Vice-President Payne
notifying him that he would be heard at
10 o'clock today. Mr.. Payne said last
night that he would be pleased to talk
to the members of the board but that
there was nothing to arbitrate now. He
claims that the strike is over and that
the company will run it's entire codple>
ment of cars today. The promise, how
ever has been made every day since the
strike began. During the day there was
great activity in labor circles perfectlng
a boycott of the company and all mem
bers of the labor organizations riding in
cars will be subject to fine or dismissal.
Some Encouraging Signs.
Directors Payne and Pfster hah a
friendly and harmonious conference with
a committee of the strikers yesterday
which was regarded as encouraging, al
though no results were reached. The
company officials reiterated their willing
ness to take back all old employees for
whom there were places and to give the
preference to them when any vacancies
occur. The men decided not to racede
from their determination not to go back
to work unless all are taken back in a
body
The expectation that disorders would
cease was not realized. There were
large and disorderly gatherings in many
parts of the city, which the police as d
Yr1rIa but no
been damaged and in some cases the
service had to be abandoned.
The company succeeded in running
some cars over all its lines except on
Clybourn street, where wires were cut.
The maximum number of cars run dur
ing the day was 127, the highest number
since the strike began. The night serv-
ice on several lines had to be stopped
last night because of the menacing
crowds at whose mercy the city is held
in spite of the efforts of the police de-
partment
The boycott of the street cars was in
PRODUCED as a new method of annoying
the company. The Federated Trades
assembly and Retail Clerks association
forbid all members, under penalty of fine
and expulsion, from riding in the street
cars. They also threaten to boycott
business men who ride in the cars. The
strikers are also encouraging the estab-
lishment of regular lines of carettes and
'busses.
The common council meeting was main
Iy devoted to the Introduction of ordi-
nances and resolutions attacking the
street car company.
The Situation Wednesday.
The street railway strike, which has
now reached its tenth day, will soon be
thing of the past, if Tuesdays events
are any criterion. There was a total of
143 cars moving over the various lines
In the city on the 18th, only ten less
than the number regularly employed
when the street railway system is oper-
ated under normal conditions.
The patronage of the cars did not in
crease greatly until after dark, when the
heavy rain made pedesIrianism imprac-
ticable. The cars were then very we'll
filled.
The company made further advance
In it's service Tuesday night when it ran
cars on all lines of the system except the
Merrill park line. The actual :number
out was forty, three less than on Mon
day night when, however, the greater
number of cars was confined to q con-
siderably smaller extent of railway, ac-
cording to the company's statement.
Vice-President II. G. Payne said that
The police protection given the cars dur
ing Tuesday was sufficient ana sald ne
thought the disposition to modest cars on
the part of strike sympathlzerS was
growing less Chief of Police Jansen
said at the same time that his force was
ample to protect all cars that were run
and that when it was not sufficient to
meet emergencies the militia would be
called upon. The day was remarkably
free from disturbances and the prevail
ing opinion now is the worst is over, so
far as exhibitions of violence and turbu-
lence are concerned.
State Boards Report
The state board of arbitration and con-
ciliaticn completed its laborlous efforts
n effect a reconciliation of the differ
ences between the Milwaukee Electric
Railway and Light company and its
former employees Thursday, and made
public its report The statement of the
board gives detailed account OF its ne
mands of the strikers and the position. of
the company in relations thereto, giving
all the communications received IRON 1Ti
the company and the strikers. The
state board, according to its report, ef-
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