The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-25


Men Paid No Heed to Their Committee.
Boston, Dec. 24.--The strike has been
the Conductors and Motormen's union,
and the men will return to work to-
morrow.
Boston, Dec 24.-Not since the strike
of the West End Railway employees in
February, 1887, has the general public
so fully realized it's dependence upon
the street railway lines for transporta-
ton between the various districts of
this city as to-day. 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 Scol-
lay Square, and the cars Of the United
States mail service, which have been
running as usual, there has practically
been a complete tie-up during the af-
ternoon and evening.
Coming just at Christmas, the strike
has greatly Inconvenience thousands
of residents of the outlying districts
and suburbs, who wished to visit the
large 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 enterprlsing teamster
put on a line of passenger barges be-
tween Charlestown and Scollay Square
and he has reaped a harvest.
Later, lines We're started under the
management of the strikers, to accom-
modate people living in districts where
no cars are running. People who live
near the lines of the steam railroads
are congratulating themselves upon
their fortune, but the steam lines have
been so overcrowded ON account of the
sudden demands upon them that travel
thereby has been decidedly unpleasant
and in many cases absolutely danger
Gus.
During the late afternoon and early
evening the suburban traffic over the
Boston and Albany road was immense.
The station was packed with dense
mass of humanity and although trains
were run every ten or fifteen minutes,
the cars were filled like so many sar-
dine boxes, the crowds pushing, jam
ming and trampling upon one another
in their crazy rush for seats or even
standing room Men shouted, women
nearly tainted in the excitement and
innumerable bundles and boxes con-
tanning presents and breakable articles
were crushed beyond recognition by the
crowd, which resembled a pack of
frenzied animals more than collection
of rational human beings.
There were somewhat similar scenes
enacted at the other railway stations,
although less demonstrative. This af-
ternoon committee of the Conductors
and Motormens union that held the
conference with the West End directors
last night and agreed to a weeks post
ponement 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 fact even before
the supreme council was aware of 1t.
All this and more was submitted to
President Little, and it was again in
timated that nothing would avail until
the agreement was signed. The pres
ident reiterated his statement of yes
terday, that he was powerless to sign
the agreement, and that, even if he did
so, it would be worthless without first
being accepted by the executive COM
mittee of the company.
There has as yet been no line of ac-
tion laid out by the strikers. 1t is prac-
tlcally determined to leave the con-
duct of the strike in the respective di-
visions. Each division will be in charge
of the member of the supreme council
for that division. Pickets have been
posted, and the strike will be carried
on methodically.
By noon the strike was on every di-
vision, Before that time messengers
were sent from headquarters with Or
ders to see that no cars left the stables
after that hour. After that time, as
fast as men came in from their trips
they were ordered to quit.
A reserve police force has been kept
in every station in the city since early
this forenoon, but during the day Off
GERS were detailed for special duty only
at the West Lenox street stables. and
in Charlestown. Not the slightest
trouble has been thus far reported on
the part of the strikers
The West End Street Railway COM
pany tonight issued a notice to its
employees, in which it states that all
employees who continue in the service
of the company will be protected, but
that all who voluntarily absented
themselves from service will be con-
sidered as having withdrawn from the
employ of the company.
The company advertised for motor
men and conductors to-day and it was
said tonight that in response a large
number of men had been secured. The
state board of arbitration and concilia-
ton had conferences with representa-
tives of the company and of the strik-
ers this afternoon, in an effort to bring
about a reconciliation, but the board
has no power to order a settlement and
can only use it's good offices in harmon
izing opposing factions.
At O'Clock tonight came the first
signs of weakening on part of the strik-
ers when it was reported that one hum
dred men of division No. Z, which in
cludes Cambridge, Arlington, Newton
and West SOmerville, had gone back
to work, ana as a result a few cars