The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-30
READY FOR A STRIKE.
Employees of the Chicago City
Railway Company.
MANAGER BOWEN Is DETERMINED.

Says He viii Not Reinstate the Discharged
Men and VIII Not Have an EmpIoye
working for the Company Who Is "a
Member of the street Railway Union
Indication That the Tie Up VIII Take
Place Friday Morning.
Chicago, Sept. 9O.-A strike on the
Chicago City railway now seems inev-
liable Thursday night a mass-meeting
will be held at Sixty-third and Halsted
streets and from present indications
there will be tie-up on all lines on the
road ordered for the following morning.
The strike will be ordered. it is believed,
after listening to and considering the
report Of the executive board Of the new
Chicago Railway union which con-
ferred with General Manager Bowen.
This committee consisted of Hugh Carr,
c. c. Thayer, and Nicholas Killgalon.
The trio called on Mr.. Bowen, it is un-
derstood and requested the reinstate-
ment Of the discharged men, The gen.
eral managers reply was to the effect
that he would mot reinstate the men,"
and that he would not have an employe
working for the company who was a
member of a street railway labor or
ganization."
Will Not Discuss the Matter.
President MahCn Of the National
Street Car Employees association de-
clined to say whether or not such an ul-
timatum on the part Of the railway cCm-
had been made known to him. and his
refusal to discuss the matter is cons,d-
cred by many as an admission that the
men had received a plain answer from
Mr.. Bowen.
THE whole matter will be laid before
the men at the mass-meeting and then
it will be decided just what is best to
be done" said Mr.. Mahon. 'The ccm-
mittee was closeted with the general
manager for some time and no doubt
will have considerable to report. TT
committee will also make a report IN re-
gard TO the conference held with Nay
or Harrison. The men. as a whole viii
act on those reports and l cannot aay
what will be done, as the matter ro-ts
with them
IT is generally understood, hcwev r.
that the men are now thoroughly de-
termined 10 strike. as Mr. Bower's ulti-
matum has been quietly made known 70
them.
In sympathy with thn Mon.
1t is also understood that Mayor Har-
risOn gave the committee to understand
that the city administrator was in
sympathy with the men IL the trouble
was all about the organization Of a
union, and the city executives treat
ment Of the committee is said to have
greatly encouraged them. A member
of the new street car association in
speaking Of the situation said
THE public is with us; the city ad-
ministration is with us, and if there Is
TO be a strike we certainly must win.
The street car conductors, gripmen, and
motOrmen are not made up Of the riff
raft Of the universe. They are a fine,
intellectual body Of men. They are men
Of pride. and there is principle involved
In this difficulty. They have been
treated unfairly and illegally and even
II they knew they were going TO lose the
strike, if one is ordered, 7 believe their
manhood and honor would compel them
10 walk out If the order comes Many Of
the men have families to support and are
in debt, but they are willing TO make
any sacrifice for the sake Of what they
believe to be their rights.
What the Men Ask.
$50 far as I can see now the only
thing that can prevent strike being or
dered is concessions on the part of the
company. No unreasonable concessions
are asked for. All the men ask is that
the discharged men be reinstated. We can
not understand what reason the company
has to oppose a union except il is to be
In a position to reduce wages In the near
future The company evidently has
some ideas Of its own which II wants to
carry out. and these ideas will be inter-
fered with. we believe, If a union of the
employees Is brought about That is one
reason the men are not disposed to con-
sent to the abandonment Of the new or
ganlzation. They almost know the COM
pany has arranged to reduce wages or
get on new men at reduced rates and
they canont afford to have an injustice
done them without being prepared to re-