Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-28
MAILS AND STRIKERS
A Question That win Come Up n
There IL q General Tie.Up
Of Chicago Street Cars.
CITY DADS MOVE TO HELP THE MEN

VIII Try to Have Malls Declared Freight
and Therefore Not Allowable on Street
Car Lines Under Their Charters-Post-
once Omcial Discusses the Matter
Scheme Not Originated by Street Car
Companies-Lattimerv Verdict.
Chicago. Sept. 2s.-'If it is true that
these men were discharged because they
were active in organizing a union for
their protection I believe that public
sentiment should support the street car
men in the event Of a strike being de-
clared. There is a great deal of talk OF
the railroads combining in their own
interests. and see no reason why the
men should not have the same right to
organize" The foregoing statement
was made by Mayor Harrison yesterday
In regard to the threatened strike of the
employees Of the City Railway company.
he Is an advocate OF organized labor.
The council will take a hand in the
tight on the side Of the men. Coughlin
will ask for the passage OF an order
upon the corporation counsel for an
opinion as to the right of the street
railway companies to carry freight, in
GLIDING the United States mail.
Argues That Mail Ii Freight,
The point Is made that mail is freight,
and that there Is absolutely nothing in
the franchise Of any OF the roads. with
the possible exception of the Chicago
General Electric road. which is operat-
| ing under the charter of a steam road,
| conveying authority to carry freight Of
| any sort. If it can be shown that the
read has no right to carry the United
States mail, one of the obstacles in the
way of strike may be removed IF
| there Is strike on the south side street
| car lines. which I hope will not occur.
the government will insist that there be
| no interference with the railway mail
| service on the Cottage Grove line. This
| means that any one who not only inter-
| feres with the mail trains but with the
operation OF the cable or power house so
| as to interrupt the transmission of the
malls will be promptly arrested by the
| United States marshal"
Roads Did Not Want the Mail.
| The foregoing was the warning OF
Superintendent Troy to the employees of
| the Chicago City Railway company
yesterday. 1t was not made as threat
or to in any way influence the men for
! or against a strike. That is q matter
with which the superintendent of that
| railway mail service has nothing to do
but his statement as to the action of the
government authorities in case the mails
are interfered with is merely given out
so as to avoid any necessity Of arrest
| Ing any one in the event Of a strike. SUI
Iperintendent Troy says the introduction
| of the street railway mail service was
not brought about by the street car
| companies. In fact, the street car
magnates opposed the movement and it
was a long time before they would con-
sent to 1t at the rates paid by the gov
eminent.
Wheeler the Last to Consent.
| Mr.. Wheeler. president OF the south
side company. was the last to consent.
In order to avoid delays to the regular
trains Wheeler elected to put on a regu-
lar mail train which does not carry
passengers. This is optional with him,
however. No other company does this.
Troy says the statement that the rail-
way mail service is merely a scheme Of
the street car companies to defeat
strikes Is not true. There Is nothing to
prevent any man quitting work. but OF
course he cannot interfere with one who
takes his place and desires to work, If
that interference stops or delays the
transmission Of the mails.