The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-23
PHASES OF THE STRIKE
John M. Quinn Thinks It Will
Boom Municipal Ownership.
MKINLEY AND THE WAR
Inc Blame for the Fiasco Rests Upon
the Administration Rather Than
Upon Otis-Helen Gould and
Her Sister Anna.


New York, July 17.-New York is
now passing through the excitement OF
one of its most interesting strikes. That
Is to say, the part of the city which
still bears the name of Brooklyn is ex-
cited. On this side of the river all cars
are running and the employees are prac-
tlcally unanimous against a sympathet-
&c movement on the island
No strike for me-" said conductor
on the Metropolitan line this evening.
He Informed me that the published re-
ports of unanimous opposition to a
strike in this borough are true In
fact, there is not a symptom of trouble
outside of Brooklyn and adjacent Dor
oughs, though the entire city may be
involved before another sunset
Inc strange part of it all is that the
people in the city proper are going
ABOUT their business as though nothing
nad happened to menace travel, and
put Tor the newspapers millions of
people within the city limits would nor
Know that strike had been declared
YET In section of the metropolis which
contains over a million inhabitants
mere is wild excitement, intense con-
fiict anger, fury and riot
Brooklyn is agitated in every section:
its cltlzens are taking sides: business
men, professional men, laborers, poli-
tlclans, professors and divines are en-.
gagged in the struggle and many bloody
races, bruised heads and lacerated bod
les Dear witness to the earnestness of
the warning forces. Fully 1000 police
men nave been sent over from the old
city to assist in the work of maintain
ing order, and even this force is made
Yesterday he y,
longed for the fresh air and invigor-
ating surf of the seaside were compelled
10 remain at home or risk their heads
In cars which passed through mobs of
riotous men. The number of fares col
lected IN the strike district was 250.00
as against 100000 on the previous Sun
day. Those who patronized the rail-
ways were treated to an exceptionally
lively entertainment. They saw a car,
whose motorman was in danger, dash
suddenly forward, strike hearse
which was at the head of funeral pro-
cession, demolish the vehicle, hurl the
driver into the street, smash the coffin
ana expose the corpse to the public
gaze. They saw motormen and con-
ductors dragged from the cars clothes
torn, policemen stoned and strikers
dubbed into insensibility. 1t was a hct
Sunday in more ways than one.
To-day the strikers have been more
sitter of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
company went out on little campaign
ing tour in his special car. He feign
would be the Demosthenes of the con-
ffict, He would s0othe the maddened
multitude with ,Ciceropan eloquenCc
He would rise above the petty wrang-
ling of ordinary disputants and be
hailed as the intellectual giant of the
war. 1t is rumored that he had care
fully prepared his speeches and was in
the pink of condition when he appeared
upon the platform of his car to deliver
his first Ciceronian columbiad. Strange
to say. his wonderful eloquence was not
appreciated. He found himself in com
petition with thousand orators whose
short, epigrammatic retorts dazed him.
He made several efforts and then re-
tired to a hiding place in his car-not
to congratulate himself upon his orator.
zeal triumph but to speculate upon the
probable condition of his car at the end
of the tour. The thousand orators not
only overwhelmed him with their point
ed arguments, but manifested a desire
to complete their combined peroraton
by dragging him from the car and mob
bing him. The scene was about as wild
as the most combative could wish and
augured i'll for the peacemakers.
AS for the probable result of the
strike. the town is full of prophets, a
majority of whom predict the defeat
of the men. 1t is fierce struggle and
if. as is announced tonight, the en-
gineers and firemen on the elevated
road join the strikers. the struggle will
be the most serious ever witnessed in
New York
Arbitration is demanded. but the cor
poration says there Is nothing to arbi-
trate. The fight may take on a pOlit-
ical phase which will be embarrassing
and confusing but no matter which side
wins, the issue of municipal ownership
will receive a decided boom. Those who
believe that the city should own it's
street railways see their opportunity
and are making hay while the sun of
conflict shines. Before this letter
reaches the Standard the strike may
have been settled, but the issues to
which it will give life and vitality will
refuse to down.
The conspicuous phase of the Philip
pine muddle is the attempt of the ad- |
ministration to shift the responsibility |
to Otis. Having sent an inadequate
force to the islands, the administration |
is blaming General Otis for the failure |
of the war and the press of the coun- |
try falls meekly into the trap. That |
the war thus far has been a fiasco, even |
the most prejudiced republican is COM |
PEELED to admit, but the followers of |
Mckinley refuse to see cause for CEN
sure of the authorities at Washington. |
Far from 1t. They worship at the same |
old shrine, speak reproachfully of Otis |
and demand a new commander for the |
Philippine forces. The new commander |
will be given the strength of numbers |
which has been denied Otis; eventually |
the American army must triumph, and |
when long delayed victory comes, The |
bands will play and the timbrels will |
sound and all the winds will bear loud |
peans of praise for the wise and patri- |
otto Mckinley. No matter how many
brave boys are sacrificed through in |
competency and imbecility at Washing
ton. the republican manipulators will |
have the proper climax before the next
national election and will drown the
cries of bereaved wives and mothers
with the familiar pandemonium of pro-
fessional patriots and political heroes.
This is a question upon which i'm