The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-17
A COP ON EVERY CAR
On Nearly All of the Brooklyn
Street Car Lines.

New York, July 17.-About two-thirds
of the cars on the line of the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit company except the
Nassau system are running this morn
ing. The cars are all policed with from
one to four patrolmen each except on
the Putnam and HaIsey street line,
which is running as in normal times.
President Rossiter of the Rapid
Transit company said this morning
that fifty OF the men who went out yes
terday reported for work this morning.
At the strikers headquarters in Brook
lyn, the men asserted that while some
cars were running it was very irregu-
larly. They claim six recruits this
morning from among the men who re-
mained at work yesterday.
Judging from the number of cars that
We're running this morning the COM
pany had nearly three-fourths of its
rolling stock in operation on all the
roads other than those which comprise
the old Nassau lines Ihe Gates, Broad
way. Myrtle, Third, Ralph, NOStrand,
TOmpkins and Flatbush avenue cars
ran on fairly good time and the heavy
morning passenger traffic was handled
with very little congestion at any point.
The cOmpany's officers were very con-
fident this morning that they would be
able to run the full complement of
cars on the regular schedule time with
in "A hours and claimed that the strike
would be over by midnight
Charles W. Mackenzie, chairman of
the committee in charge of the strikers
said today that the men were holding
their own and would surely win. He
claimed that every union man on the
traction cOmpany'S roads and all of the
men on the Nassau lines were out and
that all night long l. road employees
were being brought into the union He
said that the l. men were working at
the express wish of the strikers, so as
not to Inconvenience the public. Mac
KenZie said he was confident of sue
cess and that a general tie up of the
cars in Brooklyn would occur if the
traction company failed to accede to
the demands of the strikers. On the
Marcy, Fifth and Seventh avenue
roads and the Douglas and Bergen
street lines, the condition of affairs was
serious. Four policemen guarded each
car, but there was very little headway
made on any of these roads.
At Thirteenth street and Fifth ave-
nue. large stones were placed on the
track and the police, mOtOrmen and
conductors were hOOted by a crowd as
they cleared the way to let two cars
proceed to the city.
Near the barn at Roy avenue and
Bergen street, car was stoned by the
mob, but no one was injured. The po-
lice made two arrests each, but neither
of the prisoners belonged to the union.
Trouble was reported from Wander
veer Park on the Flatbush avenue line.
where some of the trolley wires were
cut and traffic was delayed for over an
hour.
THE STRIKERS SIDE
Grand Master Workman Parsons said
today in reference to the street railroad
strike in Brooklyn:
I believe the position of the strikers
is being strengthened every hour and
with the assurance of the financial aid
that has been given the contest will be
continued Between s and u o'clock
last night, 1000 men, who worked yes
terday enrolled with the strikers. The
duration of the strike will depend en-
fTalv nT1f Hn ~fff 2 Tv-r,
pecially the business men and the in
fiuence they have on the city officials
of Brooklyn, in compelling them to see
that the ten hour and speed law are en-
forced.
I desire to say that every encourage
nent has been given the men to remain
at home and not to congregate around
the car barns, OF street corners. This
strike cannot be helped by violence"
Then Mr.. Parsons began to discuss the
conditions in Manhattan borough. He
said:
Il don't think there will be a strike
of the employees of the Metropolitan
Street Railway company I fully ex-
pect that the board of arbitration viii
impress President Vreeland with the
fact that there are real grievances to
arbitrate and Mr.. Vreeland's refusal to
consider the matter with the board of
arbitration could only be interpreted
as an intention to join hands with the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit company and
crush out with police assistance the
spirit of organization among railroad
employees In such a contest the COM
bined influence of both corporations
viii be pressed into service and it is my
purpose to arouse. organized abOr so as
to secure its assistance for the railroad
men in meeting existing conditions. 1t
should be remembered that the main
question in dispute between the en-
ployes and the corporations is shall the
ten hour day law be enfOrced?' It
should also be remembered this ten
hour law for surface railway employees
was made to protect our citizens from
the danger of having trolley cars opera
ted by men who. from excessive toll
are untitled for the work. rather than
enacted especially for the benefit of the
men themselves.
| ASIDE from the purpose of enforcing
the ten hour law the question at issue
before the public is should the COM
pany be made to respect our laws2' >"