New-York tribune., 1899-07-20
ON THE EIGHIH-A We. LINE.
MAJORITY OF THE STRIKERS SAID TO
BE TRIPPERS.
LEADERS HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE
MEN OUT TO-DAY-ONLY EIGHT
CARS RUNNING AT
MIDNIGHT.


seven men failed to report for work at the
Eiehtb-ave. barns. Eighth-ave and Forty-ninth-
St, last night making a total Of twenty-five
men Of that line who were out on strike Ihe
cars on this line were running on rgular head
way This continued until 10 o'clock. when
without any warming half the cars were taken
off the line and the headway made ten minutes
At eleven o'clock the cars Were all taken or,
save eight which on an hourly schedule
About one hundred motormen. employees OF the
Eighth-ave. line, held meeting in the rooms
OF the McManus Association, at No AZ west
orty-eighth-st, in the evening, and erected an
organization and declared that there was no"
a strike on that road. James Lyons and Charles
Kelly were chosen to conduct the strike ana 10
represent the Eighth-ave. division on the Execu-
tive Committe of the Knights of Labor Tney
announced that fifty men were out, and that by
to-day one hundred and fifty will be on STRIFE
and the road tied up.
General Master Workman Parsons addressed
the meeting He attacked President Vreeland
whom he accused of bad faith and with Delng
an autocrat He exhorted the men to Keep
sober to keep away from the carhouses OF the
company and to refrain from any acts OF vio-
lence He placed the whole blame for the
trouble on Tammany Hail. for its failure TO en-
force the ten hour law.
Sunerintendent John Sitter. OF the Eighth ave
line. said that he had no official knowledge or
strike on the road. He declared that all the
cars Of the line were running. and the usual
schedule was being more than maintained with
ont the addition Of any men to the force.
Police CAPTAINS Thomas and Haughey, with
four sergean:s four roundsmen and forty-hve
nolicemen. patrolled the avenue between FORTY
second-st and Eighty -irst-st The carhouse at
Forty -ninth-st was also we'll guarded.
At 10 o'clock Thomas Martin. thirty-seVen
years old a striking motorman. OF NO. 5Zo west
| Fortv-ninth-st, was arrested at Forty -ninth-st
and Eighth-ave. on a charge OF disorderiy con-
duct His offence consisted of speaking to the
emn1oves Of the company and inducing them to
quit work. ~
A, oorIv az o'clock in the morning efforts
r.are he,na made by delegates from the railroad
,,er.s ORGANIZATION to induce motormen and con-
drctors on the Eighth-ave. line to strike. In
.bie however they were not extremely success
fut Most of the ,ntn who struck were trippers
| Tho few regulars who did stop work left their
cars standing on the tracks blocking the cars
hebind thnn Other men, however. were quickly
obtained to take the places Of the strikers
Al o'clock the road was being run apparently
as usual One Of the regular men said, when
asked about the matter:
"I have A wife and four children. and don't
care to go out. 1 satisfied with my place
Most Of the men who have gone out are trippers
and have not my steady place. | have been
with the road for many years. and l am satis-
fed OF course | will go out when the regular
men go. for don't want to be called scap.
This appeared to be the sentiment Of many OF
the men along the road. There was little change
in the matters along this route during the rest
Of the day once in a while motorman would
suddenly stop and got OF his car. spare
nootorman from the following car or one on the
car would take his place The company seemed
:, have forcseen this trouble. and had a reserve
-, ,,otornen on cars There were fewer cars
running. but the difference was rot great
ono or the strikers said that II Mr.. Parsons
or some OF the leaders would only come down
and sneak 10 the men they would leave In
droves At present they were without leader
70 advise them. Many Of the men thought the
report OF a strike was not official. and paid no
heed TO IT.
A Broadway car was left standing across the
tracks of the Eighth-a ave. line at Fifty-third-
st by gripman who suddenly left the car
which was full OF passengers fuming over their
predicament. This delayed traftc for hfteen
minutes.
Only once in the morning there any ap-
proach to disturbance on this line At about II
O'Clock a crowd OF strikers gathered at Fifty
dfth-st. and Eighth-ave. and attempted to per-
suade the motormen and conductors TO leave
their cars Word sent to the police. and
Sergeant Charles o. Sheldon OF the fremont
station. who was in the neighborhood. was sent
with a squad to preserve order. Among the
police was Officer Thomas Meade OF the De-
lanCey-st station
One striker particularly noisy, and both
Meade and Sheldon went for him. Sheldon tried
TO hit the striker with his stick. but in some
unaccountable manner he missed and struck
Policeman Meade Meade was cut on the Jaw
and he lost two teeth. and was removed to
Roosevelt Hospital. His wound was dressed
and then he returned to his post. Sergeant
Sheldon much mortified over the accident
Charles Kelly. one OF the Executive Commit
tee Of the Eghth-ave division Of strikers. was