Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-19
TWO STORIES ABOUT STRIKE
officials Clair Difficulty is Over and
Employees Grow More sanguins,
SEVERAL LINES ARE ENTIRELY TIED UP
Company Prediction that strike
would soon he Ended Does Not
Appear to BE Warranted
by Developments.

NEW YORK, July Is.-The Brooklyn
trolley strike is still on and in all likelihood
there will be no end to the labor trouble
for several days to come. The striking mo-
tormen and conductors are very earnest, and
they claim they are gaining ground. On
the other hand the representatives of the
Brooklyn traction company assert that the
strike is only a nominal one and from to-
night on they will experience no difficulty
in running their full complement OF cars.
The company did not run any cars over
its various lines after dark last evening,
but resumed traflc shortly after 5 o'clock
this morning. Number of cars were run
over the several lines, but the time schedule
was not lived Up to on any one Of them
No cars were run over the Flatbush line to
Brighton Beach and the patrons OF the race
track were forced to take steam cars over
the other railroad route, or the Franklin
avenue and Smith street trolley cars. which
are not under the strikers ban.
Great difficulty was experienced by the
management in running cars over the Mas
sau system and i liberal estimate OF the
cars run over the Nassau lines would be
about 30 per cent of the regular number.
The Fifth and Seventh avenue lines were
frequently blockaded and the company did
not handle more than Is per cent OF the
regular traffic. The Bergen cars were run
at intervals of fifteen and twenty minutes.
but each OF the cars was manned by at
least four policemen. During the day the
police made several arrests of persons who
interfered with the progress OF the cars on
the Nassau lines. but no serious outbreak
occurred until after 8 o'clock, when a small
riot broke out in which two men were pain
fully. but not seriously hurt.
Train Crew Handled.
A mob OF some 400 persons attacked a
Fifth avenue car on its way into the city
at Sixth street and Fifth avenue. and Mo-
torman A. F. Latham and Conductor w. A.
Mulcahy were pulled off the car and badly
treated. Several persons who were in the
neighborhood rushed to the assistance of the
motorman and conductor and frightened the
crowd off by firing their revolvers in the
air. Three arrests were made.
The police arrangements for the protec-
ton Of life and property were as nearly per-
feet as possible and while it is likely that
disturbances may occur during the night,
President Rossitter has s~ignifed his inten-
ton of running the cars as nearly as pos
sible to schedule time UP to midnight and
IL found practicable. he will have them run
all night.
1t was rumored during the forenoon that
| hAOuGAC - ~PS~N~A S
elevated roads, but early in the afternoon
President Rossitter said no hitch would oc-
cur there. The engineers had been notified
that as the third rail or electric motor sys-
tenn was adopted their wages vculd be re-
duced from $3.50 to SECS a day. The engi-
neers objected to this proposed reduction,
but this afternoon they were assured by the
management that the rate OF wages now ex-
listing would be maintained.
About noon policemen were cent from
headquarters to all the elevated road sta
! tons in the borough Of Brooklyn and by
2 o'clock there was a police officer on each
OF the up and down platforms. Chief Of Po-
lice Devery, together with Police Commits
sioners York and Sexton, visited head
quarters during the afternoon, but none o:
them would admit that any trouble or an
! ticipation OF trouble was anticipated on the
Il" system and when pressed for an ex-
PLANTATION OF the different stations they de-
clined to talk.
Plenty of Police Protection.
Chief Devery said that II President Ros-
sitter wished to run his cars all night there
were plenty OF policemen on hand to protect
the company's interests thoroughly, but he
was not prepared to say whether the cars
would be run continuously.
Master Workman Parsons and District
Master Pines were very confident that the
strikers would win the fight and judging from
the number OF cars in operation today the
assertion OF the railroad managers that the
strike would fizzle out seems to be we'll
founded. The strikers are severely handi-
capped, inasmuch as they have no funds to
back them up and in many instances there
Is a sad lack OF concerted action on the
part OF their leaders. That the men are in
| arneSr 10eS without saving Nina-teuths
OF them are thoroughly honest in their in
tentions. but from individual statements II
is easily inferred that they are fast losing
confidence.
President Rossitter stated today that the
men or strike would not be Disseminated
against IL they returned to work at once,
but not one Of the strikers has seeded.
Many of the persons who were arrested
for interference with the trolley cars were
treated leniently by the magistrates in the
police courts this morning and with the
exception OF the frscas on Fifth avenue
this morning no trouble OF any import was
reported. Taking everything into consider
alton the strike is being conducted very
peacesbly and the authorities hope that the
differences between employers and employees
will be adjusted without serious trouble OF
violation OF the law.
> strikers Grow Stronger.
General Master Workman Parsons said to-
day: II consider the position OF the strikers
is becoming stronger every hour. President
Rosstter's statement that there is no strike
in Brooklyn is hardly sustained by the evil
dence visible 10 everybody"
Master Workman James Pines. in a state
ment made at headquarters today, said that
! the strikers we're numerically stronger to-
day than at any time since the beginning Of
the trouble. He said: Our men are In
good spirits today and they intend holding
out indefinitely II their just demands are
not complied with"
Il was reported today that a committee
representing the strikers would call on Dis,
triet Attorney Steele during the day and
lodge complaints with him against the
~otncials Of the Rapid Transit company for
violations Of the ten-hour law. Mr.. Steele
said that no grand Jury would meet until
September l3.
The officials. however" said the district
attorney. III they have violated the law
could be prosecuted in a police court. II
found guilty. a fine of $500 could be i'm