The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-11
Sympathizers Prevent Running of
Cars by PeltinG NonuniOnists with
Eggs and other Missiles.
ONE MAN SERIOUSLY HURT
SUPERINTENDENT STEFFEN HIT ON
THE HEAD WITH A BOTTLE.
Men to Be Imported-Miners' Riot at
HilIsbOrO, Ill.-IrOn and Steel
Workers Wage Scale Fixed.

CLEVELAND, O., June 10.-What prom
ises to be a long and bitter contest between
the Cleveland Electric Railway Company
Chg Consolidated) and it's 900 employees was
inaugurated at o'clock this morning by
strike which tied up all of the fourteen
lines operated by the company. These lines
reach all sections OF the city and they form
the only means of transportation for
more than 100000 people living in terri
tory five miles long and three miles wide
at the South End. The West Side is affect
ed but little. only one line passing through
that section, while the East Side four
lines of the Little Consolidated are avail
able for use by most of the patrons Of tied
up lines in that section. Thus far the Lit
tie Consolidated men have refused to strike
and they not likely to go out.
The strike is mainly for the recognition CT
the union and the men have been preparing
for it for several weeks. President Henry A.
Everett says he is willing to concede all the
other demands of the men and will adjust
all other grievances when presented by his
employees, but he declares that he will never
recognize the union, whose demands he
characterizes as tyranrical. 1t is well un-
derstood that the company has employed
men in other cities to take the places OF
the strikers, but ii is difficult to ascertain
whether many of these men are now in the
city. Only about a half dozen cars were
operated to-day. Those were on the Euclid
avenue line and they were under guard Of
deputy sheriffs and were operated by i'm
ported men. A few mail cars were run by
the strikers, who say they will not obstruct
the mail. There have been several riotous
demonstrations to-day, but none of really
serious nature. There is not likely to be
any serious trouble until Monday because
there will be no further attempt to move
cars until then.
AS stated. the big Consolidated' en-
ployes want the recognition by the COM
pany Of their union, which is part of the
Amalgamated Association of Street-railway
Employees OF America. They also want a
board of arbitration to pass on alleged vio-
latiors of the company rules when a man is
charged with violating these rules, and the
unions officers and company's management
disagree upon the disposition of his case,
and they demand that dismssals for causes
not clearly apparent to them be stopped.
The men charge that there have been num-
erous discharges for trifiing reasons. The
men want also an abatement Of Swing"
runs. In a swing run the man gets pay
only for the hours he works, but the work.
ing hours are scattered all through the day
and night. One of the mems demands is
that the old schedule be readopted II has
been conceded by the company. The real
fight is over the recognition by the company
of the union. About 900 men are now out.
but the linemen are expected to follow the
motormen and conductors.
At O'Clock this morning, just five hours
after the strike was declared, the company
made its first attempt to run a car over its
lines. 1t was started out of the I.akeview
barns. The car had proceeded but a few
hundred feet when 1t was surrounded by
strikers and sympathizers. The crowd yelled
and hooted. Then eggs began to fly. The
men on the car paid no particular attention
to the demonstration of the crowd. The
crowd surged about the and ordered
the men in charge to leave and join the
strikers. The situation was assuming a
threatening aspect when President Bryan,
of the Amalgamated Association of Street.
car Men. drove up at furious pace. He ad-'
dressed the now thoroughly aroused crowd,
urging them 10 refrain from violence and
do nothing to discredit their cause. The
men yielded and the car went on Twice
within a few hundred yards the car was
stopped but later allowed to proceed. AT $40
another car loaded with deputies was
started from the Lakeview barns. This also
was hooted, but no violence was attempted.
Both cars made the round trip, the new
men being jeered at on the downtown
streets. AS the first car was entering the
barn on it's return Jacob Kratz was struck
In the head by one OF the stones thrown
from the mob. He is in a serious condition.
At noon seven cars had left the Lakeview
barns. After the fourth car had left there
was no further trouble. The motormen and
conductors were left alone. After that cars
continued TO run at infrequent intervals.
The suburban cars carrying the United
States mails were not interfered with. An
attempt was made TO get an injunction in
the United States Court TO prevent the
strikers from interfering with the mail cars,
but it failed The district attorney refused
to ask the court for an injunction. He said
as long as the strikers showed no DISPOSE
tion to interfere with the mails he would
not take any action. The company has i'm
ported about thirty men from Buffalo.
On Ontario street, at AIS p. m. William
Steffen, division superintendent OF the Big
Consolidated road. was seriously injured by
being hit on the head with a bottle thrown
from the crowd while ne ysas trying to move
car which had been disabled by a mob.
The wounded man was taken 10 his home
in an unconscious condition.
The officials of the company decided late
this afternoon 10 abandon the attempt TO
move cars until Monday morning. This
decision was reached in order that trouble
might be avoided on Sunday when 50 many
people will be idle. President Everett has
gone TO the country 70 spend Sunday and
everything viii be dropped where II d. The
only cars to be moved win b those carry