The record-union., 1899-07-18
STRIKE SITUATION
At BROOK YN.
continued from First Page,

81
There was prompt refusal in each case
on the ground that the Brighton Beach
road was not part of the IL" system
The scheme was abandoned.
General Master Workman John n.
Parsons had an interview with Police
Commissioner Jacob Hess. Mr.. Parsons
complained that the action of the au-
thorities in policing Brooklyn with
immense forces of patrolman taken
from precincts outside the borough was
uncalled for, when the peace had not
been broken, and there was no proof
that such was intended. He asserted
that such action could not be justified
unless. it was intended to make 1T
manifest that corporations utilized the
police force to the detriment of plain
people, and declared that it was cal
culated to bring constituted authority
into disrepute.
Commissioner Hess agreed to some
extent that the employment of the
police in such capacity was not right,
but said that it was never intended to
use the police except to keep the peace.
An observation that large bodies of
police had been slowed in hiding in
the various depots of the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit system brought about
the conversation.
In the memorable Brooklyn trolley
strike in January, 1895, nearly 1000
men turned out. It began like the
present one, in relatively orderly
manner. On the fourth day serious
trouble began, and several cars We're
stoned. The police were powerless to
deal with the situation. Rioting be-
came general and the First and Sec
ond Brigades of the National Guard
had to be called out. This was on jan
uary 10Th. The mob defied the guards
men and was fired upon, two men be-
ing killed. There were also several
bayonet charges which resulted in
to burn the car barns on Vanderbilt
avenue but were frustrated by the
guardsmen.
There was some savage fighting in
the streets before the rioters were sup
pressed. The troops occupied the
streets from January 10Th until JAN
uary 31st. Some of the strikers were
taken back by the Brooklyn Heights
Company. Most of them, however,
weat over to the Nassau Company,
which lately was absorbed by the
Brooklyn Heights Company, and 1t is
among these men that the present
trouble is said to have originated.
President Rossiter of the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company said this
morning that fifty of the men who
went out yesterday reported for work
this morning. At the strikers head
quarters in Brooklyn the men asserted
that while some cars were running, it
was very irregularly. They claim six
recruits this morning from among the
men who had remained at work.
Judging from the number of cars
that were running this morning, the
company had nearly three-fourths of it's
rolling stock in operation on all the
roads other than those which COM
prise the old Nassau lines. The road
officers were confident this morning
that they would be able to run the
full complement Of cars on the reg
ular schedule time within twenty-four
hours; and they claimed that the strike
would be over by midnight.
Charles w Mackenzie, Chairman OF
the committee of the strikers, said to-
day that the men were holding their
own and would surely win. He said
that every union man on the Traction
Company's road and all of the men
on the Nassau lines were out, and that
all night long IT, road employees were
being brought into the union. He said
the IL men were working at the ex-
press wish of the strikers so as not
to inconvenience the public. Macken-
zie said he was confident of success
and that a general tie-up of the cars
in Brooklyn would occur if the Trac-
ton Company failed to accede to the
demands of the strikers.
On the Marion, Fifth and Seventh
avenue roads and the Douglas and Ber-
gen-street lines. the condition of at
fairs was serious Four policemen
guarded each car. but there was very
little Roadway made on any of these
roads. At Thirteenth street and Fifth
avenue large stones were placed on
the track, and the policemen and con-
ductors were hooted by a crowd, as
they cleared the way to let two cars
proceed to the city.
Near the barn at Troy avenue and
Bergen street a car was stoned by the
mob, but no one was injured. The po-
lice made two arrests, but neither Of
the prisoners belonged to the union.
Trouble was reported from Wander
veer Park on the Flatbush line, where
some of the trolley wires were cut and
traffic was delayed for over an hour.
General Master Workman Parsons
said:
II believe the position of the strik
ers is being strengthened every hour,
and with the assurance of the financial
aid that has been given the contest will
be continued. Between 8 and II
o'clock last night 1000 men, who work
ed yesterday, enrolled with the strik-
ers. The duration of the strike will
depend entirely on the citizens of
Brooklyn, especially the business men
and the influence they have on the city
officials of Brooklyn in compelling them
to see that the ten-hour and speed law
are enforced.
II desire to say that every encOur-
agement has been given the men to re-
main at home and not to congregaIe
around the car barns or street corners.
This strike cannot be helped by VIC
lence.''
Then Mr.. Parsons began to discuss
the conditions in Manhattan Borough.
He said:
Il do not think there will be a strike
of the employees of the Metropolitan
Street Railroad Company. I fully ex-
pect the Board Of Arbitration will i'm
press President Vreeland with the fact
that there are real grievances to arbi-
trate, and Mr.. Vreelands refusal to