The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-08
THE B0YC0TTING AGE.
Remarkable Condition Of Affairs In
the City Of Cleveland.
New York Evening Post.

New York Evening Post.
We have been favored with several num-
bers of the Cleveland Artisan. the organ Of
the boycotters who have made that city
perhaps the most terrifying place OF resi-
dence for civilized beings that this country
has ever seen. There have been worse
riots in Chicago. Pittsburg. Buffalo and
other places. but none in which society has
been so completely torn up and the ordi-
nary vocations of the people so much and
so long interfered with. The .rouble be-
gan with the strike of the employees OF the
Big Consolidated street-railway who affirm
that an agreement which the company made
with them respecting the discharge Of men
had been evaded or violated by the COM
pany. The company affirmed that the bar
gain had not been violated. 1t proceeded TO
employ other hands In place of the strikers.
The latter resorted TO violence TO prevent
the new hands from working. TIE rioting
ran its usual course until the troops were
called out TO preserve order. Then the
strikers issued warning to the public not
to ride on the cars Of the Big Consolidated
Company. Some persons disregarded the
warning. Then dynamite was brought into
use. and several cars were blown up and
number OF passengers injured. This was
a dangerous business TO the dynsmiters as
well as TO the innocent passengers. III was
possible for the company, aided by the pub
lie authorities, TO guard the lines so that no.
body could put bomb on the track with
So that mode OF warfare was gradually
suppressed, and general boycott was In
stituted against the company. All persons
were notified that If they were observed rid
ing in the company'S cars the boycotters
and their sympathizers would cease buying
way, and the shopkeepers were ordered not
in said cars. Spoilers were appointed to
al f' persons riding on the cars sue or Il their
names were not known, TO follow them and
find out their names and residences. The
boycott was applied TO the State troops who
were serving in Cleveland under the orders
of their superiors. Merchants, restaurant
keepers, druggists. BARRIERS, and even boot
blacks were warned not TO sell anything or
render any service to them.
After brief trial of this anti-social ex-
pertinent, the large dealers IN the business
species of coercion and entered into an
agreement with each other that they would
persons, without discrimination. This agree
ment has been observed. No difficulty Is ex-
perienced in that part Of the city In buying
ferent is it in the suburbs, where the wage
earners mostly live, and where the use or
the Big Consolidated lines is most necessary
for their convenience in going TO and from
their work. In these quarters the boycott
has thus far been successful in lettering
people from riding in the cars, and the
cial condition which there prevails has be-
come well-nigh intolerable. How the boy
colt works can be easily learned from the
Isaac Klein publishes his affidavit. saying
that he is the keeper of a grocery store and
saloon at No. 277 and 27s Quincy street. and
whereas IL has been reported by unscrupu-
lous persons that he had been riding in the
cars OF the Big Consolidated Company, and
allowing members of his family to do so, he
wishes TO publicly deny these reports.
which have been set afoat TO ruin his bust
ness. and he offers the sum OF 500 TO any
person who will prove these rumors to be
Mr.. Goldstein is the proprietor of store
called The Fair" at the corner OF Broad
dren. returning from the country, arrived at
the railway station and could not find a
carriage to convey them home. After vainly
sending telephone message TO procure one,
OF the Big Consolidated. The fact was re-
Goldstein with such vigor that ne was COM
PEELED TO explain to the editor of the Artisan
how it happened. The editor, It appears.
was convinced that an injustice had been
done TO Mr.. Goldstein. and he published his
opinion 10 that effect. Not so Mr.. Goidstein's
competitors in business. They persisted In
committed the heinous offense Of riding
from the railway station to their home on
the boycotted vehicle. till Mr.. Goldstein
show that HIS family did not try in good
faith TO obtain carriage before they took
passage on the car. The editor says that
10 the funds OF the boycotters. No doubt.
b. Epstein * Co, who describe themselves
as reliable ciothiers. No. 105i-1os7 Pearl
street, advertise in the columns OF the Ar
tisan a reward of $50 to anybody who can
prove that any member of that firm has
been riding on the cars Of the Big Console
dated Company. at any time during the
strike. Fiesheim & Smith, Nos. 1sI-164 On
tario street proclaim themselves by adver-
tisement as sincere sympathizers with the
strike. In fact. the boycott has been q
mine of wealth 20 this newspaper, which
has column after column of similar adver-
tisements.
How this strange tyranny Is 10 end no.
body can predict. IL IL certain. however.
that society now constituted cannot be
carried on under the bludgeon OF the boy
colt The boycotters now control a large
section of the city OF Cleveland. Nobody
who rides In the cars can buy anything AT
the neighborhood stores. Most people I'm
this quarter of the city are too poor 10 take
a long journey down town and TO buy
wholesale and lay I'm large supplies. No
body except the Big Consolidated Company
has sufficient interest I'm the quarrel 10 20
10 law about Il. and the company itself.
which Is none too popular In Cleveland, il.
perhaps not quite certain what the result
Of an action at law would be. Yet II would
seem that IL must come 10 this at last, for
Il is now a question to the company OF life
or death.