The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-09
CAR STRIKE
VERY SERIOUS
In ST. LOUIS.
Traffic Practically Stopped and Per
pie Having Difficulty in Get
ting to Business Streets.
TO TIE UP THE SYSTEM
Was the Purpose of the stEikrh
Gravity of the Situation Ap-
pFsciatsd by Company.

ST. LOUIS, May Sin accordance
with the decision reached by tho 81.
Louis Transit Company's employs
early this morning. a general strike wa9
lnaugurated on the entire system at
daybrealk to-day. No cars were in oper-
alton save few on the Park Avenue
division. The first car on this division
left the sheds at O'Clock. The strikers
at the sheds did not attempt to prevent
the crews from taking the cars out. The
crews were allowed to run the cars un-
molested until 12:45 o'clock, when car
No. 5, Of the Park Avenue dtviston.was
badly wrecked on Webster avenue be-
tween Sixth and Seventh streets, by Q
volley OF stones thrown by q crowd OF
men and boys.
suburban Line Tied Up.
The suburban line. many of the ems
pioyes of which had been on n strike for
several days, was also tied up after the
early morning hours. Cars were run
as far east as Thirteenth street, but
when efforts were mnde to bring them
down town, crowds OF strikers and SYM
pathizers interfered with the crews ana
in several cases dragged them on the
ears.
From time to time during the after
noon and night attempts were made 70
operate the cars, but in nearly every
case resulted in attacks on the crsW9
by crowds along the streets, practically
stopping traffic.
Atl;i5 o'clock n Park Avenue car was
considerably damaged at Eighteenth
w A In FFT1Vfm
OF men and boys was cOnGTegated tpero
and as the car was within distance,
they bombarded 1t with stones. regard
less OF the fact that several WOMEN
were inside.
Crew Stuck to Their Post.
The crew stuck to their posts, al
though the stones flew thick around
them. The company, when It found
that the cars could not be operated, or
dered them back to the sheds. Numer-
Gus cars were stoned and the men
operating them attacked by crowds
along the streets. The strikers declare
that they have had no active part In
these hostile demonstrations.
Vehicles of all sorts were pressed into
service to-day by the citZ0ns-of the city
in getting to and from business, Chair
man Lee, of the national executive
hoard. the man who Is conducting thls
strike, said to-day that the union Waa
satisfied with the results Of the strike.
1--WE struck to tie UP the system"
said he, land we have succeeded. Tha
company has precipitated this crisis by
It's refusal to treat Win us. We are
ready at any time to do our part toward
settling the differences between uS ana
the company"
Mr.. Lee said he did not know what
the strikers will do II the company EN-.
ploys new men. The union claims that
about 3, 400 men are out and that they
represent about 90 per cent OF the comH
pany's employees.
Business Men Meet.
A Joint meeting OF the executive come
mlttee OF the Business Mems League
and the board Of directors Of the Mer-
chants Exchange was called at the re-
quest OF members OF both organizations
as soon as the gravity OF the strike sit-
uation was realized.
The Justice Of the demands on either
side was not discussed. but the gravity
~ the crisis as affecting business and
law and order was considered. Pralm-
mary steps were taken with n View %
bringing matters to determination ana
considerable power WIS given to th0
chairman of the meeting and 70 tns
presidents Of the two controlling bodtsS
represented. Il was decided to uiEeS
daily II nece$sary until the dihqa H
shall be adjusted and the meeting RdS
journed until to-mbrrow.