The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-12
Strike of Street Car Employees
at Kansas City
Was Ordered This Morning Ac-
cOrding to Programme.
DID NOT STOP CARS.
Only. About 500 Out of 1900
Men Went Out.
Strikers Expect to Effect q Tie
Up Later in the Day.

Kansas City, May 12.-As predicted
a strike was ordered early this morning
on the street car lines of the Metropol-
itan railway company. About 500 of the
1900 conductors. motormen and grip
men Of this city and Kansas City. Kas..
responded. Not enough men on any
one line struck to make any appreciable
effect on the running Of cars en- the
main lines. Many of the men not al
ready members of the union are join
ing the order, however, since the strike
leaders have taken a stand and it
seems very likely that a general tie-up
will result before the day is closed.
Beyond Kisses and epithets hurled at
the men who took out cars, the strikers
did not resort to any disturbance dur
ing the morning hours. Police have
been stationed at the different power
houses and a strenuous effort Will be
made to stem at its inception any ten
dency towards violence on the part OF
the Strikers.
The strike order was issued after a
series of all night meetings of the men.
presided over by Harry Bryan, organ
izer of the Amalgamated Association OF
Street Railway Employees CT America
The Vine street and Prospect avenue
trolley lines. short systems in the
southeastern part of the city, that
transfer with the main downtown lines,
were the first to be affected. A ma
jOrity of the men on these lines refused
who did go to work started on their
initial trips the cars were Surrounded
by strikers who urged the crews not to
go out. When their efforts proved
futile and the cars started away.
the strikers sent Kisses and oaths after
them. Seven cars were run out on each
of these lines and two trips were made
before any change resulted. Then an
the crews showed signs of weakening
the company decided to shut down
these lines, and at 10 o'clock the south
eastern portion of the city was without
service.
On the main downtown lines, the
Westport, the Fifteenth, Twelfth,
Tenth and Northeast, in Kansas City,
Mo, and the Fifth street trolley and the
| IL roads running from Kansas City,
Kas-, considerable trouble was expe-
rienced in starting cars, but as a rule
new men were found to take the places
| of those who went out and during Iile
morning hours no serious delays re-
suited.
MEN WE'RE NERVOUS.
The strikers made their greatest show
| of strength at the Twelfth street power
house, where only six conductors and
| two gripmen, out of a total force OF 80
men, reported for duty.
The strikers gathered on the corners
/ a block away and watched proceedings
| Walton Holmes general manager Of the
| Metropolitan Railway company, and
/ Conway Holmes, general superintend-
| ent, were on the ground early and as
| Sured the loyal ones of protection. Fear
| ing trouble, however, General Manager
! Holmes telephoned to Sheriff Chiles for
| assistance. On the arrival of the lat
| ter, each conductor and gripman was
| sworn in as a deputy marshal before he
, mounted his car. The men were nervous
| and fearful of violence and it was some
| time before the first car started. Police
were stationed at each end of the train.
| The strikers shouted "Scabs" but made
no effort to stop the cars and the ice
| once broken, cars followed each other
| in quick succession and soon practically
| the entire equipment was in motion
| On the other lines also all conductors,
motormen and gripmen were sworn in
| as deputy marshals as quickly as Mar
| shall Chiles and the clerk of the county
court could administer the oath Mar
| shall ChiIes said he intended to protect
| property and life if he had to swear in
all the men in Jackson county.
| Police were stationed at all power
| houses before daybreak and at police
| headquarters Chief Hayes kept in con-
slant touch with all parts of the city
prepared to render prompt relief IN
case of violence. These arrangements,
said he, ARE made not that expect
any serious trouble, but simply as pre-
\ caution. The city and county officials
have planned to work in unison in nip
ping in the bud the first show of dis
| turbance and thus avert riots. From the
Isstart crowds will not be permitted TO
| cOngregate.
The Metropolitan company has a con-
I tract
| and it is held by the company'S officials
and coincided in by Major VIM Warner,
United States district attorney, that to
prevent the carrying of these men would
] amount to delaying the mails. The
company will therefore call upon the
government officials, if necessary, te
prevent the delaying of its cars
The strikers were discouraged when
all the trains went out They said they
would use persuasion today and tomor-
row and that Monday they would pull
the conductors and gripmen on the cars
if it becomes necessary to win the strike
by those means
President Holmes son during the day
expressed confidence in the company 5
ability to keep all its cars running if
? granted sufficient police protection
Under no conditions, said he, would
: they give in to the strikers He had
D received applications from outside cities
2 sufficient to man all lines twice over
r One delegation from St. Louis has al
ready, it is saids been brought mere
and will be put to work.
All the allied unions in the two cities
| viii likely aid the street car strikers
z | by bOycotting the cars At labor head
quarters the word was passed arouhA
today that union men must not patron
s ize the cars, and later the officers o
I | the different organizations sent word Z
: ! their members that they would be ex
pected to boycott the street rallWay
. In some parts of the city citizens ar
= showing their sympathies with tn
= strikers by refusing to ride on the cars
: but the number is small
: = An incident at one Of the powe
houses, where the strikers had tried in
effectually to bring out a eomrade
= gives an indication of the intention o
q the union Monday morning, hnall.
Il declared the striker in desperation, al
. the labor unions in town viii be out an
!. help US, and then we'n win, sure; ant
"A | we'll see that not a single 'scab' eve
= works again in this town. You'l b