The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-10
EMPTY STORES.
st. Louis Street Car Strike
Hard on Merchants.
Not a Wheel Turns on Transit
COmpany's Line.

ST. Louis, May 10.-This is the third
day of the street railway strike and not
wheel on the various lines of the st.
Louis Transit company's system is
moving. There is no prospect that this
system, which controls all but one line
in the city and county, will attempt to
run cars until assured of protection. The
mail cars however, are running over
all the lines without interference.
Most of the cars on the Suburban sys-
tenn are running today with police pro-
lection. Officers are stationed on every
car and all along the right of way to
guard against interference. No disturb
ance has been reported since last night,
when Frank Liebrecht. an innocent by
stander was shot and killed at the Tay-
lor avenue crossing of the Suburban
tracks.
The first regiment NJ n. G., has not
been ordered out. but g company is be-
ing kept at the armOry constantly to
protect the states property from posi-
bic violence.
Downtown retail stores are operating
at enormous loss as result of the
street car strike. Their proprietors ana
managers are talking of reducing their
forces of employees and even of closing
entirely until the strike is settled if ex-
iSting conditions continue. Instead OF
crowded aisles and busy clerks, almost
every SlOIS QOWulONu Is PIdCllCdlly QG-
serted save by employees.
The situation has become sufficiently
serious for heads of establishments to
discuss among themselves what steps
they may take to encourage an early
settlement of the trouble, but so far
without reaching a conclusion.
The effect of the strike will also. it is
stated, be left in the east for while the
stagnation of business continues no or
ders are being sent on for goods, and
the regular buyers employed by St
Louis establishments are finding them
/ selves with nothing to do at a season
when they usually are busy Mean
while the depression will extend to a
variety of local industries which are de-
pendent-on the retail houses for support
| including many of the smaller shirt
| waist factories and kindred interests.
POLICEMEN GIVEN COTS.
Gov. Lon V. Stephens arrived in St
Louis today and registered at the
| Southern hotel With him came At
! torney General E. c. Grove and Insur-
/ ance Commissioner Ed 7. Orear The
governor stated that he had come to
| st. Louis for the purpose of perS 7nally
/ looking over the situation occasioned
| by the strike and comforting with the
! police board as to the means of sup
pressing any outbreaks that might oc-
| cur He had no definite plans for con-
trolling these outbreaks. however.
Governor Stephens feared that if the
| Transit company attempted to operate
its lines serious trouble might ensue,
| despite the best efforts of the police to
l maintain peace and order.
The entire Metropolitan police depart
ment of St. Louis has been almost re-
organized since the street railway strike
| began. All the force has practically
done both day and night duty ever
since the strike was inaugurated
Within ten minutes after notice is
| given now, every policeman in the city
can be placed on duty. Many of the
/ J, xa o~7 -s,
day morning, when the trouble first be-
gan, with scarcely any rest. The po-
lice officials realize that the strength
of the men cannot last under this con-
tinued strain, but they can see no way
of obtaining relief until the troubles be-
tween the railway men and their en-
ployes are adjusted. Cots have been de-
1ivered at all the police stations for tht
use of officers when off duty
DECIDED TO ARREST STRIK KERS.
st. Louis, May 10.-At noon after {
two hours conference between Governor
Stephens, President OF the Police BoarC
Hawes, Chief of Police Campbell. Pres
ident Whitaker and General Manager
Raumhoff CT the Transit company, anC
H. F. Priest and F w. Lehman, at
torneys for the railway company, i
was decided to apply for warrants at
| o'clock for the arrest of the strike lead
ers. The charge alleged against then
is that they are interfering with the op
eraticn of the Transit company's lines
When the action OF the conference be
came known at strike headquarters
caused considerable excitement It wa
stated that the strikers under the direc
tion of President w. d. Mahon, of tn
street car employees national organiza
ton are preparing a new plan Of cam
paign against the transit company
is nothing less than the drawing to thei
aid the support possible from unite
labor in St Louis. President Maho
announces that the vital principle q
uuiOniSrn is the point at issue in thi
strike and to preserve this principle h
adds every effort will be made.
Sheriff Pohlman said he had not We
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