The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-11
st. Louis Suburban System Operated
Yesterday Under Protection
of Armed Police.
MAIN LINES STILL TIED UP
DOwN-TOWN MERCHANTS SUFFER-
ING FOR LACK OF PATRONS.
Another Death Resulting from the
Strfke-Woman Struck with
Brick While Crossing a Street.

ST. LOUIS, May 10-The feature of the
day in the street-railway strike was the
conference between Governor Stephens,
the members of the executive committee of
the local Street-railway Employees Associa-
ton and the officers and attorneys of the
Transit Company for the purpose of as
certaining if some sort of an amicabe un-
Outstanding could not be arrived at The
conference lasted for several hours, but, at
its conclusion Governor Stephens said that
nothing had been accomplished. The strik-
ers' officials were willing to arbitrate pro-
vided the proposition to do so came from
the railway company The railway off,
Gals refused to entertain any such pro-
posal, stating that they had nothing to
arbitrate.
There were no riotous demonstrations to-
day TIE Suburban Company operated its
system under police protection without in
reference, and was patronized literally by
the public. The Transit Company ran two
cars over one branch of it's system, but
attempted to carry no passengers. The
cars were guarded by police and as in the
case of the cars on the Suburban system,
were not molested.
Downtown retail stores are operating
at enormous loss as a result of the street
car strike. Their proprietors and managers
| are talking of reducing their forces of en-
ployes and even of closing entirely until
the strike is settled. If existing conditions
continue. Almost every store down town
is practically deserted. save by employees
The situation has become sufficiently seri-
| Gus for heads of establishments to dis
cuss among themselves what steps they
| may take to encourage an early settlement
Of the trouble, but so far no conclusion
has been reached. The effect Of the strike
will also. it is stated. be felt in the East
| for, while the stagnation of business con-
| tinues, no orders are being sent on for
goods and the buyers employed by ST.
Louis establishments are finding them
selves with nothing to do at a season
| the depression will extend to a variety of
| local industries. which are dependent on
| the retail houses for support.
Sheriff Pohlman said to-day he had not
yet been formally asked to swear in addi-
| tfonal deputies to aid the police in keeping
| order. but was ready TO do when re-
| quested. The police have 500 81 ringfeld
rifles and 5000 rounds of ammunition ready
| for use whenever needed
AT 2:45 o'clock IL was announced that
| preparations were being made to start two
| cars down town from the f1nney and Tay-
| lor-avenue barns of the st. Louis Transit
| Company. About eighty motormen and
conductors have been quartered there for
| several days I'm order to be ready for such
| move A large force of policemen was
| stationed in the vicinity to prevent any
| trouble. About o'clock Assistant Chief of
| Police Pickel arrived at the barns and gave
| final instructions to the twenty-five mount
| ed officers and forty patrolmen on duty
| there. Extra pistol ammunition was then
| distributed among them. The barn doors
| were opened and the first car to run over
| the Transit Company's lines since Tuesday
| started on the downtown trip It was so
/ well guarded that no violence was attempt
| ed by the large crowd of strikers assem-
| bled there.
| After returning the two cars to the start
| ing point at Finney and Taylor avenues the
| police at first refused to take them down
/ town again but finally did so. On the way
| west several crowds met the cars but did
| not interfere with them because the mount
| ed police quickly dispersed them with
| drawn sabres. Two men were badly cut on
| the head by the police.
The street car men of the East ST. Louis
/ lines struck this afternoon. They began
/ leaving their cars at 4:30.
| Another death as result of the strike
| occurred tonight. AS Flora Siegfried a
T! young woman, was crossing Washington
/ street carrying an infant In her arms she
! was hit on the head with brick that had
| been hurled at a passing car on the Sub
| urban system. Her skull was fractured
| and she died shortly after being carried to
| the City Hospital.