The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-24
A new WEAPON.
st. Louis Trades Unions Seek
to Aid the Strikers
By Organized Opposition to the
Worlds Fair Bill.
ARE FINED
For Riding on the Cars of the
Transit Company.
Governor Stephens Again Inter-
ests Himself in the Situation.

st. Louis, May 24-This is the seven
teenth day of the great strike inaugu-
rated by the employees of the Transit
company, and a settlement seems fur
Their away than ever, neither side to the
controversy seeming willing to advance
any proposition to end it. The Transit
has resumed service on all of
its lines except the Broadway, North
ern Central, Southwestern, Union and
the South Sixth street divisions, n
attempts may be made today to run
cars on some of these. On the lines in
operation the street railway officials
assert that they are daily running more
cars and carrying additional pas
sengers. Non-union men continue to
come in from other cities, and as fast
as they arrive the Transit company
puts them to work. Word was re-
ceived from Cleveland today that forty
two ex-employes of the Big Consoli-
dated street car system had been sent
here to take the places of strikers.
Thus far no general sympathy strike
among labor unions has been called,
as had been expected there would be.
The different trades and labor organiza-
lions are showing their sympathy with
the strikers in another way, by con
tributing to their support and passing
rules fning members for riding on the
street cars. Union labor a brought
the worlds fair question into the strike
controversy. At a mass meeting held
last night a resolution was passed to
the effect hat all union labor through
out the United States be asked to in
struct their representatives to oppose
the passage of the worlds fair appro-
priation bill unless the St. Louis Tran
sit company settles the strike satisfac-
torily to its former employees. The res
olution has beer wired to John 3. Hen
derson, speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives.
Since the strike began 200 arrests Of
persons alleged to have violated the
law in its connection have been made.
Twenty-Five warrants have been is
sued, ten indictments reported by the
grand jury, and the remainder of the
cases have been to b police and
United States courts, where nan of
them are still pending.
Comparatively few of the cases have
yet been tried, for the reason that the
police have been so busy with the
strike that they have had little time to
appear in court. For their convenience
the cases have been continued from
time to time that they might remain
out on duty. In most of the cases which
have been tried in the police courts the
defendants have been discharged. Some
few of the prisoners have been released
without trial, the police failing to col
Iect the evidence for prosecution.
Governor Stephens is in he city for
a conference with the police authorities
on the strike situation. At $3.50 a. m.
he met with the board OF police com
m~iSSiOnerS.
Just before the conference a repre-
sentative of the Post-Dispatch secured
these remarkable expressions from Gov
ernor Stephens:
II am satisfied that the trouble along
the street car ines and the whole spirit
of anarchy which I find prevails so
largely in the city of st. Louis at pres
ent is being fonented and extended
by the Vaccinations of a certain coterie
of Democratic politicians who hope by
their course to in some manner make
gains in the approaching primaries.
This element is sending speakers to
meetings held to express sympathy for
the strikers all over the city, and if
not counselling disorder it is at least
materially encouraging it.
These persons are responsible for the
many efTigiss of myself and the police
| authorities which l find dangling from
poles and trolley lines on many streets.
It is a result of their movements that
I ave received many letters threaten
ing my life should I continue to do my
duty and provide officers to keep the
peace.
I desire to say further, that if, as
governor of Missouri. with all the
power vested in that office for the pur-
pose. I can put an end to the Disgrace
full may say, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
that prevails in St. Louis today. I shall
employ every iota of that power The
first step would naturally be to call
on the sheriff for assistance; the sec
ond. to call on the military Of the state.
| shall not hesitate to perform either
duty if. after further conference with
the duly delegated authonties in the
city, I shall come to the conclusion that
other and lesser means cannot restore
the city to order.
1.-THE cars are not running at night;
they should be. The cars are not run
ming on a number of the lines. and
are not running in full complement on