The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-24
CAR men ARE
ON STRIKE
Concluded from Page IL

same dividends as the stockholders.
their wages. whatever they may be.
representing the capital or which they
| draw dividends. IF II man receives
wages of $IOo a year he gets n divi-
dend check every three months equiv
alent to that which n stockholder
would get on $500 capital. It is ou"
intention to put that plan In opera
| tion here as soon as conditions war
rant 1t. This strike will not, to say
the least, help tc hasten the conditions
| that will warrant 1t. The men have
acted hastily, and I sincerely regret
| 1t. We must operate our road, how
| ever. and If we cannot do ii with the
old men. we will of course have to ges
| new ones"
General Manager 'Silliman spoke in
the same strain. He said further that
the company will have cars running
this morning, ana will add to their
number right along until the full
equipment is in motion.
| Mr.. Silliman also said that If the
| statements contained in his letter are
| brought into question, he Is satisfied
| to have The Tribune designate Il COM
petrnt accountant to examine the
| oompany's books and make public
| statement as to whether or not the
| allegations contained in the company's
| answer are correct
He also invites investigation of his
| statement as to how the wages paid
| here compares favorahly with those In
| the surrounding cities of Wilkes
| Barre, Hazleton or the cities of Scran-
tons size throughout the United
States. In Philadelphia the old men re-
ceive eighteen cents an hour. he says.
| In Scranton they receive only frac-
| tion of a cent less. This, the company
believes, is fairly liberal, when the diff
ference in size and wealth of the
two cities is concerned.
The men had meeting last night,
and framed the following statement 20
the public:
To the Public:
The Scranton street car men feel that the
public is fairly acquainted with the long hours
we have been compelled to work and the mcagre
compensation the Traction company's employees
receive.
Our decision Sunday morning to discontinue
work taken only after full, free and thor
| ough discussion and exhaustive efforts to secure
amicable settlement of our differences with
our employers. We dcprccate the failrre OF our
efforts to reach satisfactory understanding with
the Traction company, which fact forced us into
a strike.
We are fully cognizant that the suspension OF
traffic on the street cars will somewhat harass
business and we delayed any action that would
interfere with the business of the city
chants to the last possible moment. ont OF COLI
sidcraton for them and the shopping public
generally.
We appreciate the necessity of having and
tanning public sympathy and the union en-
phasizcs its determination to conduct tho union
side of the present struggle without any overt
or lawcss action the part of any member OF
our union The employees of the entire system
from Forest City To Pittston are unanimous in
the demand submitted to employers and
every workman has discontinued work and is de-
tcilninc to remain idle until satisfactory conccS
sOns made to the wortmen. Tho appeal TO
all friends and sympathizcrs to give us their
moral support and feel confident that victory will
be our reward.
Executive committee Division lGs A,nalgamatcd
Association Street Railway Employees
MEN FROM PHILADELPHIA
The report that men We're being re-
Cruited in Philadelphia to take the
strikers places grew by night time to
the dimensions of "a special train
load on the Delaware and Hudson 20
arrive at 10 O'clock" A crowd of the
strikers was at the depot to tu;n them
back, If possible, but the report proved
erroneous.
Business men are very much per-
picked over the blow that the strike
will deal to their holiday trade, par
ticularly today. Some of the bgge,
houses were yesterday trying to an
range for busses to run specially from
Dunmore, Providence, South Scranton
and West Scranton to their stores.
AthertOn's and Archbald's liveries in
Providence ran wagons from the cor
ners' to LackaWanna avenue during
the day and up to midnight
y committee of the Wilkes Barre
street car men came up yesterday to
find out what the Scranton men did
and proposed to do today. They said
that the Luzerne county men would
very likely go out on Thursday. Potts
vile men are also threatening strike.
NUMBER ON STRIKE.
On Thursday the company discharged
from it's service p. w. Breen, one of the
members of the grievance committee.
This furnished the pro-strike element
strong weapon and they welded it
with effectiveness.
The discussion on the company's an
swer continued from o'clock until
nearly 4.So, and shortly after this latter
hour the announcement was made that
the strike was ordered. The men left
the hall cheering and in many other
ways indicating enthusiasm.
The number of men on strike is 800.
The membership of the union is rs.
The company operates siXty-ive
miles of track in IL territory thirty
miles long, and ordinarily runs between
seVenty-fve and ninety cars 1t owns
all street car lines between Pittston
and Forest City. including that of the
Carbondale Railway company, which
was bought at receivers sale, March
l, 1900.
Only two cars, Nos. 1l0 and 1856, We're
run yesterday They We're taken out
of the Linden street barn at 1855 a. m.
and from that time until $50 p M,
when darkness set in, they made ir- |
regular trips on various of the Scran- |
ltnas p,.