The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-08
TIED Up.
Nearly All Cars of st. Louis
Transit Lines Stopped.
Thirty-three Hundred of the
Employees Quit Work.
TROUBLE SOON STARTS
Strikers Throw Stones and Hurt
Several Persons.
Drag Nom Union Men From the
Few Cars Running.
Every Street Car Line in the
City Affected.
TROUBLE SOON STARTS
Strikers Throw Stones and Hurt
Several Persons.
Every Street Car Line in the
City Affected.

St. Louis, May S.-One of the greatest |
strikes in the history of st. Louis was
inaugurated today, when, in pursuance
of action taken at mass meeting at
1:30 a. m, 1925 employees of the st. Louis
Transit company went on a strike to
compel the acceptance of their demands
formulated several days ago Practical
ly every car line in st. Louis is tied up.
The Suburban line, the only one in the
city not part of the extensive st. Louis
Transit company's system, ran cars for
several hours this morning, but later
was compelled to shut down, as their
men were pulled off the cars by strikers
at De HOdiamont and in the down town
section of the city.
Employed on their cars and in the
sheds, the St Louis Transit company
had $500 men, most of whom belonged
to the Amalgamated Association of
Street Car Employees. All but 275 of
these, it is estimated are out. With the
help of some of the latter a number of
cars We're run out on the Park avenue
division of the LindeT line, which runs
past the union station. This led to fire.
quent riots at different points on the
line where strikers attempted, and in
some cases succeeded, in stopping the
cars.
one car on each of the lines converg-
ing on Washington avenue was run out.
Four cars got out down town as far as
/ Sixth street but only one went around
! the Loop. All were attacked by a mob
| of men and boys on Washington at
Fourth and Fifth streets who threw
sticks and stones. Several windows
were broken and the motormen and con-
| ductors were injured by flying missiles.
| A riot call was turned in at 8 o'clock
at the corner of Broadway and Wash
| ington and a wagon load of police turn
| ed out to keep order, but their efforts
were in vain.
At this point a motorman was hit over
/ the head with a club, which cut a cash
in his scalp. A brickbat struck him in
| the mouth lacerating his lip and his
nose was mashed by a stone. The
| motorman left his car and ran into sa
! loon for protection.
| Almost at the same time good look
ing, well dressed young woman. about
20 years of age, who was riding in the
car was struck in the head by sharp
| stone that crashed through the window
| and badly wounded her. Later the
| motorman returned and amid shower
| of stones and mud succeeded in getting
his car away from the crowd.
|
| to take out car on the Olive street
| line The train was run out of the sheds
| at Olive and Leonard avenue and 1t got
| as far as Compton avenue. Then a
| crowd of trainmen took the train to
pieces. After taking the gripman and
conductor off, they ran the cars back
to the sheds.
OF the employees on this road, so are
reported to be standing by the COM
pany, and 1O3 are reported on strike.
Shortly before 9 o'clock the strikers
gathered in force at the De Hodiamont
station of the Suburban and as fast as
cars were started the strikers boarded
them and pulled the motormen and con-
ductors off. AS a result, the cars wer e
stopped.
BY 10 o'clock traffic on the Suburban
line down town had been virtually sLs-
pended. The motorman and conductor
on more than one car had deserted their
posts at the opportunities of the strik-
ers after reaching Sixth and Locust
streets and several other cars had been
| turned back by the Suburban officials
from Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh for fear
if they were allowed to come down town
they could not be sent back. Several ar
rests of rioters We're made on this line.
. | The strike is reported to have serious
ly interfered with the collection and de-
livery of the mails. Six United States
postal cars were tied up today. Each
makes seven trips daily and covers a
total of 100 miles. They bring the mails
from all sections of the city. Forty sub
stations receive the delivery.
Postmaster BaumhOff said:
4 see no need for acting hastily in the
premises, but the malls will be deliver
ed on time, or some one will hear from
us"
..vVin you take the question up with
the United States district attorney Mr.
Baumhoff was asked.
THAT 1 am not prepared to state al
this time
Samuel Lee, chairman of the national
executive board of the analgamated as
sociation of street car employees o1
America, who is in charge Of the pres
ent strike, said today:
: "The company has precipitated the
present crisis. It has refused to trea1
with US. We have taken the only re
| course We are ready at any time t
receive advances looking toward al
equitable settlement.
There are 80 per cent Of the men il
the union and that per centage of tn,
operating force is out. The other 5 PEE
cent are operating a few cars, but they
e will soon join US.
LAS to what the union will do if new
: men are put on is a matter that will b.
d met when it comes
d Both the day and night forces of po
e lice are on duty today. Squads hav
e been posted along the street car line
e wherever trouble is feared
: CONDUCTOR SHOOTS A BOY.
St. Louis, May S.-John Kohring, 1
year old boy, was shot by Conducto
George Mcclellan of car No. II of til
s Park avenue transit system at the cor
I ner of Thirteenth and Washington av
3 enue about 1920 o'clock
f11p wa a On "a