The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-11
GAR STRIKE BEGUN.
Onion Men Slow in Giving
up Their Cars.
ABOUT TWENTY WENT OUT.
Police Called on to Pro-
tect Railway
Property.
ENTIRE FORCE ON DUTY.
Threats of Wire Getting and
Tearing Up Track.
Strikers Deny Violence
-
Two Arrested for Intimidat-
ing Non-union Men.
Threats of Wire Getting and
Tearing Up Track.
Strikers Deny Violence
Two Arrested for Intimidat-
ing Non-union Men.
Statements of the Union and of the
Company officials.

The strike of the street car motor
men and conductors began yesterday
afternoon. About twenty men went
out They were reinforced by perhaps
half that number of men who were
recently discharged by the company.
1t is because of these discharges. it is
claimed, that the strike was ordered.
There was no violence, and the cars
were run into the sheds on Gwinnett
and OFT streets at o'clock this morn
ing without trouble. There was no
outbreak during the night. and the
police were not called upon to quell
any disturbances. Most of them were
kept in quarters all night, although
some few were permitted to return to
their homes.
The men who stood by the company
remained at the sheds on Gwinnett
street during the night. Car covers
were used as beds. The conductors
and motormen will be housed there
nightly until the trouble is over. A
guard is kept on the outside, and even
if the strikers made an effort they
could not reach the men. Not all of
those who worked yesterday afternoon
and last night remained at the sheds,
and those who went home may not
show up this morning.
The police will be ready for any
trouble that may occur when the cars
are taken from the sheds this morn
ing, and Superintendent Reilly is pre-
pared for any emergency. The entire
force will be kept at headquarters dur
ing the day. The street railway of
ficials believe that the worst is over,
although the strikers say that they
will be able to tie up the entire sys-
tenn to-day.
The officers of the company say that
the strike was decided upon at a meet
ing of the union held Friday night at
which there were but eighteen members
present. OF this number fifteen were
not employees of the company, having
been discharged from its service.
The officers of the company say that
the vote stood thirteen for the strike
and five against 1t. 1t was a secret bal
lot, and while they cannot say which
of the men voted for and which against
the strike, they conclude that all of
those in the service of the company
stood by it.
THE strike" said one of the officers.
has been inaugurated by men not in
the service of the company, who have
been discharged for good cause, who
have everything to gain and nothing to
lose. They are trying to force out of
the company's service men who are
otherwise satisfied with their employ
ment. They will not be successful"
Reported to Acting Mayor.
Second Vice President Henry Par
sons of the railway company and Cen
eral Manager Lucian H. McIntire
called on Acting Mayor Dixon at the
City Exchange at o'clock. A few min
utes later Superintendent of Police
Owen Reilly was sent for and a
lengthy conference was held. The rail-
way officials had been advised that the
men would strike at 4 o'clock and had
prepared for the emergency. 1t was
not about this mater that they asked
the city to take hand in the affair.
Acting Mayor Dixon was informed
by the officers of the company that the
union men had made elaborate plans
of violence and it was upon this show
ing that he agreed to place the entire
police force under arms. Not only, he
was told, were the union men to leave
their cars on the streets, but they were
to prevent others from taking them by
resorting to violence. Messrs. Parsons
and McIntire said that the trolley wires
were to be cut, the cars rocked the
power house burned out, and, II nee
essary, dynamite was to be used In
addition, too, according to the plan dis
closed to the railway officials. General
Manager McIntire was TO be assassi-
mated. These statements were startling
enough.
The Acting Mayor said that the city
had nothing to DO with the differences
between the men and the company,
but that the police force would be used
to uphold the law, and that no violence
would be tolerated Mr.. Dixon said
that the police would be used to pre-
serve order. and that the property of
the company would, of course, be pro-
tected by the officers. They would not
be used to coerce the strikers, but
would certainly be used to hold them
in restraint if circumstances should
make 1t necessary.
The street railway officials seemed
satisfied and left the Mayors office
Supt. Reilly left few minutes later
for police headquarters. and ordered
all Of the reserve men in. Those who
came off duty at o'clock were per-
mitted to go home TO dinner and those
men on the night relief were ordered
in quarters at o'clock. This brought
the entire relief on duty and Supt
Reilly began to make preparations foi
any emergency.
Prepared for Trouble.
A Both patrol wagons were ready Il