Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-11-27


Expressed sympathy with the Strike,
But President Palma Interyened and
Insisted That the Violence Cease.
Havana, Cuba, Nov. 25.--As the re-
suit of the conflicts yesterday between
the police and the men on strike here
two strikers are dead and 80 persons
ARE wounded.
Five of the wounded, ono lieutenant
of police, whose throat was out by
striker, have extremely severe in
iuries. Eight other policemen were
wounded.
The police had the rioters we'll under
control at night, and every precaution
Is being taken to prevent further
outbreak of disorder, which is feared.
All the police and rural guards in the
suburbs have been summoned to con-
centrate in Havana.
The strike, which at first concerned
only the cigar workers, became general
yesterday morning by the calling out of
all trades in sympathy with them.
Merchants closed their stores. Clerks,
cooks and every class of workmen
obeyed the command of the union,
except the motormen and conductors
Of the electric cars. who refused to
JOIN In tne general BGriKo.
Trouble was begun early by the
| holding up of electric cars by the
strikers, whose wrath was directed
| against the street railway employees.
| Several cars we're stoned in the out
skirts of the city, and the passengers
we're compelled to walk into Havana,
among these being the British ano
| German ministers Several cars were
| wrecked and s-me motormen and con-
4 ductors were injured.
The car men continued running their
cars until 10 O'Clock, when Superin-
/ tendent Greenwood ordered a suspen-
sion of traffic. The employees wers
| willing to remain at work even then,
| but the officers Of the company in order
| to protect the property deemed it wise
to suspend the service. Mr.. Greenwood
| had asked for protection from the civil
| governor, but the authorities failed to
guard the public vehicles. A mob Of
strikers drove the men on the Western
railroad from the trains.
The mayor Of Havana and tho secre.
tary of government, Diego Tamayo, haG
during the last week openly expressed
sympathy with the strikers and given
orders to the police not to use force in
dispensing the crowds Under these
| GuHuibiDnH luo IOllbb WbIo W
cope with the disorder.
The situation approached a critical
point at noon, serious disorders having
taken place in front of the palace itself,
in which police officer named Maso
and q number of other policemen and
strikers received injuries. At this
juncture President Palma sent word to
the mayor that unless the city authori-
ties could preserve order and protect
the railway company the State would
Il intervene. The mayor then took drastic
measures. He issued an ediot pro.
hibiting crowds from gathering in tue
streets and authorizing the chief oi
police to kill, if such action should be
necessary. to preserve order.
A similar show of force early in tho
morning would undoubtedly have pre-.
vented the trouble, hut by noon the
! strikers had become emboldened and
. frequent clashes between them and the
police we're occurring in all parts Of
, the city. The police were obliged tt
, charge mob of rioters at the Slaughtel
i House, and several among the rioterf
, were injured.
The vigorous attitude of the police,
) though late, soon made itself felt, ant
J traffic on the car lines was resumed,
being continued from that time for ward
| with only occasional Interruptions
j Most of the injuries sustained by
! the wounded were caused by police
, mems clubs.
The Central Veterans Union, headed
by Gen. Gomez, held a meeting in the
3 afternoon and sent word to the labol
i unions that If the disorders continued
Q the veterans would offer their services
Q to President Palma to preserve order
. No bread or meat was on sale during
the day and continuance of the strike
n will cause much suffering to che poor.
Q Senior Tamayo has resigned the Office
T of secretary Of the government, but
8 President Palma will not accept unit
: the strike has been settled. The public
9 blames Tamayo for his previous activ,
i participation in the strike and say.
q that he and the mayor are responsible
: for the riots. At political meeting
l. last Wednesday, at which Seno
Tamayo was chairman, he indorset
n the action of the strikers.
, Cablegrams have stated that th,
9 Havana strike was originally directed
n against the Havana Commercial Co. 4
d factories and that the workmen of th,
Q remaining firms were called out b.
the union, making tho strike genera
o among the oigarmakers o week ago
a Thirty Thousand employees went out
$ demanding higher wages. Severa
% demonstrations were made by tn,
l. strikers last week and led to few
9 arrests, but the disturbances were no
b of a serious character at that time
In order to force aoquiescence in thei
@ demands the cigarmakers called for
!, general strike to begin Monday morn
i, ing. This led to tho riots. ED. Gaz. /
!.