The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-14

They Reject the Decision of the
Chamber of Commerce committee
The Situation 1t Norfolk Serious.
Especial to Baltimore Sun,

Norfolk. Va. March 9--The strike
situation in Norfolk. according TO con-
sentative opinion. has reached its
gravest stage.
The street railway employees abso-
iutely refuse to comply with the terms
OF settlement set for them BIZ the ar
~bitration committee. by which the rail-
way officials have announced their in
tention to abide. The strikers declare
that the decision is onesided and that
in agreeing TO return TO work with non
union men they would forfeit their
charter in the international uniono.
This they positively refuse TO do. The
committees report sets forth that the
bond required by the railway company
is iustiiable and reasonable and will
work no hardship upon the men. The
company is asked TO reinstate les Of its
former employees, who are TO give the
required bond, ard also to retain under
like conditions Is per cent. OF the men
brought here to take the strikers
places.
The strikers met tonight n after a
closed meeting lasting several hours
formally decided not to go back to
work under the conditions prescribed
in the decision of the committee. Hugh
Gordon Miller and d. J. Coleman, Jr.,
! their counsel, told them hat they were
bound by their letter to the chamber
of m accepting the arbitration
mmitt to abide by that body's de-
cision. The strikers refused to accept
this advice, and counsel il, is said,
withdrew from the case.
The company is determined to run its
cars regardless Of the strikers and will
not further treat with them as an or
ganized body.
The action of the strikers is nothing
more h was expected. The decision
is regarded here as almost entirely in
of the railway company.
The Typogra phical Union met and
adopted resolutions prohibiting mem
hers from ~patronizing the cars.
The city was quiet today. The cars
Of the Norfolk Railway and Light
Company. guarded by militiamen, were
operated until about 8 p. M, when they
were all withdrawn. Crowds of peo-
pie were on the streets ~traversed by
the cars. and the %non-union men were
ieered and booted. but no serious dis
order prevailed. except in one instance.
when James Kelly. a plumber. was
badly hurt. Kelly boarded a car on
Church street and refused to pay his
fare. 1t was also alleged that he
abused the conductor. who asked him
to desist. Kelly. it is charged. ignored
liz SQuCS dIlu Tx ~
upon Private West, Of Company F.
from Suffolk, to put the man off the
car. Kelly resisted the soldier and a
fierce fight ensued. The soldier used
the butt of his gun, striking Kelly on
the head, the blow being Of such force
as to break the stock of the piece and
inflict serious injury upon Kelly, who
was sent to a hospital for treatment.
In 4 clash between a mob and four
companies of militia last night five
soldiers were badly injured. The
militia charged the mob with fixed
bayonets and a number OF persons
were hurt.
(By Associated Press.)
Norfolk. Va. March 10.-The strike
situation remains unchanged. Cars are
running manned by non-union men and
guarded by soldiers. The strikers claim
that they submitted their case to the
arbitration committee with the under
standing hat the decision would be ac-
copied provided there was nothing in 1t
contrary to their oath to the union
7 The members of the committee deny
that there was any such understanding
and claim that the matter was turned
over to them for settlement with abso-
lutely no reservation. Public sentiment
seems to be deserving the strikers
The Central Labor Union of Norfolk
tonight stood by the strikers in their
determination to stay out so long as
the condition requiring them to go
back to work with non-union men was
in force, Notwithstanding the decision
Of the board of arbitration named by
the chamber Of commerce.
The Portsmouth Central Labor
raise the boycott against the railway
company. but much excitement was
caused in the meeting by some mem
bers leaving the hall because electric
lights, furnished by the railway COM
pany which has been placed on the IN
fair list were used.
The Portsmouth Central Labor
Union tonight adopted resolutions de-
claring a boycott against the Norfolk
Railway and Light Company and
severely censuring and denouncing
Governor A. 7. Montague for calling |
out the militia.
Nearly every organized labor union
Of Norfolk has placed a fine ranging
from SO to $50 for any patronage of
the company. or for doing anq work
for it.
but little materialized. The placing OF
railway torpedoes on the car tracks,
smashing windows OF cars and a gen
eral obstruction Of the tracks being the
principal feature.
A report reached military ~headquar- |
tiers tina cars were being fired upon |
near the city limits and two companies
of militia were rushed to the scene. a
young man with some buckshot and a
bean shooter was the Of the
trouble.
At 1880 o'clock the Central Labor
Union is still in session and reports
from the inside prophecy an all night
session. No inkling Of what is going
on can be heard.