The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-28
ECHOES OF The STRIKE


OK ten uniformed policemen were standing,
stamping their feet Over their heads was
sing reading Federation Hail." and
beneath it stood perhaps dozen men in
sheepskin and fur overcoats talking to-
gether in little groups. Up and down the
stairway which led up from the street
men passed singly and in couples. There
was nothing even to suggest to the casual
observer that two floors up more than
1.5e0 striking street ear men were packed
into little han trying to decide whether
1t should be peace or war on the lines of
the City Railway company.
An the way up the stairs leading to the
hal knots of mon were gathered. They
We're discussing the probable decision on
the peace proposition agreed to by the
leaders of the strike and the managers
OF the company.
- board Of arbitration"
Yes, and what did ye git out av it tn
last time?"
Doodle! That's what has been used.
and plenty av it,
He? He's not fit to be called a man
al ALL
You don't ask for-no increase in the
wages and you agree to arbitrate how
riuch less the company shall pay YOU
There's a hundred thousand a week
waiting for us. If we only stick
The recalcitrants, tired OF listening to
pacific arguments inside the hall. were
talking TO stray members as they caught
them in the halls.
One of the policemen who has been sta
toned on that corner since the strike
started stuck his head inside the stairway
and called up, ''How's she goin', byes?"
They'll accept the offer, d-n EN-
nswered fat man with a closely clip
ped black mustache.
Thank hivin. Thin I'll git back to tn
visit side agin," said the policeman fer
vently
Through the guarded doors Of the hall
came roar Of cheers. A minute later a
storm of Kisses broke out Then the doors
flew open and twenty men struggled out
into the narrow hall.
It's all over" one Of them said I'VE
go back to work today"
Then he pulled out bag of tobacco and
proceeded to load mis- pipe.
NO, the cable men don't stand no
chance of a cut in wages" said one of the /
sheepshin clad giants. barrow says that /
they won't arbitrate at all if there's any 1
chance Of a decrease. He says that's un- /
derstood. Gimme a match"
NO turkey for mine tomorrow. a /
chivken'n be plenty good enough and glad
to get it. What are they hollerin' about
now?"
Somebody's teilin en- how smart they
are THROWN hot air about how they
won the fight an tn company got tn
worst of it. Uh-uh, Not for me-"
1t was just before noon when the vote
was taken accepting the compromise
agreed to by the managers of the strike
and Of the company. That acceptance left
considerable minority Of the strikers in
a bitter frame or mind. As a rule they
forced their way out of the packed hall
and went straight on home as soon as the
wecisive vote was taken. They felt that
they had been betrayed and they said so
In profanely emphatic sentences.
But the majority came downstairs from
the meeting slowly and in a plainly happy
mood They were glad at the prospect of
going back to work Almost TO a man they 7
stopped to load their pipes and get light
Then they went on TO carry the news to
their wives and families.
Thirty of the late strikers massed them
selves across the street from the Fedora
zion ball and waited la an imposing line
FOR the coming of the first cable train
from the south. When it appeared they
climbed in a body on to the grip ear.
much to the temporary alarm of the non
union gripman and the policemen on the
guard. But they were all in good humor
When the non-Union conductor came TO =
collect fares each of them pulled back his
coat and showed the badge which identi-
fed him as an employe of the company
The conductor hesitated for a moment.
Then he grinncd.
How do you like the job?" asked one
Of the strikers.
Pretty good" said the non-union man.
''Any of you fellers want transfer
It wa safter l o'clock Wednesday morn
Ing. The meeting at Federation han haad
adjourned and most OF the men had gone
home. All the neighboring saloons were
locked up.
a block north, on the other side of
Thirty-niuth street. the union pickets
have their headquarters. and at the foot
~ tlt iStiAlilss UP 10 the room some
thirty men were gathered. In the room
above Organizer Pratt and some Of the
other officials We're trying to set into
with the downtown nego- F.
tiRtors.
In the crowd about the doorway were
couple Of young men who evidently had
more zeal than sense. Also in the group ,
was tall ana plainly intoxicated man
whose identity was uncertain Presently
one of the youthful jealous started the ,
rumor that the tail man was a spy lie ,
was accused Of it and, frightened half to
heath at the charge. he started TO run
north up State street at the top of his t,
speed.
The whole group about the stairway ran r
after him. yelling threats. The tan man
turned owed into Thirty-eighth street and }
presently disappeared into the alley. run A.,
ning south under the Alley Il" tracks
Head him off at Thirty-ninth street ,
station, yelled somebody IN the crowd.
and the pursuers changed their course
They turned and ran back down State .
street ia compact formation Just as they ,
turned the corner into Thirty-ninth street ,
at least dozen Of them pulled from their !
hip pockets long blue steel revoivers. The :,
sight was sufficiently formidable TO scare y
The corner druggist and three customers :
back into the store at a hurried run.
The armed mob stopped at the Alley :
81" station and waited for the suspected
'py. but he did not appear Most OF them r
smmed their guns back into their peck n
ITS
Presently the tall man slipped quietly g