The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-25
NEWARK TROLLEYMEN QUIT
BIGGEST STRIKE IN CITY IN
TWENTY YEARS.

Action OF the Men UDloo<ed For-Began
10 Run Their cars Into the Barns at
$40 D. m.-Thousands OF Working
People Caught and Compelled TO Walk
10 Their Homes-strIke Not sanc-
tionsd by NatiouaI Omeers-The
Demands.
Newark, N. j., Sept. 24.-The biggest
strike Newark has had in almost twen-
ty years began tonight and has extend
cd until at midnight not trolley wheel
was turning except under such cars as
were run out by inspectors and under
a heavy police guard. It is stated that
the strike by tomorrow will have ex-
tended to all the power houses, includ-
ing those that supply the lighting cir
cults. The gas house employees are also
said to be ready to go out and COM
plete the tie-up The Newark trolley
men declare the strike will be general
all through Essex, Hudson. Passaic and
Union counties before noon tomorrow.
The men have demanded % cents an
hour, the abolition of the split runs"
system and recognition of the union.
President McCarter of the Public Ser
vice corporation, which controls most
of the trolley lines had practically
promised that the company would ac-
cede to the mems demands, but 1t is un-
derstood tonight that there has been
objection to this on the part of some Of
the directors. Up to a late hour to-
night President McCarter had not def
nitely informed the employees as to
what the real attitude of the corpora
tion is.
Coming as it did just before s o'clock
az the busiest traffic hour of the day
the strike caught thousands of working
people and shoppers unprepared. Many
of them were compelled to walk miles
to their homes in the suburbs. The
strike was rapidly progressive. In ae-
cordance with general understanding
the trolley cars began to run into the
barns at $50. Here the naotormen
abandoned them and the conductors
turned in their reports and walked
away.
AS fast as the men deserted their cars
they walked to Lyric hall, where they
went into secret session. The strike
was unlocked for because the national
officers of the Trolley Garments associa-
tion have not authorized the strike and
President Mahon is not even here. He
is thought to be In Chicago. kilograms
have been sent to him urging him to
come here as quickly as possible as the
situation lis growing serious.
Newark's trolley system spreads out
like a fan. Scores of well populated
sections such as the Oranges, Harrison
and Arlington, to say nothing of Eliza
beth, Paterson and Jersey City are all
connected with Newark by lines that
come together at Broad and Market
streets. This junction was crowded in
the early evening with surging masses
Of people, all struggling to board. a
single car that every five or ten minutes
made Its way over the line. Thousands
of workers, many Of them girls and the
majority living miles from Newark,
were left without means of conveyance
to their homes and with little or no
money in their possession.
Later the Lackawanna railroad Off
cials began putting on extra trains and
aided materially in relieving the con-
gestion. The chief Of police has order
ed out all the reserves and has detailed
guards for the various barns as well as
stationed strong forces at what are con-
sfdered the danger points along the line.
AS yet there has been no sign of vio-
Ience.