Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-12
CITY RAILWAY
STRIKE BEGUN
Practically Complete Tie-Up Of
the Cable System In Chi
cago Today
EFFORTS TO BREAK THE STRIKE
Mail Cars Are UnmoI.sted and Com
pany Takes Advantage of Thsm TO
Run Passenger cars-striks Prom.
ises to be One of the Bitterest in His
tory Of Chicago.

Chicago, Nov. 12-At 4 o'clock thfs
morning all union employees of the Chi
cago City Railway quit work and say
they will remain idle until the conn
pany consents to arbitrate the issue
that brought on the strike. few cars
without passengers started out early
today, manned with non-union crews.
but they had not proceeded far before
they were attacked by crowds and
blockaded by trucks and delivery wag-
ons, the trainmen maltreated and car
windows broken by stones. Cars carry-
ing mail were not molested. Mayor
Harrison has issued a proclamation
warning citizens to keep OF the streets
along the line OF the city railway and
all police reserves are held In readiness
for emergencies, with general orders
to remain In reserve and take no part
IN the strike, unless ordered, and then
only to protect property. Over 200 po-
lice were sent to the various car barns
today. At Forty seventh street a cable
SeAA w Go oSAe'A ny a uOE0S0uOG O6lnK
wedged In slot. The gripman was
Injured by the shock and removed to q;
drug store. The physician caf1ed to at
tend him is said to have inquired II he
had union button and on receiving a
negative reply, he said: Take him to
the barns, they will attend to him
there" and refused to examine the
grfpman's injuries.
1t soon became apparent that deter
mined efforts were being made by the
company to break the strike at its In
ception. Passenger cars quickly fol.
lowed those carrying the mail. but
were almost Invariably empty. Patrons
apparently preferred to walk, to. make
long detours to steam and elevated
lines rather than risk injury, The first
car on the Wentworth avenue line car
rted q few women. The strikers say
pany to test the attitude Of the union
towards passengers. The cars were
promptly blockaded by the teamsters at
Van Buren, street.
The strike was ordered at an early
morning mass meeting with only four
dissenting votes and IL to enforce 4
demand for 25 per cent increase and
recognition of the union. Three thou
sand employees are involved. and 220
miles OF surface trackage.
Union officials, fearing interference
with operation of mail service would
result In calling troops from Fort
Sheridan to protect the cars. instruct-
ed the motermen on the mail cars to
report for duty as usual. It Is said
when they reported at the barns the
bosses insisted they must take of
their union buttons, IL they intended
hicles OF all kinds were pressed into
service and were we'll patronized.
Steam and elevated systems were bad
ly congested. The first train on Cot
tage Grove avenue line succeeded in
making the round trip, but It is said this
crew deserted when the barns vert
reached The worst disorder Of thu
early hours was at Clark and Van Bu-
ren streets, where two Wentworth ave-
nue. cars, followed by mail cars. were
blockaded. On the rear of the passen-
ger car, a man. believed to be Boss"
Farrell, the strike breaker, rode beside
the motorman. flourishing revolver.
Bricks thrown from a crowd struck the
arm holding the revolver but did not
disable 1t.
One by one the stalled cars broke
thru the blockades and upon giving as
surance they would run the cars back
to the barns the crews were allowed to
proceed. Nearly every car returned
with windows shattered and plentifully
Uttered with missiles of every descrip-
ton. The police in many instances
rode upon the platforms OF the cars
and frequently found 1t necessary to
draw their clubs and drive the crowds
back. D. G. Hamilton, president Of the
City Railway. called at the mayors of
fee during the day with the request
that police officers escort the cars. Tho
mayor gave assurance that the police
would protect lives and property, but
referred to Chief OF Police o'Neill the
thet police ride on the cars. It
is understood arrangements were made
for escorts to the patrol wagons. The
firemen employed by the company in
the various power houses decided to-
day to remain at work. They declared
convinced that Mccullough
had not rejected arbitration. They ex-
pected to secure advantageous terms