The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-07-18

motormen and conductors OF Division
1o1 Amalgamated Association Of Street
hallway Employees of America sought
hearing with the officials Of the Vir-
gfnia Passenger & Power Company,
laying before the officers their propo-
s1tlon. They asked for q recognition
OF the union, for a 314 per cent increase
IN their salary. and for board Of arbt-
trat1on to settle disputes between en-
ploye and employer. Three weeks
later the general manager of the COM
pany, without replying to the Division,
published In the daily papers. a lengthy
reply to the mems requests and re-
fused positively to make any concess-
ions. National organizer Rein Orr, of
Detroit, Mich. was sent for by Division
l52, and time and again the gentleman
sought a Neutrality-suspicious. lHhw
soughteaehearin gewithethecompa ny
sought a hearing with the company
With the utmost contempt he was
treated. as was the executive committee
from the union: The company said,
Strike as soon as you wish; we will
run the cars without you.''
All Peaeable Means Exhausted.
After every means to prevent trouble
had been exhausted and nothing re-
manned but strike, President Wilbur
Grigss called a special midnight meet
Ing Of the Division. The men respond
ed to man. There was not an absen-
tee. The Executive Committee re-
ported Its failuhe to gain an audience
with the Company, and National Or
Orr made his report with q conserva-
tive speech told the men to stand firm
A vote was taken ~ to whether the
strike Nould he ordered i ma $50 were
M favor u going sout. Seven voted
In the negative Later these seven
came over with the majority, On the
morning OF the 18th only: one car
turned in Richmond, this being one
that had been left on the suburban
line. A crew went after it and brought
1t to the barn. The strike was on.
Strike breakers Hirsd.
Pited against the millions OF Frank
Jay Gould, and the obstinacy of his
general manager in Richmond, was the
solid army of street car men, and, bet
ter than all, the workinmen of the city.
Strtke-breakers have been brought
here and cars have been rum They
have not hauled as many passengers in
single day on all Of the cars, as one
car would have under normal condi-
tions carried in one trip to any Of the
parks.
Intense heat, drench1ng rain, and all
OF tina other obstacles have not forced
the public to ride. And never will thew
ride until the union men the reinstated
and the imported sarike- breakers sent
out OF the city tor good and always.
Division 162 holds two meetings each
day and all Of the strikers attend.
They talk to oneanother, have good
labor leaders address them, and are re-
cefving the support of the entire city
and State in their struggle against the
greed OF a tyranical corporation.
Within a week 1t is predicted the COM
pany will throw up the sponge and
take pack their old employees, and har~
'mony will reign supreme.
The MiIitia's Record.
The tramp OF the soldiers grew mon
otonous and they left this week for
tnelr respective homes. As result of
their presence here a widow sits in an
numbel home. burning the midnight
OIL watching beside her only son, q
small boy, who was seriously injured by
a bullet shot by one of the military
escort on the first car that went
through. Fulton-a. suburb. The boy
was commanded to halt after having
applied the epithet of "scab" to the
motorman manning the car. In an
other quarter of the city a young wo1h
an-mother and widow-mourns the loss
OF her husband. Luther Taylor was her
husband and ruthlessly he was shot
down by soldiers doing guard duty.
Perhaps bringing at the time he made
haunting remark about a "scab" and
then Whipped, his horse up. From be,
hind he was fired upon by a SQUAD oil
| soldiers, and one ball pierced his side
making a fatal wound.
There have been a few days Of dis
order but with the exception of the
two cases named nothing of a serious
nature has happened. The strikers
have behaved in most gentlenanly
manner and not a word other than
praise can be said OF them.
- :. ). Unions Sure 70 Win.
Every abor Organization in tn IL city
has contributed to the aid of the strlk-
ers. In some instances the, sums donated
being ia excess 81 s., ooo,s Secret; order,
have 4 passed resolutions, = :signhlizina
their sintentto & q. walking AZ long as the
union men are out and individuals have
forwarded to the union the arnbunt Of
their street car ill. nth 4 haI| mo
favor bleSE oondi Ions confrontin1 them
with the 81 u Ion of THU entire
lSoity ringing in sears ana 5dqtefnin:
lzation ooun:
15ss al
1 I