The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-13
Surface Street Railway Taflc is Again Tied Up by Se-
 rious Labor Troubles
NON-UNION MEN DRIVEN
 BACK ID THE CAR BARN
Many People Are Injured By Flying Stone and Spintered Glass, While 30o,oo0 Daily Passengers Re-
 sort to Many Expedients.

Chicago November 12 Constant scenes of disorder over district approximately fifty square miles in extent, resulted to- day in the inauguration of a strike by the 5000 employees of one of the two prlnci- pal surface street railways companies in Chicago. All along the lines wherever cars were started strike sympathizers made desperate onslaughts on the crews, beginning at dawn today and continuing as long as cars remained on the tracks.
 The tie up was made complete.
 A number of cars were wrecked, and that no person was killed is no fault os the rioters. One man had his back broken. The first shot of the strike was fired at Wentworth avenue and West Sixty-ninth street, where a mob of several hundred persons tried to hold up train.
 Many persons chiefly non-union street car men, were injured by flying stones or splintered glass; Two women were among those hurt.
 Excepting few dozen passengers who had to flee from the cars. the 5c0OOO daily patrons of the company were forced to all sorts of methods in order to get down town and back
 Employers Demand Protection.
 With faces and hands bleeding from the attacks of the strikers, motormen, gripmen and conductors who tried to run trans, returned to the barns and refused to go out again unless the trains bore platoons of police, or patrol wagons were alongside.
 The police confined their efforts to sec irC hot barns was unobstructed and that crowds and blockades in the streets were quick ly cleared. This was done under orders from Mayor Harrison, whose announced purpose was to preserve an impartial at titude, taking sides neither for nor against the strikers the street ear company.
 Possibilities of federal intervention un- der certain contingencies are discussed.
 The situation is this aspect was out lined today by Postmaster Coyne. He said:
 Postmaster Talks.
 Thus far there is no cause for alarm as to the mail service. It is true trains have been delayed, but that is not seri- ous enough to report to Washington. The street ear company owns the mall cars and by contract is obliged to run them in separate trains and deliver mail at specified points. There is no ground Tor objection against the company send ing out mail trains between passenger trains. What else can the company do? If serious delay occurs we will report the fact to Washington, and act on in- structions of the postal department" Before nightfall President D. G. Ham, ilton and General Counsel Briss of the raj af operate cars, announced after a confer ence with Mayor Harrison that the at- tempt would be abandoned for the day The railway officials declare that 30 per cent of their employees are loyal, and that if accorded sufficient protection by the police department they would be able to man and operate their cars. A further effort to run cars each car ac- companied by squad of police in a pa tro wagon, will, it Is expected. be made tomorrow morning.
 Result of Tie Up.
 As d result of the te-up of the surface lines, the elevated and steam roads traversing the strike-Dou districts were taxed to their utmost capacity. Bus lines, hacks and express wagons with improvised seats did a thriving , business in transporting people to and from their places of business.
 The strike is the outgrowth of persist ent efforts to secure increased wages and exclusion of non-union employees. The number of men at any time running cars was only small fraction of the number usually at work.
 The companys stationary firemen, who have also presented demands on the com pany for Increased wages, and to whom the trainmen look for assistance, declined to go out, expressing their belief, after a conference with General Manager Me- CtJ dch of the railway company. that he hat Nnot refused arbitration. The fire mems committee offered it's service to the company as mediator Whether or not the offer will be accepted had not been decided late this evening.