Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-12
TROUBLE FROM START
Street Car Strike at Chicago
Inaugurated Today.
POLICE GUARD BARNS
SHOWER OF STONES SMASHES
CAR WINDOWS.
Surface Lines Practically Tied Up
Company and Employees Are
Obdurate.

deferred struggle between the union EN-
ployes of the Chicago City railway and the
company began and when the residents
Of the south and southwest sides of tie
city started for their places of business
they were without their usual transporta-
ton facilities.
Beginning at midnight the trainmen grad
ually took their cars to the seven barns OF
the company scattered throughout the sys-
TEN and left them there. In the shops,
barns and power houses the union workers
laid down their tools and quit, declaring
that they will remain idle until the company
consents to arbitrate the issue that brought
on the controversy.
Trouble at Outset.
Notwithstanding statements by officials of
the company that no attempt would be
made to run cars today except for postal
service, a few passenger cars were started
this morning early on various lines.
The result was trouble almost instanter,
the first instance reported being the intimi-
dation and flight of non-uniOn crew on
the Cottage Grove avenue line. The cars
were without passengers.
That disturbance might be expected to-
day was indicated by the wide distribution
of proclamation by Mayor Carter H. Har-
rison warning citizens to keep off the street
along lines of the city railway.
Details of Police at Car Barns.
With general orders to remain in reserve
and take no part in the strike unless or
dered. and then only to protect property,
details of police We're sent to the various
car barns. - ..--,
The first car started was a mail car, leav-
ing the barns at Both street and Cottage
Grove avenue. 1t was not harmed during
it's entire trip. In all, 205 policemen were
detailed to the different barns.
Following the trip of the mail car efforts
were made by the street car company to
move passenger cars with non-union crews.
Four trains were started on the Cottage
Grove avenue cable line bound toward the
business district At 10th street an obstruc-
ton upon the rails blocked the train. A
crowd of strikers had assembled and shouts
and Jeers greeted the train crews.
Shower of Stones Followed.
A shower of stones followed, and car win
dows were demolished. One man, a nom
union conductor, is said to have been in
jured in the first clash.
mall car, following the first passenger
train, was also derailed near the scene of
the blockade. Besides the police detailed
for service at the several barns. many
more were quickly made available to re-
spond to emergency calls. .''
A car on the Wentworth avenue line pro-
ceeded north with little difficulty until Van
Buren, street was reached. There it's prog
ress was blocked by trucks and delivery
wagons which gathered by the score, lock-
ed wheels and refused to move. Cars of
the Union Traction Company also helped
to make the blockade complete.
Pedestrians Hampered Police.
Thousands of pedestrians on their way to
work massed in the street adding to the
confusion and hampering the police in their
efforts to clear way for the stranded car
Another cable train was derailed at 47th
street, on the Cottage Grove avenue line,
by a crowd Of strike sympathizers A
horseshoe was wedged in the cable slot and
brought the train to a standStill
The grpman was injured by the shock
and was removed to a drug store. A physi-
clan called to attend him is said to have in
quired If he had union button. On re-
ceivng negative reply he said
Refused to Examine Gripman's In
juries.
Take him to the barns. They will at
tend to him there" and refused to examine
the gripmans injuries.
1t soon became apparent that deter
mined effort was being made by the COM
pany to break the strike at the inception.
The passenger cars on the Cottage Grove
and Wentworth avenue lines came along
quickly soon as the mail cars were safe
ly out of sight
No policemen rode in the cars. which were
almost invariably empty. Patrons appar-
emily preferred to walk or make long de-
tours to steam and elevated lines rather
than risk injury.
Women Placed on Cars
The first passenger car on the Went
worth avenue line carried two women
Strikers say that the women were put there
by the street car company to test the atti-
nd of he npiOO iowa
was the car which was promptly blockaded
by teamsters.
The strike was ordered at an early morn
ing mass meeting of conductors, motormen
and gripmen, which acted with only four
dissenting votes. The strike is to enforce
a demand for wage increase of % per cent
and recognition of the union About 5000
employees are involved, and 220 miles OF
surface trackage, part cable and part cleo
tric. c. -
Operation of Mail Cars.
Officials of the union, fearing interference
with the operati ton of the United. States mail
service would result in calling in of troops
from Fort Sheridan to protect the cars, in
structed motormen on mail cars 10 report
for duty as usual
Union men who reported at the various
barns to take out the mail cars were told
by the barn bosses it is said, that they must
take off their union buttons if they intended
to work. This number of the men refused
to do.
At the barn at 39th and State streets the
strikers distributed buttons to would be
passengers bearing a picture of "A street car
: and the legend: Stand for principle. /
| will walk
Refused Services of Union Crew.
The railway company refused the services
| Of a union crew for a mail car sent out on
| 63d street. The union crew reported for
/ work and were told by the barn boss that
| they were not needed.
The car was manned by non-union crew
| and the strikers said that the company
| had played one of its strongest cards for
| federal interference. The mail car that
| was stopped by the blockade in Cottage
| Grove avenue was manned by union men,
| The union men asserted that public SYM
| pathy was with them. and pointed to the
use of vehicles as evidence that their con-
| tention was true.
| Buses Pressed Into Service.
| Two omnibus companies had scores OF