The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-11-13
threatened Trouble Breaks in
Chicago, and Street Cars
Are Lying Idle
DEMAND INCREASE IN WAGES
Scab laborers Stoned and Jeer-
ed-Poliee Could Not Dis
perse Strikers

Chicago. Nov. 12.-At four o'clock
this morning the long expected strug-
gle between the union employees Of
the Chicago City Railway and the
company began, and when the resi-
dents of the south and southwest sides
of the city started for their places
of business they were without their
usual transportation facilities.
Beginning at midnight the trainmen
gradually took their cars to the seven
barns of the company and left them
there. q:
In the shops, barns. and power
houses 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.
The strike was ordered at q mass
meeting Of conductors, motormen and
gripmen with only four dissenting
votes.
The strike is to enforce demand
for wage increase of twenty-five per
cent and recognition of the union.
About 5000 employees are involved on
220 miles of surface trackage, part
cable and part electric.
Officials of the union, fearing il.
tereference with the operation OF the
United States mail service would re-
suit in calling of troops from Fort
Sheridan to protect the cars. instruct
for duty as usual.
Union men who reported at the var
ious 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 a number refused to do.
At the barn at Thirty-ninth and
State streets the strikers distributed
buttons to would-be passengers bear
ing a picture of street car and the
legend: I.l
Stand for Principal. l will walk"
That disturbance might be expected
today was indicated by the distribu-
ton of a proclamation by Mayor Har-
rison warning citizens to keep off the
streets along the lines of the city
railway. u
With general orders to remain in
reserve and take no part in the strike
unless ordered and then only to pro-
tect property, details of police were
sent to various car barns.
The first car started was a mail
car on Cottage Grove avenue. 1t was
not harmed during its entire trip.
Following the trip of the mail car
efforts were made by the street car
company to move passenger cars with
non-union crews on the Cottage Grove
avenue cable line and the wentworth
avenue line.
Almost invariably the cars were run
empty. They were blocked and de-
rallied by crowds which jerred and
stoned the non-union crews.
Several motormen and conductors
were injured. The worst disorder Of
the early hours was at Clark and Van
Buren streets, where two Wentworth
avenue trains followed by mail cars
were blockaded by trucks and delivery
.l R>I.I
On the rear train a man believed to
be Boss" Farrell, the strike breaker,
rode behind the motorman. flourish
ing a revolver.
A brick thrown struck the arm
holding the weapon, but did not dis
able it. The crowd yelled "Just like
st. Louis"
One by one the stalled cars broke
through the blockades and upon CIV
ing the assurance that they would
run the cars back to the barns, the
crews were allowed to proceed. Near
ly every car was returned with win
dows shattered and plentifully lit
tered ith missiles of every descrip-
ton. The police in many instances
rode upon the platforms of the cars
and frequently found it necessary to
iraw their clubs to drive the crowds
back.