The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-16
MESSENGER BOYS
OF WESTERN UNION
GO OUT ON STRIKE
Twelve of the Fifteen Employed
on Night-Shift Quit and Make
1T Warm for the Three Who
Continue at Work.

l. A dozen of the fifteen messenger
! boys employed on the night shift at the
| Western Union telegraph Office went
on strike last night night because the
company refused to reinstate two of
their number who had been discharged.
The three boys who remained at work
were attacked by the strikers several
times when sent out with messages,
one of them being so badly beaten that
the police were called upon to restrain
| the youthful strikers.
T. The. trouble commenced early in the
| evening, when Nos. 2 and 3S were dis
charged. A meeting was held in the
lsalley outside the office. and after a
number of speeches" had been made
| by the indignant youngsters. it was de-
cided to strike. s.1st ~
Are YOU goin' to stick wild us?" ask
! ed Thirty -eight.
+ .Sure, we'll stick, and any kid what
don't II get smashed replied Forty
| two. rol7l ~
I Having arrived at this decision. the
boys went into the office and declared
| themselves opsa strike. Thirty, FlTty-
three and Forty nine declined to join
the ranks of the strikers. whereupon
| they were called)"seabs' and informed
| that they would better not try to dellV-
| er any messages.
Ten minuets later, when Fifty-three
was sent out with a message, he was
| followed, and at Fifth and Wabasna d
| number of the strikers attacked MIN:
| He was pulled from his Wheel ana
| pounded until he finally consented to
stick by de gang" Later, however, ne
returned to work.
! Another fight. occurred when the
strikers cameo across Thirty down at
| Fourth and Minnesota streets. he mad
| just left the office with message
| 'Say, kid, ain't yer gofn to be game
| and join us?' asked one of the strikers.
Nav, I'm not; it's not my fault #
Two and Thirty-eight got atsean tied
! to EN- I'm goin' to. work, replied
| Thirty. = Fecrrnfi9sfs. @o7
+ Seeing that Thirty could not be won
by argument, the strikers employed
| more persuasive methods. and when
they finished with him. he went back to
! the office with a bleeding nose and
/ tears: chasing one another down his
| cheeks. - - 19.a.,'
29Dere Amt any one. of you kids what
could do that said Thirty, as ne came
J. within gsafe. distance of the office.
| '.Wait till l. get one of youse alone.',y6f
L
with the strikers. He was stopped by
half a. dozen of them on Robert street
and treated ina manner similar to that
experienced by. Fifty three and Thirty.
He went back to- the office without de-
/ livering his MESA ge.ese = @sze
/ The strikers were finally dispersed
4 by the police. At the Western Union
Office it was stated that there had been
7 no strike but that the boys had been
discharged This was Indignantly de-
MED blythe boys. who declare they will
| get the, day messengers toejoin them
| this morning The boys contend that
they have had a grievance for some
! time and that the strike was not al
I together on account of two Of their
number, being discharged.
eff one of de kids fergits his wheel
I or amt got none, dey makes him hike
all over de town and won't give him
car fare" explained one of the strikers.
+ Dat amt right. you know"