The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-07
STRIKE is
INAUGURATED IN
HOLLAND
ALI Labor Connected With
Transportation by Landand
Water Idle as a Protest
Against the Pending Anti
Strike Legislation.

AMSTERDAM, April 6.-At mid
night, meeting of the workmen's COM
mittee proclaimed a general strike
throughout Holland of all labor en-
gagged in transportation both by land
and water. All the railroad lines, sta
lions and WharveS are guarded by
troops A workman was wounded by
revolver shot fired by a soldier to-
day. The man, who was walking on
the railroad, was not aware that the
strike had been proclaimed and failed
to reply to the soldiers challenge.
The president of the worlzmen's COM
mittee Of defense said the strike proc
lamation involved the entire railroad
system and other land transport of
Holland and the water transport of the
important ports, Amsterdam, Rotter-
dam, Dordrecht and Zaandam. The
strike, he added, was a protest against
the anti strike laws as we'll as to sup
port the demand of the railroad men
for an increase of wages before the
passage Of laws made an Improvement
in their position impossible. The pres
ident also said the strike would spread
to other branches of labor.
Stop in Sympathy.
The staffs of the shipping companies
trading with London and Hull have
stopped work in sympathy with the
strikers. Only one train left Amster-
dam this morning and 1t was protected
by troops. All business here is at
standstill on the wharves and the mail
boats which arrived today could not
be unloaded
Nine hundred out Of 1900 employees
in the workshops of the railroads here
have struck work. Arrangements are
being made to transport the mails by
motor cars. The diamond cutters have
decided to strike in sympathy with the
railroad men. The Netherlands rail-
road posted a notice urging its en-
ployeS to resume work and adding that
II they did not resume their occupa-
lions within tWenty-four hours all the
workmen would be discharged. The
railroad company, which succeeded in
getting off a few trains, decided not to
attempt to run after nightfalI. Cen
darmes charged a crowd of strikers dur
ing the day. One of the latter was
wounded with a saber.
Few trains arrived or left this city
during the evening and all stations
were closed at 1890 and will remain
under military guards during the night.
Several street scuff1es took place be-
tween the police and mobs of roughs,
several Of whom were injured by Saber
cuts. All was quiet after IL o'clock.
At The Hague.
THE HAGUE, April ga general
strike of the railroad men was pro-
claimed here this morning. The rail-
road stations are guarded by troops
and police. The government is en-
deavoring to maintain the foreign mail
service by troop protected trains.
The service on the Netherlands rail-
road is restricted. The strikers re-
moved parts of the machinery of the
locomotives here and cut off the supply
of water from the railroad tanks. The
government is comforting with the
committee of defense concerning the
demands Of the strikers. If the govern
ment decides to reject their demands.
the men intend to extend the strike to
the foreign railways and labor organi-
cations with which their union is con-
nected.
Dock laborers Join.
ROTTERDAM, April 6.-The dock
laborers, wagon drivers and all others
engaged in Industries connected with
the port have joined in the general
strike. A formal declaration was is
sued by the strike leaders here that the
strike was not connected with the
question of wages, but was solely
against the proposed anti-strike laws,
whose withdrawal is demanded. The
railroad station here is guarded by
marines and a sufficient number of en-
ployes have remained at work to enable
the running of a few trains today be-
tween Rotterdam and Amsterdam
Steamers in the regular services left
this port as usual today. but the work
of loading other vessels is at a stand
Stlll One thousand troops from the
southern garrisons have been assigned
to duty at Rotterdam, but owing to
the interruption of the train service it
is not known when they will arrive