The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-29
YOUNGSTERS ON
A REAL STRIKE
WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH
MESSENGERS WALK OUT.
Girls Garry kilograms and the Boys
Shout "Scab'' After Them One Lad
Taken In by the Police, but Is Dis
missed-Manager Serves an Ulti-
1natum.

Fifty "kids," the day force Of the
Western Union Telegraph company s.
messenger service, walked out at 1880
am. today. That is, they walked out
as tar as the sidewalk, where they STOOD
first development was goodly number
of "cops, who took their station
around the doors.
The boys had the satisfaction Of see
ing the office force get down to work
By a perversity Of fortune, there
seemed to be an unusual number Of mes
sages and the telephones were not al
lowed to rest minute. It was thought
that some Of the messages for nearby
business offices could be delivered by
the employees.
First blood was split when the office
boy started with telegram for the
Lumber Exchange. There was cry
of "scab,' the crowd surged, and some
one grabbed for the message and tapped
the messenger on the nose. A big po-
iceman Jumped into the throng and
culprit and started with him to the
Central police station. Part Of the
crowd followed, but the majority stayed
to see more trouble. AS no one could
swear just which boy struck the blow
the boy was later dismissed, after Chief
Doyle had given him a few words Of
advice. .s.-...H
Girls Garry Messages.
In the meantime some Of the girls in
the office were carrying important
messages. The boys did not try to
stop or argue with them, with the ex-
ception of crying "scab'' with deter
mined voices whenever any of them
went in or out Of the office. Never
thelegs the crowd began to grow larger
rapidly, every small boy who could get
there being present. However, the
general roug house was not to their ad-
vantage and they managed to keep the
sidewalks open.
About 10 o'clock Manager H. J. Hug
hart called some of the boys in and
asked them to 90 back to work until
the difficulties could be fixed up The
boys could not see it that way and
asked for conference. The talk came
to nothing and the boys went back on
the street. A little later sign was
pasted in the window at the Third
"Any boy who does not offer his
services. before O'Clock will receive
no further employment in this Office. -
H. j. Hughart, manager. = 'ss.r.s
Many of the boys maintain that the
order has had no effect, but others say
that there is a weakening in the ranks.
From time to time boys enlisted dur
ing the afternoon, but there was no
general stampede. Horses and car
riages were secured to carry messages
to places which could not be reached
by telephone. .,
Fun on Change.
The effect. of the strike was felt on
change this morning, when twenty
messengers, employed by the Western
Union in and about the building,
walked out in body. ..-
The result was that middle-aged men
ran about the floor with messages, call
ing the names. The strike occasioned
considerable merriment on the floor,
but was in way serious. Manager
Wise of the Western Union was doing
fairly well with the delivery Of mes
sages this morning, however, and Man
ager Brown Of the Postal and North
American had no trouble, as the strike
did not extend to their boys.
Cause of the Trouble.
The chief cause Of the strike seems
are getting SIS a month, want $l7;
and those getting 500, want $23. While
the boys say that they are also striking
to get every other Sunday off, the man
ager says that that is the present ar
rangement. The boys also want to have
the streetcar fare paid when they 20
beyond certain limits. ,e.~ =. =