The San Francisco call., 1906-09-04
FARLEY MEN READY
To SHOW HEELS.
Strike Breaking Merely
an Excuse to Secure
Transportation West
BY w. R. Cole.

oy w. he ~oiSs
With their ranks already decimated
by desertions and preparing for a
wholesale farewell to the business of
strike breaking the moment they step
foot in San Francisco, the first install
ment of John Farleys strike breakers
between 500 and 900 strong, lowered all
day yesterday in the vicinity of Sacra-
mento, their leaders lodging back and
forth with two special trains in an eff
fort to find an unguarded opening into
San Francisco.
When | reached the country siding
4 in the midst of the fields six miles east
OF Davis where the two trains We're
waiting yesterday morning lor new
opening which might mean a dash for
San Francisco unhindered by union
reception committees, the guards sta
toned on the platforms Of every car
gave warning that all strangers must
/ keep their distance. Not SO with the
men, however for scattered about the
fields near the train seeking a rare
breath of fresh air, they were glad to
talk of the expedition and discuss the
end.
Those who have looked forward to
/ the coming of Farleys men as an in
| fuX of experienced worknen, business
like and reliable and destined to take
their places among the better class OF
San Francisco's laberers, have dwelt
under a misconception that must dis
solve with the first personal contact.
FEW SKILLED CARMEN.
The United Railroads, too, if it ex-
poets these men to replace it's former
employees and operate its cars, is des-
tined to disappointment. and this on the
word of the men themselves.
Taken as a whole, the vanguard of
! the Farley strike-breaksrs is a rabble,
| a motley crew of tramps and adven-
turers. the scum of Eastern cities, with
here and there few skilled carmen
and mechanics as the only saving fea-
| ture. And the men are not coming to
break the strike. That is but the ex-
cuse by which they gained their trans
portation west to seek their individual
fortunes in San Francisco.
You think were trying to make
corpses of ourselves?" was the answer
to my first question Not us boys. We
amt going to fool away time on any
strike when there's other work to do.
! Why, the bunch has been ducking out
in gangs at every station where we've
stopped, and the rest of us go just as
soon as we get to San Francisco
This same expression was confirmed
on every side and by almost every man
/ talked with. 1t is only for the men
in charge of the train that the strike
breakers pose as modern knights OF
labor. ready to do and die for a prin-
ciple, and imbued with the sole object
of strike sundering. Among them
| selves it's TO the bow vows with labor
problems in general, and l heard not
| the slightest reference to show that
these men would have regrets should
the banner of the carmen strikers wave
triumphant in the present trouble.
Sure I'll join union If l get a
job where they have one. What's the
use kicking about unions, anyhow ?
They're all right This was the spirit
of another of the crew.
PUT ON sCANTY DIET.
Throughout both trains the men are
dissatisfied, and according to their
statement of conditions they have
cause to be. The men 1 talked with
shipped from New York, leaving Jersey
City week ago last night in the same
cars In which they are now quartered
Most of these cars are ordinary day
coaches, although each train has one
or two chair cars. They have served
as bedrooms. diners and living com
partments for the men for a solid week
There has been little chance to wash or
change clothing, and the cars are vile
Each train carried cook car but
the men claim that for the most part
they have lived on bread and black
coffee with corned beef and hard boil
ed eggs for variety. Up until noon
yesterday not bit of food had been
served on either train. The conditions
have led the men to fight, steal, or dc
anything which might assist them tc
get food One of them showed me a
deep scratch in his face whith he said
he had received lighting with a fellow
traveller over q loaf of bread.
AS a means to remind their guard
ians of their hunger they have Several
times stopped the train by opening the
air brake valves in the cars, and have
refused to allow the train to proceed
until they are fed. The lack of food
has also been responsible for raids or
. vineyards and orchards along the road
and for the holding up of several viii
lage stores.
Contrary to reports. the men were
not armed before leaving New York
Many of them have revolvers of their
own. and it was these who caused the
commotion Friday at Hazen. Nevada