The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-30
WILD RIOTING IN
WINNIPEG STRIKE
Street Car Men Win First Vic
tory by Tying Up System
Fifty Arrests Made.
Special to. The Journal. =

Winnipeg, Man., March 30.-Winni-
pegs first street railway strike has
brought about one of the most riotous
periods in the city's history. There is
not a streetcar running and the street
railway company is depending on the
militia to help it out Of a serious predic-
ament. Within four hours after the
company made it's first effort to operate
cars without the services of its regular
men, the entire system was tied up and.
not car could be moved, notwithstand-
ing the fact that professional strike
breakers from Montreal and Chicago
had been imported and did their utmost
to combat the determined strikers.
The result Of the first days work
on the part of the striking employees
has been the destruction of hundreds Of
dollars worth of the company's prop
erty; the successful elimination of an
effort to keep the streetcars from
operating and the enlistment Of the
sympathies of three quarters Of Winni
pegs population in their favor. Thous-
ands of people are parading the streets
eve walk Whether the result of
the first days work will assist the strik-
er's cause remains to be seen. There
are many who believe that the scenes
of violence enacted on Winnipeg
streets will have the effect of changing
public opinion in favor Of the company.
Strikers Win First Victory.
The first victory goes to the men.
as they succeeded in keeping the pub
lie from being served with a car service
on the opening day of the strike. When
the company attempted to run the cars,
strike sympathizers, armed with stones
and missiles Of many descriptions, at
tackled the trolleys, cut the ropes which
la1l hn hn
mediately had control Of the situation.
At the subway, two cars were coming
from opposite directions on the same
track. They were robbed of their con-
trolling gear and allowed to collide in
the dark passage Of the subway, wreck
gether in the subway hollow from noon
till clock in the evening, when res
cue cars, loaded with policemen, were
taken down Main street to tow the
derelicts to the barns. By evening,
seven Of the twelve cars which the com
with nonunion help, had been rendered
helpless and were abandoned by the
imported crews. Six persons were in
jured and taken to hospitals, having
been hit with stones and bricks, while
a dozen strikebreakers were taken to
the police station for protection from
the fury Of the mob.
confident. The men say they are will
ing to submit their case to arbitration,
while the company holds that it's terms
are more favorable than those offered
by any other street railway company in
the dominion, and that the issue will
be fought to the bitter end. 1t refuses
to recognize the union, and in the con-
the employment of strike breaking en-
ployees, the stipulation is made that
the applicant must forego the right to
belong to a trades union.
Firenen Fight Crowd.
Strike sympathizers last night set
fire to two cars derailed in the north
ends of town One was destroyed Fire
men were interefered with by the mob
when eXtinguishing the flames, but by
turning the hose on the crowd, sue
ceeded in dispensing it.
Mayor Sharpe issued a proclamation
asking cooperation of all true citizens
the law in regard to disorder and dis
turbances would be vigorously enforced
A large force of special police has been
sworn in.
On account of yesterdays incidents
the traction company has requested mil.
itary protection. It is understood that
the Royal Canadian Mounted Rifles
will be called out if further violence
occurs.
J. F. Farley, it is claimed, has been
brought from Chicago to conduct the
company's fight against the strikers
This has been denied, but it is said to
be q fact that the notorious boss strike.
breaker has good representative here
in the person of Louis Christensen, a
brawny Swede.
The principal demands made by the
union, which have been refused by the
company, are recognition Of the union
scale Of wages at % cents an hour
advance Of cents an hour: "a cents
for the second six months-an advance
Of cents; 26 cents for the seconc
year-an advance of cents, and q
cents an hour thereafter. About fifty
arrests have been made.