Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1907-03-16
Rights and Privileges of Citi-
zens Trampled Upon as
Never Before.
business Paralyzed in All Sec
tions and the People Given
No Consideration.
WILL BIZ CAUSE OF MUCH SICKNESS

The condition of affairs pioD
ovis.ed since last Sunday in LouisNiiie
i the most disgraceful in the hseoIs
of the city, and this without aug
fault on the part of the masses -.
tbe people. For months past 'rou1'0
Ma been brewing between the LOUIS
viue Traction Company and i's no"
a,,ods Of employees, which culmiu-
o4ed in a strike last Sunday morlins'
hut only after every effort ior /"
,,aaoeabIe settlement had been eN-
bausted by the railroad operative
True the union men presented many
demands. but they took the puoss
into their confidence and stood rea'!
a. arhitrate each and every point IN
volved. And there is no doubt IN uii7
mind of any reasonable or falr-
minded business man that hao TINS
,,lan been followed there would nave
been an amicable settlement and the
fair name of our city would not again
have been made TO suffer.
Many are inclined to The opinion
abat superintendent Tom Funk Is
mainly responsible for the deplorao'e
situation. He is credited with mis-
reprasenting the actual condition 10
President Minary and the Board Oh
Directors of the Traction ComPanE'
who looked to him with confluence
tbev must now admit was misplaced
Funk assured his superiors ana the
4.
nublic that there would be no cess"'
tion in the running of street car
that he had plenty of men ana peoPie
would suffer no inconvenience Dut
mo the entire day not q car was
moved for passenger traffic. Ana o."
Monday the condition was actualIS
nvorse. Tuesday Mayor Barth seemed
Al awake TO the real situation, anu
In the early hours said 1t was up 10
tae Traction Company, which hau
si0nallv failed in its duty to the pup
lie and violated the provisions OF lts
charter. to cease its indefenslDle
nolicy and arbitrate the questions
that were causing all sorts of dis
comfort and a stagnation of business
This gave the people hope, which was
speedily dispelled within the next
hour by his change of heart ana tne
threat for some unaccountable rea-
son. that he would swear in a hum
dred special officers and employ inc
entire police force in the service oi
the railway officials. :.
Suprintendent Funk was Violent W
his denunciation of the city admins
tration and the police department be
cause the interests of the entire peo,
nile were not neglected in favor OF
him and his handful of followers. but
Wednesday. with the situation stiu
worse and the people more disgusteu
than ever. the Commercial Club, the
BOARD of Trade and other public
bodies. realizing the necessity Tor
some action and admitting the just
ness of the demand of the railway
mems organization for recognition,
took steps looking toward a settle
mont. Conferences with Mayor Barth
and the representatives of the union
were held and proposals that all APP
moved formulated for submission to
+he Traction Company officials.
These were given to President Mlnary
Wednesday afternoon and an answer
that had not been received when TINS
was written was promised Tor Ihurs-
day noon. nn
From the first public sentiment
has been with the railway employees
who Justly contend that they are en-.
titled to the American privilege OF
recognition. This recognition Frank
Nunemacher, looked upon as the
worst enemy of the american work
ingman today, and Tom Funk refuse
10 grant, Notwithstanding they de-
mand recognition for themselves and
their corporations from both stare
and municipal governments ana une
people. They absolutely refuse to con-
cede to- Others those rights which
they demand for themselves.
During the entire week the police
were overworlxd. but there was no
trouble or outbreak until it became
known that arrangements had been
made for the descent upon the city
of hundreds of thugs and hoodlums'
who had been hired at great cost 10
come here and take the places OF
those who were contending only for
the rights that are conceded working
men by all fair and honest employers.
The police were called upon to do es-
cort duty for the vile gang. who one
and all were violators of the law IN
that they were armed TO the teeth.
Wednesday afternoon Officer Free
man declined to shield one who was
carrying concealed deadly weapons
and should have been locked up in
stead of being paraded about the
streets. The railway officials
promptly reported him TO the Board
of Safety, and to the surprise OF
everyone that body dismissed the
policeman from the force.
The work assigned the police was
distasteful to all, but what did John
Wakefield care? He draws $4,000 a
year for one hours work each day,
without even putting himself for a
moment where there is danger.
Wednesday night there was big In
flux of men of the lowest order from