Evening star., 1907-08-26
TRADES IN TUG O. WAR
Regular Rush-line Rough House
at Pennsy Station.
after STRIKEBREAKERS
One Poor Soul Was Nearly Undressed
in Melee.
AND OTHERS GOT THEIRS
Contractor Cassidy Was Bringing
Foreign Talent to Work Here.
Who Got the MenP
TER STRIKEBREAKERS
AND OTHERS GOT THEIRS

There was lively tug of war between
members of the local building trades unions.
members of the Employers Association and
imported non-union mechanics last evening
in and about the Pennsylvania railroad de-
pot at 9th street.
The trouble began Immediately after the
train from the east pulled into the station.
about twenty-five minutes past o'clock,
and for about ten minutes trough house"
scenes were enacted. although no acts or
real violence wers committed.
1t appears that Charles J. Cassidy. the
building contractor. who is a member Of the
Employers Association. was on the train
with eleven strike5reaking mechanics he
had procured in New York and Ph!ladel-
phia. with the intention of putting them to
work this morning on the struck jobs
about town. Neither Mr.. Cassidy nor any
of the non union mechanics was aware Of
the warm reception that awaited them, 1t Is
said
A delegation Of members Of the Employ
ers' Association was on hand to receive
Contractor Cassidy and the non-unionists
when they arrived. The executive commit
mittee of the building trades. reinforced by
a large number of local trades union SITS.
was also there. The employers had learned
that International Vice President Preece of
the bTicklayers had got busy when he learn
ed strike breakers were expected to reach
this city last night. and that he had sent
kilograms to Baltimore. Philadelphia, York.
Pa, and other places where it is said union
pickets were posted and requested them to
be on the qui vive and notify the Washing
ton committee of the coming of the strike
breakers.
Right Smart of a Crowd.
The result was great gathering of union
mechanics. estimated at from 100 to 200
men. at the 9th street depot last night. for
the purpose of doing missionary work.
as one of the number explained it.
AS the train came putting into the pas
senger shed the union mechanics and the
members of the Employers Association
surged forward in their efforts to reach
the~non- union men. MIR. Cassidy appeared
at the head of the workmen he had brought
with him. and then tie tug Of war began
in earnest. Soon union workmen, nom
unionists and employers were mixed up in
a surging, indiscrimiHate mass. The strike
breakers were seized by members of both
parties. and movements resembling foot
ball rushes and masses were made in the
depot and out to the sidewalk.
Here. you come with me; / know you
are not a .scab,' ;" sang out staiwart
union workman as he placed his iron grasp
upon a slender and nervous-looking nom
union bricklayer and led him by main force
across 9th street.
Let go of that man." shouted an en-
ployer; ''he knows his LUsiness.
And so it went. Excited and expOstulat-
ing men filed the streets and argued pro
and con with the str -kebreakers. who were
pulled hither and thither. One of the en-
ployers succeeded in getting his man on the
foot board of a street car. when the non
unionist was seized by two stalwart men,
bers of one of the labor unions and had
his clothes almost stripped off. The en-
ployer. who is also strong and sta.wart.
held on to His prize. and succeeded after
struggle In landing him on a seat In the
electric car which went whizzing along B
street
This is what I call pulling men with a
vengeance" said member of the Employ
ers Association.
Yes" remarked another: this is more
than moral suasion."
As the smoke Of battle cleared away and
the losses and gains were computed the
members of the executice committee of
the labor unions claimed Contractor Cassi-
non-union mechanics and the committee and
its reserves had captured all but one of that
number
Who Got En- ALL
On the other hand. the members of the
Employers Association stated that but
eleven out-of-to men had been brought
here by Mr.. Cassidy. and of that number
the strikers got five and the employers six
The imported men comprised principally
bricklayers and p!asterers.
At the headquarters OF the building trades
grievance committee there was considerable
hustle today. and Secretary James McIver
said members of the committee had gone
out on tour of investigation of the build
ings under construction about the District
The purpose was. he explained, to learn if
there are any union mechanics working with
non-unionists. report will be made at a
meeting of the general strike committee to
be held this afternoon at 500 G street The
result may be. it was said. that several
other jobs may be pulled tomorrow
The pickcta of the strikers active and
are stationed at the railroad depots the
steamboat wharves and about the boarding
places of the non -unionists.
The tug OF war at the PENNSYLVANIA
depot was discussed today at the headauar-
ters of the EMPLOYERS Association Infor-
nation was also received to the effect that
the strikers are extending their picket lines
to Benning the navy yard station and other
cities.