Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-16
MISSILES THROWN
IN GARMENTS STRIKE
Rioting and Violence in Labor
Trouble at Cleveland.
STORMY NIGHT Meeting
Cars Derailed and Crew Assaulted by
Mob.
STORMY NIGHT MEETING
MANY WINDOWS ARE BROKEN
Force Used to Stop Operation of
Lines-Riding Fraught
With Danger.

~
OF street car strike. conductors
and motormen on the lines OF the
Municipal Traction Company hav-
ing decided this morning to quit
work after stormy all-night meet
ing OF carmen. During the early
hours stones and other missiles
were thrown at the cars. but not
until citizens began to go to their
work did any semblance of rioting
begin Police were forced to use
their clubs in dispensing the
crowds. Tracks were torn up, cars
derailed. and. in some cases, nom
union men assaulted. The railway
officials are putting new men i'll
the places of the strikers as rapid
ly as possible.
CLEVELAND, Ohio. May 16-Riotng
and violence. although not serious.
marked the early hours of the strike of
the conductors and motormen on the lines
of the Municipal Traction Company here
today.
The strike order was given at o'clock
this morning, following stormy all
night meeting of the car men. The order
went into effect at o'clock. From the
beginning there was trouble in getting the
cars out.
One of the first disturbances of any con-
sequence took place at the Lake View
car barns, where Chief of Police kOhler
was struck by stone hurled at the po-
lice by the strike sympathizers.
An effort to move the cars from the
Lake View barns was opposed by the
strikers. The men on the cars refused
to leave and a crowd quickly gathered.
The police. headed by the chief, were
rushed to the barns. In an effort TO drive
the crowd back stones and clubs were
used. The police also used their maces in
an effort to control the mob. Many were
slightly injured. Cars are being stopped
in all sections of the city by the strikers
and their friends. Payne avenue car
was derailed by rail- thrown across the
tracks The crew on st. Clair avenue
car was dragged from the car and as
eaulted. The motormans scalp was laid
upon. On East 9Oth street a mob of fifty
men tore up the car tracks and traffic was
stopped.
During the early hours stones were
freely hurled at many cars and windows
were broken in numerous instances. Rot
ten eggs were thrown at the mOtormen
and conductors The non-union men also
were hoOted and jeered.
In many instances riding upon the cars
by regular patrons was fraught with dan
ger. For the most part people walked
TO their places of business this morning.
Strikers Appealed To.
During the first hour or two after the
inauguration of the strike there was lit
tie or no trouble. The strikers appealed
10 the non-union men. who refused tC
leave the cars. Some of them did desert
after first 6ecidnp NOT IN strike Many
old employees remained with the company
however. These were the older men ir
point of age. Practically all of the young
men went out.
zens arose and attempted to go to their
work that any semblance of rioting oc-
CURED. This was after I o'clock. The
strike sympathizers gathered about the
car barns and hOoted and yelled with the
strikers at the men at work. The unior
men were enthused in some instances tC
use force to stop the operation of cars.
For the most part. however. it is said
the violence instfgated and carried
out by outsiders. The 200 motormen anC
conductors formerly with the Forest City
Railway Company. the original three
cent-fare line. and later merged with the
old Cleveland Electric Railroad Company
now being operated by the Municpa
Traction Company. remained at work
While many cars are running. yet the,
form only a small percentage of the
usual quota. Some lines are tied UP en-
tirely. The others are running cars regu
larly averaging perhaps two or three ar
hour.
President Dupont of the Municipal com
pany stated today that new men are be
ing employed as rapidly possible. Dur
ing the past week scores OF new meI
have been broken in. while scores of ole
Cleveland Electric employees were dis
charged.
Some Who Did Not Quit Work
About 3nO motormen and conductors for.
merly employed by the Forest City com
pany. the original three-cent fare line
did not join In the strike There were
also quite large number of the mer
employed on other lines who did no,
Quit work. The latter were largely made
up OF men who have been broken in sine.
the strike was first threatened ten days
ago
6n many lines there was no attemn
made 10 run cars early today although
later an occasional was manned ant
sem out from the barns. These car.
were generally greeted by boots and veil.
from the throngs OF working people who
were walking to their places OF employ
ment
At the corner of Superior avenue an,
East 1H'th street 8 large crowd collecte,
early this morning. when car boun,
down town appeared. The non-union mo
torman and conductor were pulled OF
smashed The police rescued the motor
man and conductor and prevented fur
ther trouble
Leaders of the Street Car Mems I-r;o
claim that while negotiations have bee
under way looking to arbitration of IN
dfnerences between the employees and tn
company. the company has systematic
ally laid on the old union men. reduce
them to the extra list supplanted Their
with Forest City men and given every in
dication that II was the purpose of tn
Municipal Traction Company to force tn
union men out Of the service and use arb
tration only as a cloak for delay.
Union Officers Statement.
Vice President Behner OF the union. /
commenting on the strike situation toda,
said
II am pleased with the outlook a