The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-19
PROPOSITION TO STOP ALL VIC.
LENcEl IN cLEvELAND STREET
CAR STRIKE.
R|'ll0TlNG ALL DAY
Member of state Arbitration Commit
tee Calls on Head Of Union-oHicers
Use Their Clubs Freely on Strikers.
Mayor johnson Issues Statement.
Situation in Control of Police.


Situation in Control OF Police.
Cleveland, May R.-In the midst of
9 day Of incipient rioting, some blood
shed, general disorder. inconvenience
to the car riding public and a partial
stopping Of the street railway service
incident to the strike Of the conduct
ors and motormen OF the Municipal
Traction company, came a PROPOSE
ton tonight to stop further violence
and submit the whole matter to ar
bitration. This was the situation late
tonight, created by Joseph Bishop,
member Of the state board Of arbitra-
tion.
Mr.. Bishop arrived here during the
afternoon and went into conference
with Vice President Adolph Behner
ofAthe Amalgamated Association Of
Street and Electric Railway Employees.
He proposed that o%vertures be made
to the company looking to a peaceful
settlement of the controversy. Mr..
Behner, although satisfied with the
progress Of the strike from the stand~
point Of the union, was apparently
willing to enter into such negotia-
lions.
Willing to Arbitrate.
Mr.. Bishop called upon President
Dupont Of the Municipal Traction
company.
The head of. the company said the
company was willing to a%rbitrate, but
that the proposition should come
from the union.
With the union unwilling to take
the initiative, the matter of a peace
full settlement and the immediate ter
mination Of the disorder still is an.
open question.
All night Mr.. Bishop labored with
the union and with the head Of the.
traction company.
In the meantime disorder continued.
The night was made eventful as a re-
suit Of the company resembling an or
der made during the day. 1t first was
proposed to stop all cars at dark and
make no further attempts to operate
until tomorrow morning. Later to-
day the company decided to maintain
the service.
Men to Leave.
From the moment the strike went
into effect early this morning there
was more OF less rioting. AT first the
men who remained at work were ap-
pealed to by the strikers to leave the
cars. When they refused to quit eff
forts were made by the union men
and sy~mpathizers to force them to
leave the cars.
The officers used their clubs freely
in the riots today. Chief Of Police
Kohler was struck by q stone but not
seriously injured.
Violence resulting in destruction Of
property and injury to persons having
already occurred on the streets h
sequent on the street railway strike,
have instructed the chief of police
to preserve order and protect prop
erty with all the force at his COM
mand. hereby notify the public
that I will use the full power of the
city to supply all necessary assist
ance to the police authorities and /
warn all persons that disturbances
will not be tolerated and disorder will
be met with force adequate to sup
press it. (signed),
tom L. JOHNSON. Mayor"
Motorman lie Beaten.
Motorman John sDubler was beaten
intoaunconsciousness late tonight and
left lying on the street. He is
thought to have been fatally injured.
Many others were roughly handled,
but their wounds are not considered
serious.
Mayor Johnson, who Is also treas.
urer Of the traction company, said the
strike was all foolishness and q great
waste, and that he hoped to bring II
to q close speedily.
While the general a service was
seriously crippled during the early
hours Of the strike, the company made
rapid Roadway in restoring schedules
Tonight fully % per cent of the nor
NAL service was maintained.
Company Posts Notice.
Late in the day the company posted
the following notice In the cars:
Notice to the Public: These cars
belong to you. You should protect
them"
To give the men who worked al
possible protection, heavy wire
screens placed in front OF thu
cars to shield the motormen from
stones and clubs. A policeman rode
On each col. No call has been mad.
for outside assistance. The polio.
claim to be able to handle the situa
ton. There hasybeen no talk Of ask
aur eov -1Il&n~r,y v~otnnkfow NH.