The Topeka state journal., 1908-05-26
A PECULIAR STRIKE.

A number Of unusual features are
bearing on the trend Of future legisla-
Cleveland, Ohio, and the lessons
taught by it may have an important
bearing on the tend of future legisla-
ton, federal, state and, municipal. 1t
is said that over fifteen hundred men,
bers of the Amalgamated Association
of Street and Electric Railway En-
ployes are directly involved in this
outbreak. The discomfort which Is
now manifesting itself is attributed.
in part at least, to the three cent fare
issue which has been agitating Cleve-
land for number of years.
The Municipal Traction company.
which is only another name for the
city government, has taken over un-
der lease the traction properties
which are practically managed by the
public and this organization has de-
clined to be bound by an agreement
which the conductors and motormen
entered into some little time ago
with the former owners. 1t
was understood that If the franchise
of the latter was continued, wages
would be raised two cents an hour
mary, would be satisfactorily .ad-
justed. But the city took the ground
that it could not be held by the terms
of any bargain, compact or COM
promise to which it was not a party,
and legally its position is doubtless
unassailable. In any event, the con-
tract in question has been ignored
and, as a result. strike was ordered.
Private corporations are no strang-
ers, Of course, to disturbances of this
kind and their methods of dealing
with them are familiar to all. Not
always. and perhaps infrequently,
are serious inconvenience and dis
order avoided, and on occasions, ow-
ing to stubbornness on both sides,
settlement is attended by exasperat-
Ing and seemingly unnecessary delay.
Meanwhile the public demonstrates,
though it is invariably compelled to
make the best of bad situation un-
til peace is declared. But here, it is
evident that the people, or their
| chosen representatives. have been
placed on the defensive. They are
running the street cars; the victory of
the majority over their opponents in
| the recent election was hailed with
| loud acclaim. Cleveland did what
| many cities have threatened to
do. To all intents and purposes she
revoked the street railway franchise,
| took possession of it herself and made
an arrangement with the Cleveland
Electric Railway company which re-
lieved that corporation of the re-
sponsibility in operating the roads.
| Two weeks after this change was
effective and fares were cut to three
cents trouble of all sorts began. Com
plants of poor service were heard and
1t was reported that the friends of
municipal ownership were not as sure
of their ground as they had been.
The ever-present problem which has
to do with receipts and expenditures
insisted upon obtruding itself and
tended to complicate matters, and
now, almost at the outset, there has
come a collision, not between labor
and capital, as of old, but between
| labor and government. There have
been riots and disorders far more SER
| ious than usually occur In connection
! with street, car strikes and there has
been the usual squabble over SUBJ
mitting the matters at issue to arbi-
tration. The final outcome of the
difficulties will be decidedly interest
ing.