New-York tribune., 1908-05-17
CLEVELAND CAR STRIKE
DISORDERS MARX DAY.
Mayor johnson Says 4ction Of Men
Is An FooHshness.

Cleveland. May 1e.-Rioting and violence
marked the strike Of the conductors and motor
men the lines OF the Municipal Traction
Company here to-day. The strike called
81 5 O'Clock this morning, following stormy
ali night meeting of the car men. The order
went into effect at o'clock. and from the be-
ginning there WAS trouble in getting the cars
cut.
One Of the first disturbances took place at
the Lakeview car barns, when an effort was
made 70 take the cars out this morning Chief
Of Police Kohler was struck by stone hurled
by strike sy-mpathizer The men on the
cars refused TO leave them and crowd quick
II gathered. The police, headed by the chief,
we're rushed the barns. In effort to drive
the crowd back stones and clubs were used The
police also used their clubs in effort 10 con-
troll the mob. Many slightly injured Cars
stopped in all parts Of the city by the
strikers and their friends. 4 Payne avenue car
vas thrown from the track by rail thrown
across The. tracks. The crew on a st Clair
avenue car was dragged from the car and as
saulted. The motorman's scalp laid open.
on East aoth street a mob Of fifty men tore UP
The tracks and traffic stopped.
Mayor Tom L. Johnson, who chiefly in
etrumental in bringing bout the general street
railway situation il exists here. said to-
day that he viii use the full power of the city
10 supply all necessary assistance TO the police
authorities. that disturbances will not be toll
Grated and that disorder will be met With force
adequate TO suppress it
Mayor johnson later visited the offices OF the
Municipal Traction COMPANY, OF which he is
treasurer. There he said he ''on the fob
twenty four hours In the day" and he intended
10 do everything he could bring about set
Element Of the trouble
This strike he alleged lis all foolishness
and q great waste
4 proposition was made late tonight to stop
further violence and submit the whole question
70 arbitration. This the result Of the arrival
" Joseph Bishop. member Of the State Board of
Arbitration. this afternoon. He proposed TO the
union that overtures be made TO the company
looking TO d peaceful settlement of the contro-
versy. Vice President Behner. although salts
fed with the progress of the strike, from the
point Of view of the union. was apparently will
ing 10 enter into such negotiations. Mr.. Bishop
At once called upon President Dupont of the
Municipal Traction Company The traction head
said the company willing to arbtrate, but
that the proposition should come from the union.
With the union willing 10 take the initiative.
the matter of q peaceful settlement and the i'm
mediate termination Of the disorder IS open
question. All night Mr.. Bishop labored with
fhe head Of the union and with the head OF the
traction company.
nj Eht was made eventfu as d result of the
pany's resembling order made during the DAY.
II vas first proposed 10 stop all at dark
and make further attempts TO operate until
tomorrow morning Late to-day the company
decided 70 continue the service. Superintendent
Cook stated that the public demanded the cars
and the service. such as il was. and for that
the cars would run whether IL brought out
more trouble
With the firing or bullets at streetCar loaded
With passengers which attempted to start from
the Lakeyiew barns at $40 o'clock. the first use
~ more deadly weapons than bricks was re-
r"rted- Decision was at once reached to at
tempt more trips from that barn at least.
Al evening fight between police and strik-
ers and their sympatfizers had ragged about the
Lskeriev barn. Many heads were cracked and
: half-hundred arrests made hundred
moro men captured by the police in the days
Fight ped from their captors.
John Dubier. notorman. beaten into
Inconsistencies late tonight and left lying
upon the street. He is thought 10 have been
fatally injured. Many others we're roughly
handed, but their wounds not considered
serious
The swearing IN Of three hundred special po-
hoeTnen vas ordered tonight by kohler. and an
attempt 70 operate tomorrow with strike break
ers that being hurried here from New York
Is promised