Evening journal., 1908-05-19
TroIIey conduotor,s viem.


Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
Please allow me little space III your
paper in regard to the trolley strike
situation
AS most all your readers know about
the matter, it is useless to 60 into
detall as to what caused it, but will
state briefly.
Up until about April 1st we, the
conductors and motormen of the Will
mington City Railway Company wers
receiving is 1-2 cents per hour ans
were prefecty satisfied with that
amount. on or about that date. after
we mad worked a whole day, we turned
IN at night to find a notice saving
mat our wages had been cut 10 per
cent or l6 2-3 cents per hour. The
reason for the reduction not being
given, later we learned that tie reason
given was the falling off Of the re.
celpts TO such an extent that this had
to be done If this was the case as
peleVe II was to a certain extent.
and indeed to a great extent, why
could they not have told us on nav
day, the day previous, or even on the
day on which the cut was made No.
they simply stuck up a poster stating
the reduction
We have noticed from time 10 time
in the paper where Mr.. Hof said we
were one happy family, and he would
do what he could for the men. At frs,
], and. 1 think most of the employees
were disposed to believe that statement.
until the night of the public meeting
at Fifth and Shipley streets, when the
so-called head of the family. with his
assistants, Mr.. Geiger. Mr.. Anderson
and Mr. Hoff, Jr, stood at the entrance
and observed every member of the
family.
Now. I contend, as an American citi
zen, that those men had a Just right
to enter that hall. join that union. II
they saw fit without being in danger
Of being fired"
We called it "The land of the Free d"
Where Is your freedom in that? 1 do
not uphold them in any sort of law
breaking, or disorder Of any kind. bur
DO think II men were allowed to
stand around the door, and speak TO
all who dared enter the portals. claim
the employees, or any one else had the
same right, but when one or two woula
congregation on the sidewalk they
were notified to move on" under
threat of being run in"
One young man I believe was run
In" because he gave a cop a little i'm
pudence. That was all right, if he WIS
disorderly, arrest him. But then again
Mr. Fitzgerald was arrested, simpl,
because he told Chief Black that a
number Of men from Chester had a
perfect right in Wilmington, Just as
much right as Black, so long as they
behaved themselves.
Then we go a step further, on las.
Saturday when the members of our
labor union were trying TO find Mr.
Hor, in order to have a consultation
with him in regard to the re-instate-
ment Of the five men, officers of the
union, who were discharged for this
grave offence, he was, / am informed,
in the office of Chief Black, arranging
for protection for Sunday, when the
strike was to be declared.
would also like TO ask the question,
which is the more unlawful, throwing
eggs, bad eggs. at a political meeting.
or wearing a piece of cardboard ON
your hat, on which the words WAX
to Win" line appear?
Then again TO go a little farther.
II Chief Black believes in every citi.
zen abiding by the law, at all times,
why does he permit the houses of i'll
fame TO flourish so freely in our city.
not only dragging young women into
ruin and disgrace but, selling lntoxicat-
Ing liquors without a license. They do
exist and he knows it, his men know
it. Yet still they flourish, not one
word from this aw-enforcing chief.
except an occasional raid. when they
raise such a drunken brawl. he has
to do it, fine them, and the next night,
they are open for. business the same
as before
/ would just like TO say, II he Is
going 20 be so strict with law abiding.
honest. honorable citizen when they
stand up for what they think is right.
a matter of bread and butter to them.
Why does he allow such deplorable con-
ditions to longer continue2
Yours very truly.
Conductor.
Wilmington. May 10.