Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
Many Struck by Missiles.

of the city, Germantown and other part:
of Philadelphia also reported attacks or
cars, forcing trOlleymen and passenger:
to seek safety. Many persons were struck
by missiles, but no one was ser1odsiy
hurt.
Today's strike is the second inaugurate6
by the trolleymen within u year. The
strike came so suddenly that thousands o
persons were caught away from theil
homes and much inconvenience wa.
caused by the curtailment Of street cal
service. The leaders of the union claim
that the trouble was started by the com
pany, but the corporation comes bacl
with the reply that the strike was pre-
arranged affair on the part of the union
Since the threatened strike of a month
ago a committee from the union ant
President Charles o. Kruger of the com
pany had been cndeavoring to reach a,
agreement to take the place of the on,
made after the strike of last summer ant
which expires June /. The men In tn,
in wages, and with other things wanted
to bind the company not to recognize an!
other union but the Amalgamated Asso
citation.
Rival Union in Field. y
The union leaders charged that riva
organization, known as the United Car
mems Association, had been put in tn,
field to defeat the efforts being made b,
the AmaIgamated Association for bette
working conditions. The company de
clined to recognize the Amalgamated AS
sociation exclusively, but stated that. il
men were free to belong to any uniol
they wanted to.
The break in the negotiations came
Thursday, and last night and today abou,
200 men were dismissed for 1.-The gooc
of the service This aroused the in.
dignation of the men, and they begar
turning in their cars about l o'clock
The news OF the deSertiOnS quickly
reached union headquarters. with the
result that strike order was instantl.
issued.
tailment of the service became notice
able, and IT became more uncertain as
the hours passed. The greatest diff
Guilty was experienced from to o'clock
and other places found it impossible tC
get foothold on the cars, and they
were compelled to walk Enterprisine
teamsters who had the Saturday al,er.
noon holiday TO themselves reaped a har
vest in hauling fares to distant part.
Of the city. Thousands refused to ride
on cars because of the fear of being at
tackled.
Were Ready for Trouble.
The police and fire departments, ir
anticipation of strike, had been or
war footing for a month, and were
ready for business when the trouble
came today. When the strike was
threatened in January all leaves of alb
sence were Withdrawn and every prepara
tion Was taken to maintain peace. The
moment the fact LAT a strike had beer
called reached the city hall the police
plans. were placed in operation. Severa
troops OF mounted police were assembled
In the city hall courtyard. and squad.
OF police and firemen were assigned ts
each of the nineteen barns in the city
Police and firemen were also put on the
ears TO protect men who desired To re.
main at work.
Mayor Reyburn remained at the city hal
throughout the afternoon and evening
| My duty is to protect the interests o
the public" he said. and l will do tina
to the best of my ability. ! must se
that order Is preserved at all hazards.
VIII also make an effort to see that TIN
| riding public is accommodated
{. .. Pratt. national organizer of TIL
association. claimed that 7Oe men ha,
been dismissed. He said the order wa
issued because the men showed desir
to quit as a protest for the wholesale dis
| missals. The men declare that the com
pany Is trying to break up their organi
cation and is forcing the Issue
Controls Every Car Line.
There are about 5000 motormen an,
conductors employed by the company
which controls every street car line in tn
city. The union claims an organization
of 5000, but company officials say tina
not more than 1900 are affiliated with tn
Amalgamated Association.
The strike order is as follows:
The company has yesterday and to
day discharged hundreds of union mel
| for the good of the service There 1
nothing against the record of these mel
| except that they belong to the union
/ They are among the best men in the EN-
ploy of the company.
| The company has forced the lockout
and you will instruct every mau to TAX