Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-30
STRIKE TIES UP
BEACH CAR LINE.
Substation Operators on Los An
geIes-PacifiC System Quit
at Busiest Time
TRAFFIC DELAYED TWO HOURS
General Manager Sherman to
Consider Demand for In
creases in Wages
TRAFFIC DELAYED TWO HOURS

About 10000 Los Angeles business
men and women living in the various
beach cities served by the Los An
geles-Pacific company's lines shattered
all the good results of day of rest
yesterday morning, during an interval
of two hours, when they stormed,
fused, fumed, fretted and swore, ac-
cording to individual inclination, be-
cause they could not get cars to bring
them to Los Angeles. Crowds waited
in Venice. Ocean Park, Santa Monica,
Playa del Rey and at intermediate
stations, wondering what had hap
pened to make interurban cars van
ish so completely.
The cause Of the big commotion was
a totally unlooked-for strike on the
part of twenty substation operators at
o'clock yesterday morning, which re-
suited in tying up all the lines of the
company for more than two hours, just
through the busiest time of the day.
PATRONS WAIT
At the usual hours yesterday the
business men and women who live
out of the city and at the beach re-
sorts started for town. They lined up
at their street crossings and waited.
Nothing like a car put in an appear
ance. Little knots of people collected,
discussed the situation and wondered
what the trouble was. Some from
points near the city walked in Others
with more important business engage
ments, which would bear no delay,
hired automobiles. The rent prices on
the latter went-up wonderfully. Soon
all the machines available in ocean
Park, Venice and Santa Monica were
speeding toward Los Angeles loaded
to capacity. 1t is said that one Los
Angeles banker who was overanXiouS
to reach this city, paid $100 for the
ride up in little, jerky two-cylinder
car
Even the local rent machine drivers,
hearing of the tie-up, made the trip
to the beach and brought back loads.
The cause of the strike was re-
quest mailed e. G.. Riley, chief opera
tor for the company about five weeks
ago by the men concerned, asking for
a raise in pay, which they thought had
been ignored. The request was received
by Riley and after passing through
several departments, arrived at the
desk of General Manager r. r. Sher-
man for consideration. Sherman was
on vacation. He returned Saturday
evening and the request had not been
called to his attention. it is said. The
men, however, did not know of this,
and having received no answer pro-
ceeded to spring little surprise party
on the officials.
HEARS OF STRIKE
The first word Manager Sherman
had of the strike was yesterday morn
ing at 1880, while he was at breakfast.
He Immediately got into touch with
the strikers and quietly passed out the
word that every man who was not
back at his post within one hour would
be discharged. The order had the de-
sired effect, and at o'clock cars We're
running again, although not on sched-
ule time.
Mr.. Sherman stated yesterday that
he would investigate the request of
the men at once and make whatever
change in the wage scale that was
possible. He further stated that yes
terday's strike would not be counted
against the men in case a raise in
wages was granted. The following is
the letter which the men addressed to
Mr.. Riley:
eve, the undersigned operators, re-
spectfully petition that we be granted
an increase as follows: All operators
at $S5 a month, increase to $50; all
operators at $50, increase to $S5; all