United labor bulletin., 1911-08-10
THE INJUNCTION WINS
FOR STREET CAR MEN
Organization Winning for Car Men
Over Entire World.

tories on short notice that was. ever
known.
The street car system of Des Mones
is thoroughly organized. One of the en-
ployes was charged by an inspector with
Knocking down" three fares, and was
discharged. II was later shown that he
had not taken the fares, but was imme-
diately discharged again for nsubordin-
alton. He had abused the Inspector
when accused of theft. When the COM
pany refused to reinstate the discharged
conductor every man on the entire sys-
tem-5oo in all-quit work, completely
tieing up the cars.
Louis Christensen, a detective from
Chicago, brought forty strike breakers to
Des Moines, but they were not allowed
to move car and barely escaped with
their lives.
While this was going on, District Judge
Degraff issued a mandatory writ of in
junction at the request of the city of Des
Moines, directing General Manager J. r.
Harrisan of the company to at once re-
instate Conductor Hiatt, whose discharge
started the strike, and also the street car
mems union, who struck, to return to
work.
The strikers were each ordered by the
court to return to work at once and op-
crate the car lines as though no strike
had been ordered and were also directed
to revoke the strike order and continue
at work until further order of the court.
Conductor Hiatt was reinstated. and in
a few hours the cars were running and
the city soon resumed normal conditions.
The company's manager was told by
the court that If cars were not running
in "a hours the company would forfeit
it sfranchise.
During the strike. sympathizers bonn
barded the office building of the traction
company in which is located the office
of General Manager Harrigan.
Every window in Harrigan's Office was
shattered. Then the crowd began to
break all other windows in the building
Two policemen were Injured and two
strikebreakers hurt when the company
made a feeble attempt to move cars a
few strikebreakers were arrested for
carrying concealed weapons and forty
more were besieged in the barns and
were unable to leave for seven hours
Louis Christensen, the Chicago detect
i've, who brought in the strikebreakers.
was notified that they had had enough
and If they could get out of town alive
they would be content They were fur
cort of twenty police started for the Rock
Island depot. But the mob became so
ugly that by the time the Iowa hotel WAS
reached the strikebreakers were rushed
inside and the police guarded the door
while a mob of from 5000 to 10000 peo-
pie stormed in the streets below. After
three hours in the hotel. the police
turned the hose on the crowd but it had
little effect
President Urick. OF the State Fedora
tion OF Labor. was appealed to by the
city officials. Urick appeared on the
steps OF the hotel and made a speech 10
the mob explaining the issues OF the
strike and the objects OF unionism. Mean
while. twenty policemen hurried the
strikebreakers through a back door up
an alley and before their absence was
discovered. locked them up in the county
Jail a block away for protection.
Later the forty strikebreakers in the
county jail were taken to a special coach
on the Milwaukee tracks and loaded on
board. While the car was being attached
to the Chicago train, a mob threw bricks
and broke nearly every window. An un-
known number of men were injured. The
train left Immediately, and the police as
sert that Louis Christensen. Chicago de-
tective, known as Big Chris" the strike
breakers leader. was on board.
London. England. - Sixty thousand
transportation employees demand in
creased wages all vehicular transporta-
ton tied up; sympathetic strikes threat
ened.
Brooklyn, n. Y.-Employes of three
lines to Coney Island strike for better
wages; police reserves unable to control
the situation; more than 100, several OF
whom were women, hurt IN all-day fight
ing: cars wrecked and strikebreakers
badly beaten.
Pittsburg. Kans,-Following a strike of
four days on the Joplin & rittsburg Elec-
trio railway, settlement has been
reached. Ii has been agreed that the
questions involving wages, length of con-
tract outside work, union or open shop,
shall be decided by arbitration.
Washington.-The Society of Norweg-
ian Tramway Servants has just been
successful in securing siN-year agree
ment which carries substantial increases.
with free uniforms after a stipulated
time and ten days holiday during the
present year and with two weeks hol-
iday in all the following years The CON
cessions granted to the employees prac-
tically meet the demands of the organ
ization.
Copenhagen,-The tramway employees
have been successful in having the grade
of large number of men raised, which
carries with it an increase in wages
amounting to 100000 crowns a year.
Stockholm.-The tramway employees
over n year ago emerged from bitter
strike with their organizauon badly Grip
pied, and were compelled to return TO
work Internationally. After n years eff
fort. the organization has been restored
and with greater strength than ever be-
fore. 1t is now negotiating for an in
crease and better working conditions.
with recognition of the organization. and
have every assurance that their demands
will be met without n struggle.
Berlin.-The grand section of railway
men of the German Transport Workers
union has made great progress in mem
bership and effectiveness during the past
year. The increase in membership was
especially notable in the last months OF
1910 and during the first quarter of l9ll.
The recognized organization is antagon'
lied by another union dominated by the
management of the railways. The indi-