Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-08

total number of men OF all classes
regularly employed by the Boston Elc
waited Railway Co. is 5000 of whom
5000 are uniformed employees
TO gather strength to the strikers
cause efforts were made at meetings
/ OF several affiliated crafts, tonight, to
have sympathetic strikes declared
Principal among those from whom as
sistance is sought by the strikers are
the stationary engineers The posi-
bility of strike action by these men
gripping the power plants of the
company appealed so greatly to com
pany officials that arrangements were
said to have been made with several
score OF engineers to be ready to fill
the places OF any who may strike The
company also continued. today. TO al
greater extent the activity of the past
week in importing men from other
cities to take the places of strikers.
Nearly all of the cars which were OPP
Grated, TO-DAY, and two motormeft, one
a beginner and the other. loyal to the
company, acting as an instructor.
\ considerable number of employees
remain firmly on the side of the com
pany A few days age a body called
tive Association was organized, NUM-
beiing, company officials say. nearly
2o00 men who pledged allegiance to the
road.
All the men who are on strike are
members OF the Amalgamated Asso
ciatfou OF Street Railway Employees
the local branch of which has been
recently organized. 1t WAS the refus-
III of Gen. William A. Bancroft pres
ident of the company, to treat With
employees on their demands rs mem
beers of this organization which pre-
cipitated The strike. These demands
average an increase Of five cents an
hour to all classes, with a minimum
wage to all conductors and motor
men of s175 per day; to elevated
guards a minimum of $l.65 per day;
and TO brakemen minimum Of Sl.G0
day. The men also ask fer Pet
tier working conditions without dc
7 failing their grievances
The DAVIS disorders developed immc-
diately upon the calling of the strilzc
at A. NJ. Three men, arrested for
violence, were dealt with summarily,
each being sentenced to serve three
months in the house of correction by
Judge Bragg in the Charlestown dis
triet court, Others received lesser
sentences.
The entire police force Of the city is
on duty. Picketing, which was carried
on in the vicinity of the car barns con-
tinually. developed frequent clashes.
though these were of minor nature
compared with the mornings disturb
anees. The strikers ranks were censid-
efably augmented by men persuaded at
the can barns not to work.
The terminals of the elevated system
were comparatively free from disorders
during the day and evening, and the
overhead system was conducted with
greater regularity than any other branch
of the car service. a fairly regular
schedule was maintained for most Of the
day in the Cambridge subway
Practically all of the surface lines from
the suburbs were tied up before mid
night, the Elevated Company withdrawing
the ears as the acts Of violence increas-
ed The Dorchester division was the first
to be tied up, service there being sus-
pended early in the evening Al 10
O'Clock the Maiden, Medford, West Med
ford and West Everett service WAS can
eelled and an hour later cars had ceased
running in South Boston. All attempts
to run cars in Cambridge. where the
greater part of the nights riotfng oe-
cured, were given up before midnight.
During the day more than so arrests
were made in Boston proper for throwing
missiles at cars, disturbing the peace
and illuminating, and nearly as many
more for drunkenness. More than half
of the arrests were made after shutdown.
Homeward- bound theatre patrons and
others were forced to adopt various
means of reaching home. TaXicabs were
most popular, street cars We're AZ a pre-
MUM and the horse-dfawn vehicles.
which have given way to motors, return
ed to their own. Barges and even tally
hos were utilized ~ enterprising stable
men and did rushing business. Many
persons were, forced to walk.
The stationary engineers employed in
the Elevated Co.'S. power houses, who it
was thought might join the strike, failed
To take action along that line at a meet
ini2, tonight. The engineers discussed
the situation, but it was stated that
their union was strong enough to war
rant striking al this time.
In a statement issued, late tonight, the
union leaders claimed that upwards of
looo men had Joined the strike and that
$50 new members had been taken into
the union during the day. The company
they said. operated not more than % per
cent of the usual number of cars, today,
and ii was declared the number would be
considerably less, tomorrow.