Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29
Situation Grows Tense, as Both
Union Men and Company Are
0bdurate in Demands-Hun-
dreds of Policemen Employed.
Dynamiting of Passengers Marks
Early Stages Of Struggle.
Few Patronizing Lines and Auto
Owners Reap Rich Harvest.

BIRMINGHAM. June 2s.-Not since
the famous miners strike in this dis
trict in 1908 have Birmingham peopis
been more concerned than they are
now over the street car strike which
was declared June p by the en-
ployees Of the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power Company.
To date one car has been dyna-
mited. two or three cars shot into.
and a score or more made the target
of various sorts Of missiles from iron
bolts to brickbats. Fortunately no
one has been seriously injured. al
though Policeman Hollums had a
narrow escape from losing his eve as
result Of the dynamiting of an East
Lake car last Wednesday night.
To-day the lines have been drawn
tighter, and further serious trouble is
expected to break out at any moment.
To guard against this several hum
dred extra policemen have been
sworn In 10 patrol the worst districts
and to ride the cars as much as pos
sible.
comPany's Refusal Firm.
Officials Of the street car company,
OF which A. Fl. Ford is president. de-
clare they win never give in to the
striking car men, as they are han
ding the situation entirely to their
satisfaction.
on the other hand, National Or
ganizer Welch, who attained fame
through his deportation here some
weeks ago prior to the strike, which
resulted in the arrest of President
Ford Of the street car company. de-
clares the union men are in the game
to stay and ultimately will win out.
Welch says the company is being
forced to spend an extra $500 every
day of the strike, and this, he says,
can not last long.
In the meantime the parties of the
third part, the people. are experience
ing all sorts of Inconvenience, many
through sympathy with the car men,
others through fear Of being blown
up or otherwise injured on the cars.
AS a result the cars carry very few
people. even in the rush hours OF
the day.
The Tidewater line the rival street
car line, which connects the eastern
with the western end of the city, is
doing a land office" business
The motor truck people and, in
fact, any one who has vehicles for
hire, are filling their purses also
through the benefcence of those who
sympathize or those who fear Many
of the sympathizers are sympathizers
by force only, for several unions of
other trades have issued an order
that union people who ride the
street cars shall be fined or thrown
out of the union.
It is not an uncommon sight TO see
workingmen and even women who
have union husbands and sweethearts
walking to their homes miles away
from the heart of the city. The Magic
City's tremendous area of so square
miles makes such tactics extremely
disagreeable in hot weather especial
ly, but they do it just the same.
Policemen's Time Doubled.
Perhaps the most disagreeable part
Of the whole affair, however, falls to
the lot of the poor policemen, who
work now 70 and IS hours per day
instead Of 8. as in times of peace.
The average Birmingham policeman
Is beginning to think he is the Jonah
Of the city for less than three weeks
ago he was doing extra" duty while
the building trades strike was on. De-
spite his hard lot, however. the blue
coat is sticking to the Job manfully.
Chief Bodeker has orders from
Commissioner Lane to place men on
the cars just as much as possible.
and to be on the alert in all parts of
the city for the least bit of disturb
ance The men have orders also to
break up any crowd of men congre-
gated on the streets. This order is
being enforced to the letter and sew
eral arrests have been made alrady.
Thus far only three or four men
who were alleged to have applied the
term "scab" to the strike breakers
have been fined in Recorders Court,