New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-27
They Ride on Wilkes-Barre
Trolleys as an Example,
Despite Threats.
800 IN MOVEMENT
TO REOPEN LINES
Attempt to Dynamite Nanticoke
Car Is Reply of the Strike
Sympathizers.
rrrom Sac ocr,ronden. q n. Trbunsl

From = STAT Correspondent, Of ms Trisunsl
Wilkes-Barre. Nov 26s-Led by Mrs.
Harry l.. French. the club and So
eiey women Of Wilkes-Barre to-day
started campaign to shame the men
Of the Wyoming Valley into defying
the sympathizers OF the striking street
car men and using the trolleys. The
answer of the strike sympathizers to
this unexpected move was an attempt
10 dynamite cars on the Nanticoke line
of the company.
Plymouth, the most dangerous spot
on the company's lines, where the COM
pany did not dare operate cars yester-
CAV even under the protection Of the
state constabulary. lest murder re-
suit. was the place the women decided
TO visit. Their arrival there threw the
idlers waiting 10 stone cars of their
poise. Had men come on the cars
there probably would have been vio-
lence. As it was. the crowds followed
the women at respectful distance.
talked about but not at them. and won
deringly saw them board another car
70 return to town.
"The only thing they did" said Mrs.
French tonight, that might be called
offensive would not be offensive If one
did not understand the significance Of
scratching the head. 1t is. am told,
he mobs way Of calling 'scab' without
-aving IT,"
Decided on Independent Action.
The decision Of the women TO ride
the streetcars. whether their men
D K would or not. came suddenly. For
week the women of the Civics Club,
he leading organization Of the valley,
has had the matter under considera-
non. but could not reach a decision.
Ia this contingency Mrs. French and
others. in and out Of the club, decided
upon independently organized action,
nd agreed on this morning as the
line to begin work
As arranged by them. the three hun
ired in the movement are TO take turns
iding in the cars, each of the number
ling pledged TO encourage at least ten
hers up to the point Of riding BY
,his endless chain method they purpose
20 force the opening of the lines to
general travel II is AZ the same time
their answer 10 the strikers, who have
followed women who dared 20 ride In
cars TO their homes and TO the stores
and. what to some was worse than
either, threatened to cause their cooks
70 give notice.
Some cooks have, in fact. quit work.
among them the queen OF Airs. Thomas
A. Wright's kitchen. She quit when
notice was received by her that unless
she stopped cooking for the general
manager Of the company she would be
killed. Mrs. Wright did her own cook
ing for a week, until another cook
could be obtained.
Another thing which aroused the ire
OF the women was the fact that girls
in local stores had been threatened
with dismissal by employers # they
used the cars, this because the store
owners feared boycott If their help
rode in other than jitneys.
Women Ride on First Car.
80 this morning, when fog hung so
heavily over the city that operating
cars under the best Of labor conditions
would have been ticklish work. Mrs
French called up the company's Office
and asked when the first car would run
TO Plymouth. She was told HAS
o'clock Just before that hour two
women stepped into a waiting car. A
moment later others entered and bowed
one TO another as they would in normal
conditions. Soon a dozen were in the
seats. Then two black clad nuns en-.
tered, and as the town clock struck the
three-quarters the conductor tangled
the bell and they were off.
The crowds in the streets did not
know Just what to think TO see a cal
with so many persons in II. At the first
block two men got on. As the car went
I'D West Market Street Steamer" Elan
ager, who was big league ball player
before he became a traffic policeman
rubbed his eyes and wondered what
was up. The car got out of his range
without bother, and not stone was
thrown or a harsh word uttered until
Plymouth was reached.
The club women and the nuns left
the car, the nuns 70 80 70 hospital,
the others 20 look over Plymouth.
women strike breaker"l said the
persons IN the crowd. "Can you beat
III"
"And some lockers too" declared
another.
sect wise" said a third, "them amt
strike breakers, they're society danes;
don't you spose | know"
Similar remarks greeted the ears OF
the women during their walk about
the place, and The trip back was un-
eventful, until the square was reached.
There striker set out to follow one
Of the women.
Changed His Mind Quickly.
What do you want Of meT" she
asked him. stopping when she had led
MIN into right Of a policeman.
Just your name, lady" said the
Follow me another step. and tina.
want 10 know ?" '''''
lie MADE no answer for he was on
his way down a side street.
We decided 20 do as we did" said
Mrs. French % her home in South
Franklin street tonight, because We
thought we might shame the men into
showing little spunk. II they could
not ride we thought we would show
them that we could, that women hst
quite enough courage II the men Lacked
Il. We arc going 20 keep 10 up too
II brought the matter up in The