Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-14
CHICAGO AFO0T
AND ON BIKES
Strike of $4,000 Employees
Ties Up All Street
Car Lines.
NO CARS MOVING
EXCEPT u. S. MAIL

PsAcee OF 6uSineSS-Company SAD
to Be Preparing to Bring in $4,000
striksbrsaksrs in Effort to Operate
cars-Thsaters and Parks Closed.
Chicago, June 14.-Chicagoans--ap-
proximately 100000 of them-walked.
motored and used steam roads to their
work today A strike of $4,000 street
car employees went into effect at mid
night last night. Not wheel on the
1910 miles Of track OF the surface and
elevated lines turned after o'clock
this morning, when the last crews took
their cars into the barns. 1t was the
first time in generation that all street
car lines were tied up.
Seven hundred policemen were on
guard at the various barns scattered
thruout the city to watch property and
to prevent the strikers from congregat-
Ing. The :::eia chee:ea as tiiis:; !et: their
cars. Orders to strike were issued after
an all-day conference between union
leaders, transportation officials and
Mayor Thompson. Neither side would
yield.
The strikers demanded a guarantee
Of a wage increase. Officials Of the
companies refused their demands. To
meet it, they said, would mean an OUT
lay of an additional $1.40O.OOO annually.
William Mahon. president of the inter-
national union, attended the confer
ences.
#
Effects Of Strike Widespread.
Approximately 100000 fares are COL
lected on the two electric systems daily
The surface lines collect 100000 and
the elevated 100000. There are 3,125
cars operated daily by the surface lines
AMI 1.5lS on the elevated. which oper-
ates 215 miles of trackage. The surface
lines operate 1905 miles.
~ Hurried preparations were made over
night by the officials Of steam roads to
bring to work today the great armies
of clerks In stores. office workers ana
others in business In the downtown dis
trict.
Jitneys % Big Business.
Taxicabs did rushing business and
the "jitney" busses which heretofore
have failed to make much progress in
the transportation problems. were load
motor trucks were pressed into service.
Roller skates were brought into use and
thousands pedaled to their work on
bicycles.
Delivery Of the United States mails
puzzled the postoffice officials. Re-
organization of the street car delivery
system will have to be undertaken it
was announced. and in many suburban
districts there will be but one delivery
day.
1t was understood that a dozen or
more cars carrying the mails from the
main Office to sub stations would be
operated as usual
To Employ Strikebrsakers.
Mrs. Ella Flagg Young. superintend-
ent of public schools. asserted that
attempts would be made to continue
the schools. aitho the problems OF
transporting 100 teachers gave grave
concern.
Arrangements to furnish $4,000
strikebreakers to operate cars and
guard property were put into operation
today. Agents for the lines. it was said,
had arranged to provide food and
sleeping quarters in several large
hotels.
Banquet halls, sample rooms and
even the roofs of the large downtown
hotels have been converted into Sleep
ing quarters for nearly $4,000 persons
who will be obliged to live near their
places Of business during the strike.
To Sleep in Offices.
The demand for cots to be placed in
office buildings was exceedingly brisk.
Thousands Of persons have planned to
|. sleep in their offices.
Managers of theaters in the business
district have announced they would
close unless the strike was soon ended.
Baseball on the National League
grounds probably will be closed after
today's game The closing Of several
big amusement parks in outlying dis
tricts was regarded as certain.
Elevated Runs Train.
For four hours not a car moved.
Then south-side elevated train,
carrying only a few passengers, made
a round trip as q test. AS result It
was announced that an attempt would
be made to run trains with strike-
breakers and guards every fifteen min
utes.
No disorders were reported early.
Business was not 'paralyzed. but 1t was
benumbed.
Ine rupture over NOuTS OF service
and wages came last night when Mayor
Thompson admitted that his attempt at
mediation was failure.
President Mahon, Of the street car
employees union. returned To Detroit.
his headquarters. the better to direct
the financial phase Of the strike.
A carload Of strikebreakers was re-
ported to have arrived secretly from
Cincinnati.
6rsak Comes at Midnight.
The break between the men and the
company officials came at midnight. It
Is believed to have resulted from the
refusal Of officials Of the Chicago car
unions to abide by the counsels of their
International president. William ..
Mahof. who planned to use peaceful
means as far % possible. He said yes
terday the matter no longer was in his
hands.
William ouinIan. president OF the
surface mems union, and John ].
!. .Rv.sce. president o. s.> elevated mems