El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-29
STREET CAR MEN
OUT ON STRIKE
Lines in FL Paso Suddenly
Tied Up; Wage Increase
Demanded.

plead for you If the least trouble
comes. the city Of FL PasO viii he
declared under martial law. You
ought to know that strikes are won
or lost on the sentiment of the pub
lie If you don't have the people with
you, if YOU don't have them convinced
that your cause IS just and right. YOU
have no chance to win in the end
Strikers Statement.
McHold outlined a part of the mems
position. and said that a tentative con-
tract was then being drawn by Judge
NJ W. stanton. who represented them.
He said this contract would give the
company five days in which TO ar
the contract would be submitted TO
the mayor within a few minutes
When the men began 10 relate their
grievances, and TO demur 10 his re-
quest, mayor Lea continued his re-
marks.
If you have come up here with a
chip on your shoulder. and if YOU pre-
fer to listen to flannel-mouthed agita-
+. tors. rather than to me. then you can't
do any business with me I am striv-
ing for your own best interests. I tell
you, as well as for the good Of FL Paso.
I know nearly every one OF you boys
by sight. and many OF you are my
personal friends"
Prepare Contract.
The committee withdrew, without
acceding TO mayor LEAFS request They
said they expected to have the con-
tract ready to present for his appro-
val within a few minutes. but they re-
turned 10 the hall, and at 10-45 the
entire union went into session
The name OF the organization which
has inaugurated the strike is the FL
PasO Street Railway union, according
to T. McHold, who organized the union
is the business agent and IS directing
the men in the strike. McHold said:
We have organized this order. but
no officers have been elected vet
am now in charge Of the strike We
expect to secure our charter within a
short time. The most OF the men did
not know anything about this pro-
posed strike until they came to the
barn this morning, ready TO so TO
work, and were ordered out Of the ser
vice Some OF them had been notified
of IL last night I have been studying
and working on this case for several
months.
Must Have More Pay.
The men must have more paw. They
are now being paid from p to 26 cents
an hour. We are demanding 25 %, p.
IS. So 81 and 30 cents an hour, ac-
cOrding TO length Of time in the ser
vice We also must have a ten hour
working day. with time and a half
for all overtime.
I'VE demand the reinstatement OF J.
J. Wilcox, A. f Smith and E J. VIII
cox, who were discharged last Friday.
and We're fired for il. They must be
put back to work
Given Five Days
THE StOne-Webster people say that
the officials Of the company in FL PasO
have no authority TO sign contracts
with the men We have ". ". Stanton |
now drawing up a contract. which viii I
give the company five days in which Z
to accede to our demands n this con-
tract is signed in good faith. and in I
the presence OF reliable witnesses, the /
men viii go back to work.
The men have pledged themselves /
90 into any questionable resorts, dur
ing this strike Good order will be /
preserved and no violence will be en-
gagged in The men are willing 10 vol !
unteer. free, to handle troops or mi /
litia. II called upon by the civil or 1
military authorities We have the /
backing Of every labor organization in I
town"
Ten Cars Running.
The ten cars which were in service /
at II o'clock Thursday morning. were 1
with the balance made I'D OF office I
men, employees from the barn and a
few men who had applied for en-
ployment Thursday morning. AS the !
few cars passed on FL PasO street dur
ing the morning, between Oregon and
Stanton. a few people from the side |
walk were calling out: Get off; get
out Of there, you scabs."
The jitnes were doing a thriving !
business. as a result OF the partial sus- !
pension OF the street car service. hut
up to nOons no applications for new
jitne permits had been filed