The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-08
co. SUES STRIKERS
Street Railway Concern De-
mands 100000 Damages.
$50 MOtOrmen, Conductors and
Union, Defendants.
CHARGE They BROKE CONTRACT
Bitter Strike Has Paralyzed
Local Transportation.
100000 Wage Farmers at
Wilkes-Barre Boycott Cars.
CHARGE THEY BROKE CONTRACT

Wilkes-Barre. Pa, Jan. S-After
weeks of wrangling over wages and
working conditions with its $50 mo-
tormen and conductors. during which
local transportation has been para
lyzed and riot and bloodshed have be-
come common, the Wilkes-Barre
Railway company has sued the strik-
ers individually and collectively for
100000 damages for violation of
their contract and unlawful picket
ing"
A large percentage of the traction
stock is owned by f. NJ. Kirby, whose
string of stores is amalgamated with
the Woodwork string; and Abraham
Nesbitt, said to be the richest man in
wyoming valley. The strike began
October IA. 1915.
The strike is affecting a retail buy
ing population of 4S1.SI5, a wholesale
buying population of S51. $50 and a to-
tai population of 1.75O,O0O. The $50
men are losing $1,000 week in wages
and the company $4,000 a day in fares.
Seventy thousand United Mine work
ers and 10000 textile workers have
boycotted the street cars. Three hun
dred special mounted police and two
troops of state police have been I'M
able 10 preserve order. All cars are
armored with double steel netting
Demanded 8 Cents Increase.
liz men COhlGHu IneV are STRIKING
for justice. Company officials claim
they are fighting for the principle of
arbitration. The e2dlOck is over the
method of wage payment, rather than
the wage. The last three-year agree
ment expired last January l. Negotia-
lions on new schedule dragged until
April l, when the men struck. They
had demanded an increase from "a to
81 cents an hour and better working
conditions. The latter they got Ar
bitrators were selected to settle the
wage dispute. April 10 the men re-
turned to work.
July 20 the arbitra tors announced a
sliding scale: First year men to re-
ceive "a cents. second year men 25
cents, third year men &c cents. fourth
year men 26 Il cents. and fifth year
men &c q cents an hour. To this was
added profit sharing feature, the
men getting ten per cent of the in
crease III the per car hour earnings
of the company. For every ten cents
a car averaged per hour over sZ7S6
the men were to receive one cent The
men said that with the increase of lit
neys there was little prospect of this
additional profit. Arbitrator Shea
handed down dissenting decision.
The men objected to this sliding scale.
Umpire Jackson agreed that the arbi-
traitors had exceeded their authority.
Cops Ran the Cars.
Traction Manager T. A Wright
would net meet the mems national Of
Ulcers. The strike was again declared.
Page advertisements in the newspa-
pers explained the company's fight for
arbitration. November g. strike
breakers took out the cars Riots fol-
lowed Policemen had to run the cars
to shelter, the strike breakers having
fled. Sheriffs deputies, several hun
dred additional mounted police and
Troop B of the Pennsylvania mounted
police patrolled the system. Blood
shed and rioting continued. Troop C
from Pottsville then arrived Disorder
continued. Philadelphia was appealed
to- More special officers were brought
to protect those who wanted to ride
Labor Secretary Wilson has sent
mediators, the state department has
done the same, International Presi-
dent Mahon of the Garments union
mas been here. merchants have organ
lied committees, the chamber of com
merce has been active, but no progress
has been made. The men demand a
flat rate, agreeing to slightly less than
the present scale. The company saws
1t will exact a strict compliance with
the award of July 10. A boycott is
maintained on the lines that are now
open. The men claim to be ready to
fight until next winter