The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-07-26

ASs<N%o W. ASA4S we
On the fourth day of the sec
ond week of the carmen's strike,
an article dealing with the moves
of either side, as seen by strik-
er, may interest the labor world
quite q little.
1t Is generally known that the
men went on record as striking
for better working conditions,
wages and the constitutional
right to organize for protection.
While, technically speaking, such
are the facts, yet the men have
first and foremost, struck for
their rights as free and equal citi-
Zens, as set forth In the Declare
tiop of Independence. That is
they have demanded the rein
statement of six platform men
and one operator who have dared
to exercise their right to union
ize.
"Outside Agitators."
l.. II. Bean, as manager Of the
T. r. & p. railway at that time
(July Is, 191D, flatly denied the
men this privilege, stating thai
being experienced in the opera.
ton of street railways he intend.
ed to keep within his autocratiC
power the privilege of promotion
and discipline" as he saw fit.
He reiterated the statement
that the men were entirely salts
fed and that the trouble was
the direct outcome of the activi-
ties Of Outside agitators"; wher
as matter of fact four of the
discharged men we're the prime
movers in the said agitation.
GrOundless Charge.
Working from July 1 until
July 16, these men formed and
worked into shape an organiza.
ton which was already for Its
inception, when Mr.. McMorrow
of Detroit, was sent for to ad
minister the first rites to the new
born band. Immediately upor
completion of these rituals Mr.
McMorrow left the city, therefore
the charge that the strike wai
due to outside agitation" is alb
solutely groundless.
Dissatisfaction was rampant fol
many months before actual steps
were taken for betterment. Con.
ditions of working hours had be
come so unbearable that it hat
become no longer possible for al
employe to spend more than ar
hour or two with his family each
day. For instance, he would
arise from his slumbers at a
m, and after consuming a hasty
breakfast would then walk OIL
pedal his way to the barns to take
out his car at an hour varying
from 4:50 a. m. to $50 a. m.
when most fortunate worker!
were just arising to prepare fol
the days toll.
Some Hoursl
A short run" of from two tC
six hours constituted his first
run, then an average of one to
five hours swing" was given
him, and sometimes his daily run
was chopped into four pieces
The period of platform work was
usually nerve-racking and Cruel
ling to the extreme, since he was
given barely enough time to make
his schedule, and was then often
compel to make from 10 to so
passenger stops" in addition to
the usual safety stops"
After concluding the days
work, if he arrived home at p
m, he considered himself one OF
the lucky daylight" men. Nc
time for enjoyment or converse
with his family could be found
unless he laid off" from work.
That Raise.
The wage of the first-year mar
was 23 and "a cents an hour, anG
altho II hours per diem was con,
sumed in working. eating and
getting to and from the barns, the
man seldom was paid for more
than 1870 hours of platform
time" in any 15-day period.
Between Nov. l, 1916, and
June /, 1917, Mr.. Bean gave hi
employes a VOLUNTARY" raise
of 3 cents per hour, a percent
age of 13 per cent. Living con.
ditions had in the meantime gone
up 100 per cent more.
Did an employe dare raise hi
voice and protest at the injustic,
done him, he was told that If III
did not like it he could resig1
from the service.
They Walk Out.
Finally the men could bear |
no longer, and started their or
| ganization. Immediately sever
men were summary discharge,
for being actively engaged in it
formation. The rest of the mel
rose as in body. and filed theil
protest against such high-handet
autocracy, and after serving 4,
hours notice to Mr.. Bean, walked
out in a body at midnight Jul,
lis, 1917. Immediately there wa
begun the age-old policy of mud
| singing.
First the strikers we're accuse,
OF dealing unfairly with the pub
lie, when as a matter of fact tn,
public, thru the newspapers, b,
announcements in local theaters
and by telephoning to outlyin,
districts, were warned. All o
these notifications we're done b!
the men themselves, and NONE o