New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Strike
Holds Grip ON
Jersey Lines
Fewer Cars Are Operated
and Violence Increases
in Spite of Safeguards
Conductorettes a Factor
New Outbreak Is Predicted
Following Report Negro
Deputies Are Sworn In

NEWARK, N. j., March 15.-Fewer
cars were operated in northern New
Jersey than on any day since the strike
of the trolleymen began At the same
time, there was a decided increase in
the reports of violence attempted by
the strikers.
Sheriff John r. Slavell Of Essex
County, during the morning, impressed
$50 deputies for strike duty. Even
these, armed with revolvers, blackjacks
and nightsticks, failed to cope with the
conditions arising from the strike.
Early this morning traction officials
sent out several cars, each carrying
two armed guards. The strikers, how
ever, waylaid the cars short dis
tance from the barns and forced their
crews to return with them.
Shortly before noon, squad of
guards was ordered to take a car over
the full route along Bloomfield Ave-
nue.. AT Twelfth Street, however, the
strikers rushed the car in a body, and,
after brief skirmish, forcibly removed
the conductor and motorman and com
PEELED the few passengers in the car
to leave it,
The strikers admitted this afternoon
they were pinning their hopes on win
ming the strike on the women en-
ployes of the company who went out
with them. A few months ago, the
same men violently opposed introduc-
tion of conductorettes on the cars.
During the day the conductorettes
met independently from the other
strikers and voted unanimously not
only to stand by the other strikers, but
to resist any attempt on the part of
the company to inject strike breakers
into the situation
Yesterday morning Sheriff Slavell
swore in 100 deputies as guards for
cars which the company plans to oper-
ate with non-union crews. When it
was learned that many of these depu-
ties were colored men a special meet
ing Of the strikers was called, at which
resolutions pledging the men to loyalty
to the union were adopted unanimously.
Predictions, incidentally, were freely
offered that the presence of colored
men would precipitate trouble.
SO far as could be learned, abso-
lutely no progress was made yester-
day toward reaching q settlement of
the trouble. Officials of the Public Ser
vice Corporation declared under no
circumstances would the strikers
union be recognized At the same
time, the strikers, at various meetings
during the day, gave evidence by the
unanimity with which they voted on
the question that they would never ac-
cept any sort of a compromise agree
ment unless it embodied RECOGNITION
Of their union
The first move Of the War Labor
Board. to settle the differences was
made here to-day, when Arthur Stur-
CESS, examiner, and William Harvey
chief investigator of the board, con-
ferred with the strikers at ther head
quarters and afterward with officials
OF the company. 1t is not expected
any definite action will be taken until
tomorrow at the earliest.
For the first time since the strike
started open trucks were pressed into
emergency service. AS a result resi-
dents of this and other New JERSEY
cities were treated to the spectacle Of
hundreds of young women being carted
through the streets in equipages that
threatened the dignity of all who rode
in them.
The only balm for the injured feel
ings of the public was offered bv the
return of the striking chauffeurs en-
ployed on the yellow taxicabs. They
agreed to return to their machines
pending arbitration Of their demand
for more pay.