Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-17
CARS TIED Up
BY STRIKE in
THREE CITIES
Petersburg Carmen Decline
to go Out-Maintain
Service
RICHMOND JITNEYS
Portsmouth is Completely Tied up
Norfolk Almost as Bad With Few
Cars Running

Richmond, Va, Jan. 16.-The tie-up
of the street car systems controlled
bv the Virginia Railway and Power
Company in three of four cities
Richmond, Norfolk and Portsmouth
is virtually complete today, as re-
suit of the strike order called by en-
ployes in protest against the wage
cut.
In Petersburg the car men refused
to heed strike order, and cars ran on
schedule. Interurban employees, how
ever, failed to report for duty and no
cars were run between this city and
Petersburg.
1t was significant that the first car
taken from the Petersburg barn this
morning was driven by the president
of the local division of the Amalga-
mated Association of Street and Elec-
trio Railway Employees of JAmerica.
In this city the company made an
effort to operate, but only II cars left
the barns and they were poorly pat
ronized The several jitney lines in
various sections of the city were large
ly augmented today by numerous
other cars. These were tagged Con
tributed," and were operated by strlk-
ers or their sympathizers. Not iicens-
ed as carriers, they were not permitted
to collect fares, but passengers were
expected to contribute, and cellec-
tons were turned over to the strlk-
ers. Apparently the inconvenience suf-
fered was not severe, although the
first real snowstorm of the winter
with the resultant slush today made
walking disagreeable.
The strikers thus far are adopting
peaceabe methods and there have
been no reports of disorder. Pickets
around the car barns are confning
their efforts to moral suasion.
In a resolution adopted this after
noon the City Council asked the power
company to confer with Mayor Geo.
Ainslie in an effort to bring about an
amicable settlement of the strike, and
also warned the company that its
franchise might be taken away unles
it maintains service.
At a mass meeting OF the 68 labor
organizations here it was announced
that S25 900 already had been received
for the strikers from national head
quarters of the Garments Union, and
it was said that, if necessary, all the
S6,000,000 capital of the organization
would be used to win the strike in
the three cities.
In Portsmouth every cmploye of the
company obeyed the order to go out
and the company made no effort to run
cars.
In Norfolk, where 100 cars normal
ly are operated during the rush hours
of the afternoon, less than dozen
were running, and these were not
patroniZed, sentiment appearing to be
in favor of the strikers, Authority
was granted by that city today for
three additional jitney bus routes,
and these were crowded to capacity
every trip.
While there has been no sign Of
disorder in Norfolk thus far, intima
ton by the local management that
men would be imported unless the
regular employees returned without de-
lay brought threats of retaliation
from the strikers. The Norfolk police
force has been largely augmented in
anticipation of violence, and squads
of bluecoats were stationed at the cal
barns and other points. Many of the
10 men who took cars out early this
morning were induced by jeers of
strikers, and in some instances threats
of violence, to take them back, but the
two groups did not come to blows or
even dangerously near crisis.
Eleventh-hour efforts of the Norfolk
| City Manager to avert the strike were
unavailing, but the City Council prob
ably will take some action looking to-
ward bringing about settlement to-
morrow afternoon. The Virginia Rail