Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1920 — STRIKE TIES UP CARS IN CHICAGO [ARTICLE]

STRIKE TIES UP CARS IN CHICAGO

GM Kilim 111 Mill) Hut Winn Truck Carrying Passengers Is Wrecked. WALKOUT IS UNEXPECTED Elevated Line* and Steam Roads Swamped With Thousands of Persons Attempting to Qet to Work. Chicago, July 16.—Street car service was completely paralyzed here by an unexpected strike of electrical workers, machinists and track laborers, through which 2,500 men were called from their jobs with less than ten hours' notice to the company. Nearly normal service today was promised, however, In an official statement from the Company’s main office. Power for operation Is to be developed through the use of non-strlkers, it was said. Girl Killed, 7 Hurt In Crash. One girl, Rose Stein, 14, is dead at St. Mary's hospital as a result of the street car strike. She was killed and seven others were seriously injured when a motor truck crowded with passengers bound for the loop ran into an electric light pole at Robey and Thomas streets. ‘'Flivver" Overturns; Three Injured. A “flivver bus," carrying workers to the loop, overturned at Fullerton avenue and Leavitt street, injuring three of the passengers. The street car company appealed to the chief for police protection of all power plants, saying that violence was feared. Fearing disorder ns a result of Wie company's efforts to offset the strike. Chief of Police Garrity and First Deputy Superintendent John Alcock took personal command of the forces and ordered reserves held ready for Immediate call. No trouble occurred during the confused hours following the walkout. Not until 5 a. m. was Willison Fish, genera) manager of the Chicago Surface lines, sure that a walkout of any kind was coming. At that hour power plant and car barn was tied up. Utter confusion followed. Thousands waited at street corners for cays that did not come, unaware that a strike had been called. Elevated lines and steam railways were swarppetl. Private automobiles were commandeered and limped downtown under swarming loads. The morning rush became a confused, belated jam. No Warning Given. The strike order came without warning following a conference yesterday afternoon between representatives of the company and six unions which did not sign the new wage agreement accepted by men In the operating forces of the system June 1. The conference was arranged as a peaceful meeting for the discussion of a contract, according to Manager Fish. Instead, It developed Into a wrangle and the strike order followed. Issues were not made clear, but statements today from Michael (“Umbrella Mike") Boyle and Irwin Knott, business agents of Electrical Workers’ Union No. 9, indicated that the men's grievances are these: 1. Dissatisfaction on the part of the machinists and track laborers with their present wage scales. 2. Resentment by the electrical workers over the fact that the company is operating its shops at Vincennes avenue and Seventy-seventh street under an “open-shop” policy. 3. Dissatisfaction with “working conditions” which the business agents refused to discuss In detail. According to Boyle, the electrical workers, Whose strike caused the tieup, arc satisfied with the pay they are now receiving.. They are striking in an effort to make the Seventy-sev-enth street plant a “closed shop” and to remedy certain “working conditions.” The track laborers and.the machinists not only want the “closed shop,” but also Insist that they should be given a 33 per cent increase in pay. They base their wage demand on the fact that the company recently received a 33 per cent Increase in fares to meet the expense of higher wages to employees. The street car company operates 82 power plants in the city. Sixteen of these are manned by union men and were completely tied up by the strike.