ATU 519 Labor History - "We Walk", by
Terry Hicks
Part
2
- ATU
Local 519, 100 Years of Public Service - 1909-2009
The
company had suspected a strike was imminent and had placed them on guard.
One of the employees was quoted by the Tribune in the Saturday edition
of the paper on this topic, "We are not anarchists, but just plain
working men." After this treatment the men agreed to hold a meeting
after the close of service. Reporters for information about the meeting
asked them and they told them that it was not to be disclosed for fear
of spies of the company being there to eavesdrop on the proceedings.
During the day the committee discovered the company directors had become
extremely busy businessmen, for they could not find them available to
meet or indeed even to be able to schedule a future meeting. Seeing
that Edwards and Gund were not going to meet, John Rae was instructed
by the members to contact the Secretary of the State Board of Arbitration
as well as the International President. So ended the events for the
opening volleys of each side of the impending combatants. The May 31st
Tribune contains an interesting article on the past couple of days activities
of the streetcar company and the fledgling union..."There is more
of genuine interest then appears to those unfamiliar with the situation.
Private detectives in abundance in employ of the car company are flitting
here and there. If you talk with a car man on Fourth and Main streets
make up your mind the sullen fellow who slides up and carelessly watches
something else, is straining his ears for information, which may be
of service to his employers. If you see one of the discharged leaders
of the unionists walking up street, feel sure that the burly looking
citizen pacing behind him is a company sleuth.
Anyway that's what the car men say is
going on and their representatives are as busy among the car men who
are still at work. All but eight of the employees of the company engaged
in the actual running of cars are said to have joined the new union
although the real facts are being concealed until the arrival of the
national head of the organization when the unionists expect to be able
to completely paralyze street car traffic unless the company submits
to arbitration." The next development that was reported by the
Tribune appears in the June 3rd issue. The union reported to the paper
that seven strikebreakers were guests at the Northwestern Hotel. They
have been reported as having said they another 47 strikebreakers are
in transit to the city. Union sources have learned that they are to
be in charge of a famous strikebreaker, whom has been utilized by many
companies to break up streetcar strikes. Other intelligence related
to the dispute bear repeating. A Mr. Dunn, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
stated that he was in the employ of the City of La Crosse, reporting
directly to the Mayor and Chief of Police. He confided in his work to
the union men and said he had reported to them that the employees were
not violating any laws or rules. It was felt the Police were angered
by the loss of free passes on the cars, which they had been enjoying
prior to the union leaders reporting the violation of the anti-pass
law. The union felt the police were acting as spotters for the company
in compensation for the free pass while they were in force.
Further accusations involved the patrolmen
speaking to the union car men and advising them that the union action
was of no good use to their future. Brother John Darling, specifically
reported that, Officer Wolfe, a former hometown acquaintance of his,
had told him to have nothing to do with the union. He said it would
"get him nothing." Superintendent Shaw was interviewed by
the Tribune on these matters and acted surprised when asked about them,
smiling broadly when asked if strikebreakers were in town.” Somebody’s
stringing them," he said. As to the detective hired by the City
and the police he said, "So far as I know, there is nothing at
all to this. If policemen have talked to the men they have done so voluntarily.
I know nothing of the city employing a detective and the story seems
preposterous. I think you will find this whole thing is evolved in the
exited imaginations of men who have been forced to let go." Chief
of Police, John Webber was questioned and had a comment on the charge.
"A general order has on the book in central station for several
days cautioning the policemen against discussing the troubles of the
street car employees or taking part in any way in the absence of disorders.
If any of the men are riding on free passes it is beyond the knowledge
of this department. The man Dunn is not a city employee. He wears a
star that is charged to him at our office and which he must return.
We give the stars to all special officers, but take care that they are
sober and responsible men. This department cannot keep tab on everything
individual policemen do, but I doubt if any of my men have taken sides
one way or the other in the street car fuss." Sergeant Yolton of
the police department reports that Dunnis an employee of the Streetcar
Company and reports to them, not to the police chief or mayor.
Mayor Sorenson seconded the statement
by Yolton. Union officers learned that Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint
Paul, Railway, yard detective; Mathisa Elsen is acting as a bodyguard
and private detective for Shaw. The seven strikebreakers were discovered
when they all boarded the same car and offered passes to the conductor.
Upon questioning they told the conductor how they came by the passes
and that they were being paid $2 a day and expenses. The following day
saw the arrival of eight more strike breakers, bringing the total in
town to fifteen. Six staying at the Northwestern Hotel and six at the
Hotel La Crosse. The names of these twelve becoming known to the union.
Mayor Sorenson owned a building firm and was a manufacturer of mantels,
store and bar fixtures. He was discovered to have taken a contract to
build a bunkhouse in the Streetcar barns to be used for the purpose
of housing a large body of strikebreakers. He told the Tribune the company
the plans were for enlarging the company’s paint shops told him.
The La Crosse AFL placed one representative in each of the hotels to
watch the strikebreakers for the union. They learned that the men were
almost all from Milwaukee and that their names were: O.A. Peterson,
L. Molzahn, F. Hubbard, H.Minor, E. Bond, W.H. King, J. Austin, S.O.
Ellis, E. Bond, E. Bruggmann, George Burke, W. Smith and Fred Williams.
The only other development of interest reported in the papers was in
the June 7th issue, the men were ordered to cease wearing their union
buttons on the streetcars. The passengers, who observed motormen or
conductors working the cars sans a union button, were intensely questioned
by the many union customers of the streetcar line. The company ordered
a gas connection installed in the lower story of one of the barns, to
allow a mess house to be put into service for the feeding of the strikebreakers
should a strike occur.
Following the wishes of Division 519
[as ATU Locals were then designated] organizer Rae, telegraphed Secretary
Humphrey at his home in Milwaukee but did not receive an immediate answer.
Consequently, when Division 519 held it’s next regular meeting,
on June 5th, other than swearing in another new member and authorizing
the order of six Association badges, nothing more was done on communicating
with the streetcar company. Conductor George Verthin was the new member,
just having joined. Secretary Humphrey was unable to answer Division
519's request for aid immediately for he had been out of town since
May the 30th working at Cleveland, Ohio. He was there until June the
4th, helping to settle a strike on the Great Lakes by some union maritime
workers. Upon reaching his home and checking his messages he telegraphed
John Rae and announced his intent to come to La Crosse on Tuesday morning
on the train. Secretary Humphrey was in town on the 8th of June and
was hoping to meet with the company on that day. A bulletin was posted
at the car barns stating that the company was not going to listen to
a union committee and would maintain an open shop. A committee from
the Trades and Labor council [AFL] tried to meet with Henry Gund but
he was not in.
The work on the company's bunk rooms
was stopped today, the reason was unknown by union sources. After gaining
an appointment on the 11th Secretary Humphrey was interviewed by the
La Crosse Leader-Press and spoke about his conclusions of the meeting.
He told the paper that it appeared to him nothing could be done to modify
the existing contract until after it expired on September 1st. He predicted
that a peaceful outcome would be the end result of this dispute. "I
met the committee of employees, but I did not find them with any ill-feeling
against the company. The men object to a few of the rules that have
been laid down by the company, but under the agreement that the have
signed I can see no way of changing them until the expiration of the
agreement. I held a conference with the President and superintendent
and they appear to be fair.
They say that the company will meet
and reason with a committee of the men, but not as a committee representing
the union. The officers seem to be reasonable and I think after talking
with both sides, that there is no danger of a strike, but that matters
will be adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned. The company does
not object to having its men belong to the union, but it desires to
reserve the right to run an open shop. I expect to leave Saturday morning
and I look for no trouble in this matter." Humphrey returned to
Milwaukee. From there he telegraphed President Edwards, the following
message, "Dear Sir: After the conference I had with you on June
11th,I made further investigation of the difficulty that exists between
the La Crosse Street Railway Company and their employees, and I believe
that if you will reinstate the employees who were recently discharged,
that it will bring amore harmonious relation between your employees
and the company.
These however are only my suggestions.
If at anytime that the service of this board will be of any assistance
to you in bringing about a peaceful adjustment of the difficulty between
your employees and the company, we shall be glad to do so. Respectfully
yours, John Humphrey." Mr. Rae wrote to President Mahone and also
received a telegram from him. He notified Rae that Secretary Reeves
of the International would be arriving in La Crosse. The telegram read.
"Detroit, Mich., June 14th, l909...Mr. John Rae, Organizer A.F.
of L., 720 S. Seventh St., La Crosse, Wi. Dear Sir and Brother: Your
communication of June 12th, also your telegram received. I was absent
from the office at the time your telegram came in, but arrived this
morning and immediately arranged to have Brother Reeves, the Secretary
of our Board, come to La Crosse on Wednesday. That is as soon as I could
get anyone to you as we are crowded for men on account of the work in
various cities that is going on at the present time and Brother Reeves
had to leave his work as Editor of the Journal out in this matter on
account of the condition we are in, every one being busy with our agreements
that expire at this time of the year. Hoping this will explain the matter
and that you will be able to get your case adjusted and with best wishes,
I remain, Fraternally yours, W.D. Mahone International President."
So at the June 12th Union meeting, Joe Ebner was initiated into membership
and the failure to obtain any meeting of the union committee with the
streetcar officials was the only business to report on.
Secretary Humphrey's report was read
to the members and the reply of Mr. Edwards to this request was quoted
in the meetings minutes as being, "he was willing to have a meeting
with the boys but would not under any circumstances meet a committee
from the union." Another Union meeting was scheduled for June 19.
International Secretary Reeves telegraphed John Rae on June 16 and announced
his departure from Chicago for La Crosse at 6:30 p.m. of that same day.
Brother Reeves called the June 19th Union meeting to order and proceeded
to give Division 519 a speech on unionism, which by the comments contained
in the union meeting was well received by the members. Then followed
regular business and a strike vote was taken. Brother Rae was instructed
to take the ballot box into his keeping, until a tally might be needed
and enumerated upon all members casting their ballots. Then a written
communication was approved to be sent to the La Crosse City Railway
Company, as follows: "Dear Sir: We, the undersigned committee of
your employees submit to you that pertaining to the conditions between
the management of the Company and the employees, we are willing and
anxious to arbitrate all differences which have been submitted to you
by us, and we hereby tender the proposition to arbitrate before a board
of arbitrators to be composed of three disinterested persons, one to
be chosen by you, one to be chosen by your employees, and third, if
not agreed upon by the company and the employees to be chosen by the
two thus chosen.
Please advise us of your position and
this proposition to arbitrate. We add specifications to arbitrate as
follows; 1st - The reinstatement of motormen Thrun and Sprout. 2nd -
To determine or define the "open shop" and fix the status
of membership of employees in Division Number 519, A.A. of S. and E.E.
of A., as employees of the company. 3rd - To determine a wage rate to
succeed the present scale. 4th - To determine the service day for employees.
5th - Any specifications which may be added by the company. Awaiting
an immediate reply, we are very truly yours, signed, Charles Masterson,
William Bruhuke, Thomas Daley, Committee of Employees." President
Edwards did comply with this request the very same day and his reply
was this: "Referring to your communication of this date, I can
make no other reply than to quote the following extract from the resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors of the La Crosse City Railway Company,
same having been sent to you on two fore-mentioned occasions and running
as follows; - ("We hereby declare it to be the settled policy of
this Company not to recognize or treat with any union or union committee,")
Signed, B.E. Edwards, President La X, City Ry. Co." Then Edwards
had a bulletin posted, dated June 19, which told of their intention
to run a nonunion shop on and after June 22, l909. This became known
as the 'LOCKOUT BULLETIN."" - Special Bulletin. By order of
the Directors. June 19th,l909. To Conductors and Motormen; - Referring
to our former bulletin in which we declared it to be our intention to
maintain an open shop, we have given this plan a full trial, and have
become convinced that under the conditions here such a thing is impossible.
Methods are being pursued which in time
would result in driving every conductor or motorman into the union or
out of the service of the company. Being thus obliged to choose between
operating a closed shop or a nonunion shop, we hereby announce our intention
of remaining on and after Tuesday June 22nd, l909 a nonunion shop. We
invite you all to continue under these conditions. Employees who do
not desire to continue under these conditions are requested to hand
in their resignations and settle their accounts with the company on
or before the date mentioned.
By order of the Board of Directors of
La Crosse City Railway Company. B.E. Edwards, President." President
Masterson called for a meeting of the union, for Monday June 21st. The
strike votes were tallied and the motion carried to strike. Members
were instructed to report for work on Tuesday morning and if the company
insisted they resign their union membership, they should return to the
meeting hall. The meeting ended with instructions to open again on Tuesday
morning.
STRIKE
President Masterson gaveled the Tuesday
morning meeting to order, as the company made good on their threats
and all of the men had returned from the streetcar powerhouse after
having refused to drop out of Division 519. Locked out by the company
upon insistence of the right to unionize, the men now formed several
committees to prosecute their strike needs. Brother Edward Jones was
appointed the Captain of the strike committee and Brother William Dopson
became the Lieutenant of said committee. Brother Rae if the AFL and
Brother Thrun and Ruegg of Division 519 gained the dual duties of press
committee and that to secure a rented hall for the use of the duration
of the strike. Brothers Ryan, Masterson and Goede undertook the work
of securing and seeing to the work of running horse-drawn” buses"
and hacks, to transport people around town during the strike. Brothers,
Daley, Mull and Rae were to organize mass meetings to promote public
support for the strike cause. During this strike, the International
sent Brother Fred Fay, General Executive Board Member, to assist in
the work of seeing the union's strike to a successful conclusion. He
arrived in town on June 25 and helped Brother Reeves with the dispute
between the parties. Brother Fay would see the settlement through the
arbitration while Brother Reeves had to return to Detroit after the
Lockout was discontinued, to return to the duties of the Journal of
the International. This long feared strike was now on; it would become
the most publicly supported and widespread labor dispute in the history
of the city. It would affect drastically the public’s ability to
get to work, school or shopping, because the private automobile for
not yet a common means of private transportation. The politicians, religious
leaders, business owners, law enforcement officials and the general
public would become embroiled in the dispute. Events would become serious
enough that the national guard would be placed on call by Governor Davidson
because of reports by the national and state wide newspaper accounts
of rioting details. The strike made headlines in the newspapers of Monday,
June 21st. As a preface to the battle a lengthy document that was made
available from the committee to the members of 519 and was printed in
full in the Tribune on Monday June 21st and explains the history of
the events leading up to the strike. "To the Officers and Members
of Div. 519. We, the committee of employees, who have had it committed
to us to reach an understanding upon the differences between the employees
and the company, beg leave to report that we sought to conference with
the company at the power house on June 18. There were present on part
of the company President Edwards and Directors Hixon, and Cargill, and
Supt. Shaw. Representing the employees were your committee, Messrs.
Masterson, Brunke and Daley. Upon being asked what we wanted we present
your requests in a preparation, which reads: To the La Crosse City Railway
Company and the La Crosse and Onalaska Street Railway Company. Mr. B.E.
Edwards, President; Messrs. B.E. Edwards, W.W. Cargill, F.P. Hixon,
Henry Gund, Peter Valier, Directors, and Mr. G.H. Shaw, Superintendent.
Gentlemen: - We, the duly authorized committee of your employees, seek
this conference under instruction. We desire to reach an understanding
upon certain propositions herein set forth and present requests for
concessions on your part to us and those we represent. That we may not
be misinterpreted we have adopted this plan of making our appeal and
the cause therefore, in writing. First, we request the reinstatement
of Motormen Thrun and Sprout. We give as a reason for this request that
it is our opinion that Motormen Thrun and Sprout were discharged for
no inefficiency as workmen. Neither were they discharged for any violations
of rules governing the service. We believe that they were dismissed
because of their being members of division number 519 Amalgamated Association
of Street and Electric Railway Employees. We urge that membership in
said association should not be adopted as disqualifying them for service.
To admit it to be a just cause for their dismissal would be expressive
of willingness on the part of your employees to submit to the dismissal
of every one who is a member and the offense, If seems to appear in
no other light than that of exercising a partiality or favoritism to
the advantage of the service, to single them out and dismiss them. We
believe it a favoritism to which you as the directors of the employing
company do not wish to subscribe as a policy. We request that the management
adopt a policy of discipline and treatment of employees that shall apply
equally to all and that no favoritism may be exercised in dealing with
them. We urge that any act of an employee, which is in conformity with
the principals, which is in conformity with the principles of the said
association should not be accepted as a cause for dismissal from the
service of the company. We do not wish to be deceptive in our purposes.
We wish to frankly admit that the formation of the association is inspired
by a desire on our part to have a system of dealing with matters, which
are of our concern, which will bring to those matters proper deliberation.
We are of the opinion that advantages will come to us of a beneficiary
character, and we do not yield that it is a matter for discussion between
employer and employee as to whether we shall maintain ourselves as assembled
in such an association or not. We do not believe the question as to
whether we are right or wrong is one for discussion between the management
of the company and ourselves any more than the question of some business
policy of the company should be one with which we should interfere when
such business policy is in no way a distress or hindrance to us. We
wish further to frankly confess that we as employees desire an increase
in wage and a modification or revision of the system of employment.
We believe that our service should be paid for at the rate of twenty-five
cents per hour with time and one-half for over time. We believe that
we should have the privilege of changing the system of employment so
that as nearly as possible a nine hour day will attain to the employees
and that service may be rendered upon what we know as a two term system.
We do not believe that there should be any question of friction between
the management of the company and the employees relative to "closed
shop" or "open shop". Under date of May 8th, 1909 you
posted for our information over your names a statement in which you
may be quoted as saying [It is the purpose of the company to operate
its business in an independent manner and as an open shop.] Further
you stated, [intimidating methods or threats to force any man to join
an organization against his wishes or better judgment will not be tolerated.
All of the employees who desire to remain loyal to the company are hereby
assured of protection and a permanent situation. Employees having any
grievance whether real or imaginary, will be given a hearing by the
Board of Directors and their grievances made right if it be possible
to do so.] Now, we request the full interpretation of what you mean
by” open shop", and we assume that our understanding is the
correct one and the same as your understanding. It means, as we understand
that members of our association shall be accorded equal rights with
employees who are not members, and that the matter of our membership
in the association shall not be taken into question in dealing with
us, or in the treatment by the management, which we receive. We have
quoted you as stating those employees having any real or imaginary grievances
given a hearing in accordance with that assurance. You will certainly
agree with us that it is not fair when an employee has a grievance to
discharge him and then declare him not an employee to remove his hearing
or the right of a hearing. Unless a hearing is granted to the discharged
employees cannot it be assumed that - that is their situation? They
are now discharged and you deny them a hearing because of their being
put off by the exercise of an act on your part of the superintendent,
which has severed them from the service and rendered inactive the assurance
of your board. The very grievances upon which an employee may desire
a hearing may result is his discharge and thus destroy his possibility
of a benefit guaranteed to him by your declaration of May 8th. We do
not believe that you will regard such a procedure as fair and we further
believe that your purpose will be in being fair to these dismissed men
to give them a fair, honest and impartial hearing and deal with them
in an unprejudiced and impartial manner. In your proclamation of May
8th we quote: [All the employees who decide to remain loyal to the company
are hereby assured of protection and a permanent situation.] In the
conference to which you invited us held at the powerhouse on May 11th
following the issuing of the bulletin when your attention was called
especially to the statements contained in this quotation, you assured
us that membership in the association would not be regarded as disloyalty
to the company. We inferred from that the quotation to which we refer
would relieve us from any concern relative to becoming victims by being
members of the association. With that understanding we do not believe
your position as it now appears against the discharged motormen whose
reinstatement we request, providing that you find that membership in
the association or the performance of any duties in the interest of
the association as members in any way entered into the cause for the
discharge of the men. Believing that the statement in your bulletin
which reads intimidating methods or threats to force any man to join
an organization against his wishes or better judgment will not be tolerated,
is intended to provide also that there shall be no intimidating methods
or threats to force any man not to join an organization which it is
his wish or better judgment to join, we would ask if we were right in
this belief, if so we regret that there have been instances reported
to us by men who have been asked relative to their positions upon the
matter of becoming members that they have been threatened with dismissal
in the event that they should become members. We wish to urge that your
Board may encourage no humiliating orders. Particularly do we refer
to discriminating orders? There is now posted a bulletin, which prohibits
members from wearing a button bearing the insignia of the association.
We can see no harm in permitting any one to wear the button and we look
upon such an order as in violation of the good faith of the bulletin
issued May 8th. We regret that we, as employees, have regarded it necessary
to appeal to you for the protection of our rights as citizens in an
occasion that involves a discussion of the prudence of imprudence of
our being members of the Street and Electric Railway Employees Association.
We wish to reach an arrangement with your formal assurance that we may
be and remain members of our association without further interference
on the part of the operative management of the company, so that the
occasion for a discussion of this kind may not occur again. Pertaining
to the wages and the working conditions we hope to be able to reach
an agreement with your Board that will be satisfactory to both parties
and maintain a satisfactory and efficient service to our public. You
will bear with us in our expressions of the sincere concern that has
arisen to us relative to our tenure of employment through the many dismissals
of the older employees. There can be no reflection upon any one with
whom has been aroused a suspicion that this condition is inspired by
a purpose to promote economy, in expenses. It costs much less say some
$15 dollars per month, to employ a motorman or conductor at 17 cents
an hour than it does at 21 cents an hour. An item the consideration
of which manager anxious to apply strict economy, may reasonably well
consider. Replying, Mr. Edwards told us that we were a committee from
the union designating Masterson as president, Brunke secretary and Daley
a committeeman, and stated that they would not talk to us about anything.
That concluded the meeting. Today your committee received an invitation
to call at the business office of His Honor, the mayor. Committeeman
Masterson and Daley responded to this request. At the mayor’s office
we met Mayor Sorenson and Messrs. Rae and Sprout and the international
secretary. The mayor wished to know our side of the situation. We explained
our grievances to him. Mr. Sorenson said he wanted to see what he could
do to bring about a settlement and avoid a strike. He also said it was
his duty to notify the state board of arbitration and he would immediately
do so by special delivery. Later we received advice from Mayor Sorenson
that the company had turned him down. We then sent the following letter
to Mr. Edwards: Mr. B.E. Edwards, president La Crosse City Railway Company
and La Crosse and Onalaska Railway Company: Dear Sir-We, the undersigned
committee of your employees submit to you that pertaining to the contentions
existing between the management of the companies and the employees,
we are willing and anxious to arbitrate all differences which have been
submitted to you by us, and we hereby tender the proposition to arbitrate
before a board of arbitrators to be composed of three disinterested
persons, one to be chosen by you, one to be chosen by your employees
and a third, if not virtually agreed upon by the company and the employees,
to be chosen by the two thus chosen. Please advise us of your position
upon this proposition to arbitrate. We add specifications to arbitrate
as follows: First. The reinstatement of motormen, Thrun and Sprout.
Second. To determine or define the "open shop" and fix the
status of membership of employed in Division 519, Amalgamated Association
of Electric Employees of America, as employees of the company. Third.
To determine a wage rate to succeed the present scale. Fourth. To determine
the service day for employees. Fifth. Any specifications, which may
be added by the company. Awaiting an immediate reply, we are, Very truly
yours, In reply to that latter we received the following: La Crosse
Club, La Crosse, July 19, l909. Charles Masterson, Wm. Bruhnke, Thomas
Daley: Referring to your communication of this date I can make no other
reply than to quote the following extract from the resolution adopted
by the board of directors of La Crosse City Railway Company, same having
been read to you on two former occasions and running as follows: We
hereby declare it to be the settled policy of the company not to recognize
or treat with any union or union committee. Respectfully, B.E. Edwards,
President La Crosse City Railway Company. Now, it is up to you to take
a strike vote if you so wish as we fell that we have used every endeavor
to avoid a strike and reach a settlement in the interest of yourself,
the company and the city. But if you take a strike vote we would recommend
that it be a secret ballot to be committed to your committee instructing
them to call the strike at a time when they may be sure that there is
no hoe in Mayor Sorenson’s proposed effort through the state board
of arbitration. Very respectfully, THE COMMITTEE." The only additional
news of the day comes from the Leader-Press, Edwards had a comment or
two to make for it’s reporter: "We have tried to run an open
shop, but found it would not work and now we propose to pull away from
the union entirely and run a nonunion shop. We pay better wages in La
Crosse than are paid in any city of its size in the country and our
men can make good money. We will run as many cars we are able to operate
with the men we have should the union men quit, and within the next
few days we will have plenty of new men to do the work without trouble."
The Leader-Press commented that the men were caught by surprise, not
expecting the lockout before the next payday. It thought the men were
noncommittal. By the second day the Tuesday newspapers carried the headlines,
Fifty-one men were out on strike, while fifteen remained on the job.
Throughout out the city union workers in other crafts and trades refused
to patronize the streetcar lines. Despite the one or two mile distance,
many of the loyal union supporters, living on the North side of town,
walked rather than use the cars. Twenty-five strikebreakers had been
brought in from Milwaukee and Chicago, to operate the lines. Edwards
receives communications from the directors of the Milwaukee and Minneapolis
streetcar companies encourage him to fire every striker if necessary
to destroy the local union. Meeting in the morning, the union increased
its executive board by five additional members for the duration of the
strike. Adding John Pruett, Tom Daley, Edward Jones, A.P.Ruegg and Fred
Mac Gregor. Authorizing the use of buses for the public's transportation
and they were put into use between Onalaska and La Crosse. The AFL distributed
printed cards to all union members of the city which read All unionists
and the public were asked to pin or place these decorations on their
person to demonstrate solidarity with the members of 519. The Tribune
reported seeing many of them worn by people in the downtown district.
Edwards attempted to keep nine cars running on the regular schedule,
five on the North side, and three on the Southside line and one on the
Oak Grove line. He announced the elimination of service to either the
23rd Street line or the Onalaska line. While running the streetcars,
the replacement workers had two accidents. On South Fifth Street a streetcar
collided with a dray wagon, wrecking a fender. At 14th and Jackson,
the nonunion conductor rode into the corner too fast and jumped the
tracks. A wrecker had to be called to place the car back on the tracks.
During the day there was no evidence of any violence by either side
of the dispute. The union men kept a vigil and closely observed the
attempted operation of the system by the hated strikebreakers. The chief
detective of the strikebreakers in turn was on hand at Fourth and Main
keeping the union leaders under observation. Every streetcar carried
a strikebreaker as the motorman and conductor. In addition, a burly
professional strikebreaker in plain clothes rode as a bodyguard. Dozens
of the locked out men gathered on the street corner sat the main terminus
of 4th and Main Streets, watching and talking amongst themselves. Once
again, Secretary Humphrey arrived in town to help mediate the dispute,
holdings conferences with the union committee and members of the public.
Feeling there was just cause to call for a board of arbitration, he
asks the two other arbitrators to attend a hearing on the matter. The
company states during the day, that they will not be any settlement
accept one on their terms. They offer to put to work any of the old
employees who might wish to return to work without maintaining a right
to belong to a union. Not one man does. The two other meetings were
held at 7:30 p.m. at Linker Hall and at 8:00 p.m. at The Trades and
Labor Council at their offices on south Fourth Street. Typographical
Union Number 448, called for the meeting at Linker Hall to discuss the
strike and show their solidarity for the striking car men. They extended
invitations to all the other local unions to attend. The AFL meeting
was to determine what aid could be developed for the strikers. At 11:00
p.m., a meeting is held at Frohsin Hall, the members of 519 meeting
with the International man, Mr. Reeves. He gives out press releases
and informs the public of the facts of the May 8th bulletin. He tells
of the company’s determination to dissolve the union. The practices
of the company are discussed, long work shifts and the massive firings
of senior men, just when they were to qualify for the top wage rate.
During course of the day's service, only six riders are observed on
the cars during the morning rush hour. It is learned that Edwards has
a part of the car barn turned into a kitchen and has employed a cook
with two kitchen helpers, to feed the strikebreakers. Thirty cots were
placed into the converted paint shop/bunk house to house the strikebreakers.
A load of meat and a wagon load of groceries were delivered to the barns
in the morning and committees of union men were sent around the city
to ask the suppliers not to sell anymore goods to Edwards for the duration
of the strike The company continued sending out streetcars but received
few fares from the public. Reeves held a meeting at the Union Central
Hall, 206 South 4th street. At the meeting the members vote to have
literature printed to explain the union's strike position, to hand out
to the public. Summing up the points of discontent on the front of the
card the back of the card read as follows:” Rule or ruin is the
adopted policy of the La Crosse City and La Crosse and Onalaska Railway
companies. The company has imported strikebreakers to operate cars to
force La Crosse’s honest wage earners to submit to humiliating
treatment, intolerable conditions of employment, starvation wages and
literal slavery. Can we, as citizens afford to encourage such despotism
with our patronage? Intense feelings and solidarity for the union movement
emanated from the people of the North side, old and young alike, responded
to the call to walk, rather then ride the cars! Watching closely for
errors by the disliked strikebreakers, citizens proved to be quick to
telephone the Mayor’s office to report their complaints. Failing
to stop at a rail crossing on George Street was one called in. Mayor
Sorenson was quick to call the streetcar company and order them to obey
the law on this item and he informed the police to see to it that the
cars were in compliance. The Mayor also had to address the problem that
the cars were not in service after eight and nine o'clock in the evening.
He reminded Edwards that under the City Charter, service must be maintained
until at least ten each evening. Superintendent Shaw made a public announcement
that the charter would be obeyed in that regard. Rumors were flying
that sympathizers on the North side were damaging the streetcars, but
other than a broken window on one car and some railroad torpedoes placed
on the rails, nothing was documented. Louis Thrun spoke to the press
and assured them that violence was not being advocated by any member
of 519 but that it was feared it would come from other sources, but
that 519 was doing everything possible to dissuade anyone from engaging
in it. Supporters however were not ceasing to harass the streetcar operators
on the North side and called out "scab", "unfair"
and other epithets as they passed. An obstacle was placed on the tracks
on the North side line and when the strikebreakers came out of the car
to remove it, a large crowd gathered and hooted at them. L.A. Christianson,
a professional, is said to be the man in charge of the company's replacement
workers. He was responsible for breaking up the teamster's strike in
Chicago a few years previously. A meeting of the Bricklayer's union
for scheduled for this evening and support for the strike is expected
from these quarters. The Tribune reported on the Linker Hall meeting
of Tuesday and carried a resolution passed by the attending unionists.
Every union in the city was represented and they unanimously passed
this resolution- "Whereas, the La Crosse City Railway Company directors
saw fit to issue an order discharging from employment all employees
refusing to relinquish membership in their organization and declaring
it the purpose of the company to further deny employment to any union
man; and, Whereas, to carry out the policy of denying further employment
to its old employees, the said company has brought to our city strikebreakers
from the low element of other cities, who are unacquainted with our
streets or people and who are of a character naturally unsafe as street
railway employees to operate their cars: and, Whereas, the said strikebreakers
are not of a character to be welcomed as an element in our community
and their presence among us is an immoral influence and the conduct
of the company directors in their arbitrary overriding of public opinion
and refusal to arbitrate is most reprehensible, therefore be it, Resolved,
that this meeting, held under the auspices of La Crosse Typographical
Union No. 448, June 22, l909, hereby condemns the arbitrary and unreasonable
attitude of the La Crosse City Railway company and pledge our unqualified
support to the locked-out street car employees, to the end that they
secure reinstatement to their former positions with said company; and
be it further, Resolved that we pledge ourselves to refrain from patronizing
street cars and also urge all citizens to withhold their patronage from
said corporation until full justice has been accorded their locked-unemployed."
International Secretary Reeves was also present at this meeting and
spoke at length to the gathered crowd after the resolution was read.
He thanked the typographers union for calling this meeting and passing
their resolution on behalf of 519. Much of his speech is flowery but
still seeing as that it was printed for the public diet, much of it
bears reprinting to fully understand the passions it evoked amongst
the unionists and the general public in the city during the strike.
"First I want to express that this act of Typographical union in
calling this meeting is appreciated to the fullest."..."Isn't
it an illustration of that broad kinship of mankind upon which is erected
that human fellowship, trades unionism? Can anyone take notice of the
calling of this meeting, unsolicited on the part of the street railway
men, and fail to recognize in it the far-reaching integrity of purpose
and the persistence and consistency of the true members of organized
labor?" Continuing he also said, "My friends, it is a far
reaching sympathy-this sympathy of labor. It even reaches beyond the
confines of any one city. The cry of anguish of 50 streetcar men of
La Crosse sets to vibrating the great volume of sympathy of the entire
organized American labor movement. That prayer, four millions strong,
and tensioned by the hopefulness for the right by the great right and
liberty loving throng of our nation is not denied a hearing by the All
Right, Just and Supreme Power on High-that Power against which wealth
dare not ascend." Speaking on the subject of the printer's union,
he said, "I feel at home with the Typographers union, because it
was a printer who taught the members of the original local of street
railway men their first lesson of unionism and organized their first
local...Where ever is the firing line for the uplift of humanity, there
you will find representatives of the printer’s union." At
this meeting it was discussed that when upon his firing at Madison,
Wisconsin, Shaw sued for wages in court and the Madison Company satisfied
the court that he was fired for in competency. Reeves told the meeting
that Shaw styles the men as `pups' as well as `pigs' and `cattle'. He
spoke of the testimony of the men on the techniques Shaw used on the
job, "He had a habit of getting onto cars and endeavoring to get
one employee to tell him of infractions of the rules or etiquette on
the part of other employees. In fact there are numerous humiliating
grievances that would make a schedule too long for publication that
have arisen to aggravate the men during the last year or so. During
the beginning of this trouble Shaw showed some concern, but he is now
reported to have said that he enjoys it." The strike was but into
its third day and the effect of the boycotted cars was causing the merchants
to lose profits already. They wasted not time responding to it and circulated
a petition asking Edwards to grant the demands of the members of 519,
which of course he refused to do. Local union 374 printed a resolution
also in this day’s issue, "Resolved, by the Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers, in regular meeting assembled,
that we, and all of our families and friends walk in preference to riding
on street cars manned by others than members of the Amalgamated Association
of Street Railway employees." One of the strikebreakers operating
on Clinton Street ran his car over a string of fire hose, which was
being used to water down the rock being spread as pavement. The causeway
was filled with the workingmen of La Crosse as they walked home from
work at the close of the day, obeying the "We Walk” motto
of unionists of the city.
Part
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