ATU 519 Labor History - "We Walk", by Terry Hicks

 Part 3 - Unrest

The absence of serious or severe demonstrations or violence was to end this day. The public had begun gathering in force at Fourth and Main Streets, after the end of work and were to take action against the company. Early in the evening President Edwards unwisely decided to drive to the main transfer point of the streetcar system at Fourth and Main, to observe the conditions. Arriving, he parked his automobile at the curb and sat in it and watched a large crowd that was busily jeering the "scab" conductors and motormen as they passed through the intersection. He saw the public handing sour lemons to the car men and heard the insults they exchanged with the strikebreakers. The newspaper account of this event, describes Mr. Edwards's sitting in his auto with a smile on his face as he took in the actions of the crowd. Then things changed as he was sighted by the mob and instantly surrounded his vehicle. He was able to smile for a short time yet but then the crowd verbally abused him so violently that he was noticed to become very anxious and nervous. Some members of the demonstrators threw lemons, stones and other missiles into his vehicle while others handed him their "We Walk" cards. Shouts of "scab breeder" and worse assailed his ears as well.

Sheriff Duncan soon appeared on the scene and he had to proceed to order Edwards to leave the area to try to restore peace. When Edwards got out to crank over the engine to start the auto, he had more "We Walk" cards shoved into his pockets and tucked into the hatband of his hat. Several others handed lemons to him and many continued to verbally assault him. The Sheriff and several policemen had to force a passage through the crowd to try to get Edwards out of the area. While slowly inching forward into the melee, his auto tires were slashed and the crowd gleefully mimicked the hissing sound of the escaping air with a Bronx cheer of their own for the Streetcar Company President. Later the investigation of Sheriff Duncan and the police cleared any member of 519 from being in person during any of these insults and injuries to Edwards. Trying to stifle the verbal abuse, Desk Sergeant Frank Youlton, grasped a young lad by the shirt collar and twirled him around, to take him into custody. As he did so, a very large man tapped him on the shoulder and gave him a lecture, "Hands off the boy! Is this the kind of protection your Police force gives to taxpayers and honest citizens? Let this car company bring in a bunch of thieves and jailbirds, arm them with revolvers and turn them loose to knock good men out of their jobs, and subdue honest citizens?" Sergeant Youlton released the boy and moved away. L.A. Christianson, the chief of detectives and a professional strikebreaker, was treated to some local color also. As soon as he was spotted on the street corner, he was surrounded and given a verbal beating and threatened with a physical one as well. Out of the crowd a strongly built man said, "If any help is needed I'm here to help take that big stiff down and throw him in the river." Soon Christianson was rewarded with an escort to a nearby streetcar headed north by the policemen.

The streetcar barn on North Third Street was to be the target of their anger. Having grown to 600 to 800 strong they were led towards the barn by a wagon loaded with union supporters. Upon reaching the car barn, the leading element of the crowd was greeted by the sight of armed strikebreakers and company detectives, guarding the property. The crowd took up a position directly in front of the North Third Street property and faced the club and pistol armed defenders. Slowly growing angry, the crowd made the first move; they attacked the windows of the car barn with stones, lemons and rotten eggs, soon smashing every window in the building. Firing their pistols in the air incensed the mob's feelings to an even higher pitch and they attacked every streetcar they appeared on the scene. Attempting to pass on the tracks, or turn into the barn, each car was surrounded by the angry rioters and the windows of the cars smashed and the strikebreakers pelted with eggs, lemons and rocks. One union supporter was armed with a large syringe loaded with oil and black paint and he liberally applied it to the faces and clothing of the replacement workers. Responding to these actions, the muscular detectives and strikebreakers rushed to the aid of the streetcars as they next arrived and surrounded each one, beating the crowd back with clubs and up-raised pistols. Enduring chants of "scab”,” scab", "scab", the conductors and motormen were recalled from the streets and ordered into the barns by Edwards. One of the cars had it's trolley pulled off the wire and the men had to leave the car to attempt to replace the pole to the power supply, they found themselves showered with filth while they accomplished their task. Many young boys were scattered among the rioters and clubs struck several. The Railway's night watchman, Charles Frederick was the alleged wielder of a club, which struck the son of a fruit vendor, Joe Fyett of South Third Street, a company detective being accused of the same on the person of another young protester as well. This of course caused the passions of the men in the mob to rise to an even higher pitch. Edwards placed a telephone call to the police department asking for protection.

The police arrived but wisely did not threaten the mob, but remained calm and watchful. Just as the crowd noise reached it's zenith, Sheriff "Big Bill Duncan arrived on the scene. Being a physical giant of a man, he had the gained a reputation and the respect of the public in the County and was able to speak to the mob and had began to calm them down when a rain shower sprang up and assisted him. By ten p.m. the crowd was dispersed. The actions of this mob would be a factor in forcing the company to rethink its plans of conducting a long-term dispute. On Thursday, June 24th the newspaper headline read In addition an editorial and a proclamation from the Mayor, were also printed on the front page. All the parties held meetings this day and the company had offered an agreement of settlement to the union. Speaking about the riot of last evening, Sheriff Duncan had several statements for the press early on in the day on the behavior of the streetcar company and it's president. "I am running the peace of this county and I'll see whether B.E. Edwards or Bill Duncan is sheriff of this county. No application was made to me to preserve the order here, and I want it understood no one need import a lot of outsiders to preserve the peace of La Crosse County. I'm here for that purpose, and I'm boss of this situation. Edwards did dead wrong to bring in a lot of fellows here and arm them instead of coming to me. I am capable ofhandling this situation, and I don't propose to have the law broken be agents of the streetcar company any quicker than by anybody else. These fellows can't carry guns around here while I am sheriff of this county. If I can't handle the situation I have got the state of Wisconsin behind me, and we won't stand for a lot of burliest from outside coming in here and running this town or county." The Tribune reported that the big sheriff was plainly” stirred up" and stroked his gray beard vigorously while speaking. He directed messengers between the two warring parties in the morning, trying to get some settlement of the dispute. "Will you swear in any deputies sheriff?" asked a reporter, "No sir, not one", answered the sheriff. "Why these people are not crooks or criminals. They are all good citizens and all they want is to have good sense talked to them. I would rather get out all alone in these crowds and talk sense to these people than have a thousand deputies sworn in. That would be when the trouble will start. I am going to manage this thing, and I am going to end this thing right here and now. Why those boys and girls in the crowd last night are just like your or my boys and girls. These are not criminals, to be clubbed and shot at by a lot of strikebreakers. I would talk to them just like I would talk to my own boys and girls. They are good people and they won't stand for a lot of reckless characters being brought in here to bully them."

' No one deprecates more than I do the serious trouble now pending between the La Crosse City Railway Co. and it's former employees. The seriousness of the difficulty is doubly aggravated for the reason that involves a public service corporation and its existence is a serious menace to business in all lines. I assure the people that I will do all in my power to bring about a speedy adjustment of the difficulties. My first duty as mayor, however, is to see that order and quiet is maintained. This I propose to do with all the power at my command. I, therefore call upon the citizens to desist from indulging in any form of insult or intimidation, or to do any act in violation of the laws of Wisconsin or the ordinances of this municipality. I hereby direct the police to cause the arrest and detention of anyone engaged in any unlawful act. They are further to prohibit crowd's form assembling on street corners or other public places. The chief of police is hereby directed to call to his assistance extra men, if necessary, to protect property. I trust that all citizens will appreciate the fact that any unlawfulness on the part of an individual not only deserves punishment but also at the same time works as an injury in the public mind to the cause, which said individual, represents.' Signed, ORI J. SORENSON Mayor.

A movement is in progress this afternoon to bring about a settlement of the car men's' strike, and there is a generally entertained presentiment that a peaceful solution of the difficulties will be reached. This is for the best, and the public will appreciate whatever concessions are made on either side. The strike is a detriment to the business element of the community, a hardship upon the patrons of the company and employees. It is also bad for the city in that more or less exaggerated reports about the severity of public demonstrations attending it are circulated by outside newspapers. There can be no doubt that the rather serious interests of the stockholders of the company to look to a settlement is inspired by a realization that in fighting their own battles they are wounding the interests of others, and it is equally probable that the car men also are cognizant of this fact. Such concessions to the public interest is bound to be appreciated by the community, and the Tribune earnestly hopes that a quick and satisfactory compromise may be reached." The urgent need to settle this labor dispute was probably the topic of conversation throughput the town this day. The Sheriff was advised by the District Attorney that he could call upon anyone in the police force or any public citizen at hand and order them to assist him in protecting the Streetcar company's property during any future disturbances, if refused the person would then become eligible for arrest.

At nine o'clock in the morning the first meeting took place. It was a meeting between Mayor Sorenson and City Attorney John F. Doherty and company representatives, Edwards, Hixon, Shaw, Attorney George Gordon and standing in for Gund, Mr. Kurtenacher. The meeting took place at the La Crosse Club. Speaking to the company representatives, the Mayor informed them that they must come to some sort of an agreement with the strikers, at once. He warned them that any stalling would only result in further trouble. The Mayor warned or threatened the Streetcar Company, that if they failed to live up to the ten o'clock provision of the City Charter, for the duration of streetcar service, he would call for a special session of the common council. Then he would ask them to revoke the franchise of the car company. Responding to these comments, Edwards agreed to sign a document guaranteeing an open shop, some wage adjustment and the reinstatement of all the locked out men. After writing this up, Mayor Sorenson took it to the union committee.

Edwards had received a visit from Sheriff Duncan this morning also. The Sheriff giving Edwards an order to disarm his striker-breakers and detective and vigorously impressing his views on the riot, was told to relay to the union the sincere wishes of the company for some quick settlement of the dispute. Upon meeting with 519, Duncan was able to get an 11 a.m. conference scheduled between 519 and himself, the mayor, chief of police and Mr. Reeves. This was held at City Hall. After an hour of work, a modified proposition was written up. Then an adjournment was taken until 2 P.M. Coming back to City Hall, Humphry and E.F. Pahl of the State Arbitration Board joined the group and a document was turned over to Mayor Sorenson and the City Attorney whom were asked to present it to Edwards. The only concession the union had had returned from the meeting at the streetcar offices and reported that Edwards was not willing to change his original offer of the morning. The union's concession being called a minor issue. After a short secret session, Secretary Reeves announced to the press that there was not to be a settlement this day! In the afternoon at the corner of Avon and Sill Streets a streetcar smashed into an automobile driven by Sid Law. Running into the auto the trolley broke it into several pieces and continued on for a while. Fortunately no one in the auto was injured. At noon J.N. Runyon was walking past the car barns and found himself assaulted by La Crosse City Railway Company employee, Ed Connors. Connors struck Runyon in the face with his fist. Shortly afterwards finding himself before a County judge being arraigned for assault and battery. He pleads not guilty and had a hearing scheduled for Monday on the charge. Superintendent Shaw posted the fifty-dollar bail imposed by the court. While these meetings were taking place other citizens were busy around town with strike related matters. In the morning on the streetcar tracks of the Onalaska branch line, the non-union conductor and motorman who quickly called for the sheriff discovered a blockade of stones and building blocks. While they attempted to clear the tracks while waiting for the sheriff to arrive, they were thoroughly decorated with vegetables, eggs and suffered several stone showers. Sheriff Duncan arrived on the site with several deputies chased off the rioters and patrolled the area for a time to keep the cars safe. Spies, boycotts, and strike benefits were matters handled today also.

President Masterson received letters from union officers in Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Omaha and several other cities, asking if the products of the Director's of the Streetcar company were on a boycott list, this was a matter taken up at a Meeting held in the evening. Weekly benefits of five dollars a week was ordered for 519, with contributions from the other local unions, to be evenly divided and distributed as well. The men were keeping their uniforms, caps, badges and buttons, which the company was holding a $7.50 deposit on. A man named A.P. Payne had applied for 519 memberships and was suspected to be a plant. Brother Sprout wrote to Milwaukee asking for information on this gentleman. Sprout received the following: "Dear Sir and Brother: Yours of yesterday to hand and contents noted. Took your case personally for investigation and found that A.H. Payne is not known at 612 6th. Street, neither does any one seem to remember him there. I also made inquiry of some of the old streetcar men but none seem to remember him. I would therefore, be a little careful with him, as it is a well known fact that in the street car industry the spy is in his glory. Yours fraternally, Frank J. Webber." The men of 519 held a morning meeting at the Labor Hall and heard a speech from Fred Fay of the International. He advised the men to hold out for a just and fair settlement. Then in the afternoon the men of 519 gathered together and marched from the Southside in a body to the corner of Saint Paul and Caledonia Streets. There at Fjelstad's Hall they attended a union meeting having received an invitation from the four North side Brotherhoods of Railroad unions. The railroad men promised 519 their members and families wouldboycott the streetcars and passed a resolution pledging their solidarity to 519. The four unions mentioned were the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of Railway Conductors. The rioting of last night was not repeated this evening with the same intensity as the previous night but a demonstration of solidarity did occur in spite of inclement weather. The rainstorm of last evening had worked to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd that was gathered once again in front of the car barns on Third Street.

Young men with the” We Walk" emblem lined the streets for two blocks back towards the center of town, a gauntlet of jeering demonstrators for the strikebreaker operated streetcars to run. While there was very little disorder, the crowd nevertheless took up a position directly in front of the building and yelled and jeered the passing and parking streetcars as they arrived in the area. At around nine o'clock a little excitement happened. Just above the car barns on the east side of the street, overhead of the crowds, several of the power lines, broke and fell to the street, scattering the crowd as they fell. One of the metal poles and its guy wire had either been broken by a tangled trolley pole or had been sabotaged by a member of the mob. Both sides were to assign blame to the other and it was never proved either way. By nine-thirty all the cars were parked in the barns and the doors closed and secured, then and only then did the company send a crew out into the rain to repair the broken pole and wires. A heavy guard of policemen escorted them and the two repairmen had to endure a rain of abuse from the mob and well as from the heavens. Many of the policemen were decorated with egg-splattered uniforms by the end of the evening. Night sergeant Shell Post spent the rainy evening driving a buggy about the town keeping an eye out for mischief or mayhem. All of the day shift policemen kept company with the entire night shift until the city was safe by the departure of the crowd from the city streets. The Reverend Cunningham of the West Avenue Methodist Church tried another method of control; he advertised a sermon on the subject of unionism, strikes and general labor conditions for the edification of the general public. He titled it "The Brotherhood of Man", and in view of the rainy night probably enjoyed full pews. The Tribune gave the Reverend the label of `a well known socialist leader' in it, accounting of the sermon.

The next day would see additional complications to the local labor unrest, with the involvement of State Officials into the fray. Dire warning and serious issues were raised in the headlines of Friday, June the 25th. This was the Tribune headline and, read the La Crosse Daily Chronicle, Sensationalized the Leader-Press. The papers were covered with stories, which reflected the worries of local leaders that the conflict was growing worse with each passing hour. President Edwards had formally requested the Sheriff to contact the Governor and ask him for State Militia troops.

Part 4 - 'Coming Soon'