Chief Copelan during the Cincinnati Streetcar Strike
TEACHERS
This image, taken by George Grantham Bain, shows Police Chief Copelan protecting a streetcar during the Cincinnati street railway strike on May 17th, 1913. The conductors and motormen of the Cincinnati Traction Company were unhappy with the way they were being treated by the company and decided to go on strike. They wanted more money for their work and recognition of the employees union. Over 10,000 people joined the strike, and as a result, the only railway cars entering the city were the ones carrying the City’s mail. The strike lasted ten days, after which the company agreed to pay its workers more money for their work and recognize the employees union.
This image, taken by George Grantham Bain, shows Police Chief Copelan protecting a streetcar during the Cincinnati street railway strike on May 17th, 1913. The conductors and motormen of the Cincinnati Traction Company were unhappy with the way they were being treated by the company and decided to go on strike. They wanted more money for their work and recognition of the employees union. Over 10,000 people joined the strike, and as a result, the only railway cars entering the city were the ones carrying the City’s mail. The strike lasted ten days, after which the company agreed to pay its workers more money for their work and recognize the employees union.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-36451
The image shows Police Chief Copelan protecting a streetcar during the Cincinnati street railway strike.
Questions:
- What job do the people in the photo have? Does this job still exist today? How has this job changed over time?
- Notice the street. What is it made of? Why aren’t streets made like this any longer?