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Dave Anthony
You're listening to the Dollop. It's an American history podcast where each week I, Dave Anthony, read a story from American history. Thank you.
Gareth Reynolds
That was the first six episode and then you needed to redo it. You needed to add someone. You needed a kind of Kramer type. You needed. You needed a hot Kramer.
Dave Anthony
I was looking for a more racist Kramer. I got an O that got. Whoa.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. To his.
Dave Anthony
Oh, to. Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Gareth Reddle. Just no idea what the topic is gonna be about. I was close.
Dave Anthony
Ah,
Gareth Reynolds
that's stage combat, baby.
Dave Anthony
1890, Indianapolis. The last of the city's mule drawn streetcars replaced by electric streetcars, improving speed and efficiency. By 1904, the city built the Indianapolis Traction Terminal, the largest terminal in the world. Wow. By 1913, the Indianapolis Street Railway Company and Indianapolis Traction and Terminal Company were two major players. The Street Railway company was union.
Gareth Reynolds
What is it? The Street Railway Company.
Dave Anthony
It was a union shop. The traction and terminal was not. Now we have all your names and we're turning it over to ice.
Gareth Reynolds
Hey, hey, hey. Give them a shot. We don't know what they'll do yet. It could be good. From what I've seen, they're pretty. They're pretty safe.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
And their attention to detail is bar none. Yeah, that's why they're so comfortable showing us their mouths.
Dave Anthony
They were. I just think they were cool costumes.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, well, in a way they are costumes.
Dave Anthony
Yes, very much.
Gareth Reynolds
Regular guys going out.
Dave Anthony
It's just a guy named.
Gareth Reynolds
Pretending to be the police.
Dave Anthony
Fuck you, Jeff.
Gareth Reynolds
You know, most things audiences yell at are wrong. But that was okay.
Dave Anthony
That's all right. Fuck you, Jeff. Those 900 non union workers worked more hours for a lot less pay than the Street Railway Company union guys.
Gareth Reynolds
Why?
Dave Anthony
So they're perfect targets to be unionized by the streetcar union. John J. Thorpe was the VP of the Amalgamated association of Street Railway Employees. The streetcar union just, just shorten it.
Gareth Reynolds
So the streetcar unions. The streetcar union is the union one, obviously. Right?
Dave Anthony
They're the.
Gareth Reynolds
The.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, they work for the union.
Gareth Reynolds
What are we calling the other one?
Dave Anthony
The other one? The other company is called the Traction and Terminal. Thorpe is their. The union's chief organizer. He's very charismatic. He's very tactical. He moves from Pittsburgh in August of 1913 and his team set up at the local labor hall, which is named Labor Hall. And they drew a steady line of disgruntled workers who were joining up. And a lot of the workers were then retaliated against and some were fired just for organizing. Socialism was in the air that summer.
Gareth Reynolds
Duck.
Dave Anthony
Smell that? Socialism.
Gareth Reynolds
I think it's tire fire.
Dave Anthony
A visiting speaker, Emil Seidel.
Gareth Reynolds
Emil Seidel. Dave.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, it's our boy. That's a real person.
Gareth Reynolds
Wow.
Dave Anthony
A visiting speaker. Emil Seidl was the first socialist mayor of a US city. Milwaukee, that's where the sewer. Socialist believed in public ownership of services like water, power, transit, livable cities, blah, blah, blah. Public parks, affordable housing.
Gareth Reynolds
What's your deal?
Dave Anthony
That fucking.
Gareth Reynolds
Why are you pooh in that? Like the scat.
Dave Anthony
We hate. We hate all that. No, nothing works well unless it's run by fucking Amazon.
Gareth Reynolds
By a guy. By one guy.
Dave Anthony
So Mother Jones also came and she spoke. So socialism is in the air. And the union wants higher wages, a minimum wage, time and a half overtime, no understaffed trains, and better working conditions. They were working 12 plus hour shifts which lead to dangerous situations like when the guy driving falls asleep at the wheel. That can be bad.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
They also wanted arbitration to decide grievances, which is very crucial because by agreeing to arbitration, the bosses then formally recognize the collective voice of the workers.
Gareth Reynolds
Right.
Dave Anthony
So arbitration also shows the union is willing to compromise, which helps with the public. Get the public on their side. Right. Moral high ground. Quote, the employers were caught in a trap. They could rely on violence through the use of either private guards or police to protect their property rights. But violence had high social costs.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, it sure does. It's a. It's a real issue. The whole. It's great because you can beat the shit out of the centers. Yeah. But it's frowned upon. Yeah. People.
Dave Anthony
People don't like to see you be.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. It's. People don't love to see you beat the shit out of someone. Now if any organizations are listening to this in modern day.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
And wondering how it shakes out. People don't love the optics of you just beating the. Out of random people for no reason.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
You know, even if you played Superman for like five years or something like that, and now you're just kind of some fat guy who hurts his neck a lot
Dave Anthony
and arrested a blind man today. I was just sitting there.
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
They arrested a blind man.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, he's just sitting there. It's pretty cool. That's when you know you're on the side of good. Okay. So in other industries, many employers were able to use violence and blame it on the unions. But the union's arbitration policy weakens that. Right. At the same time, to agree to arbitration means recognizing the union and automatically losing the major strike issue.
Gareth Reynolds
Right.
Dave Anthony
So workers try to arbitrate Several times. And they reach out to Mayor Lou Shenk.
Gareth Reynolds
That's right. Lou Shen. That's right. So. Hey. What if I told you I didn't even know how to ride? Hey. Hey. What's my job again? I forgot. I look so crazy that I didn't even.
Dave Anthony
You're the mayor.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm the mayor. Yeah, Exactly. Yeah, that's exactly right. I'm the mayor. I'm in charge of most of this stuff. Do you need anything?
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Would you like anything?
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Half of a sandwich?
Dave Anthony
I mostly just want you to leave me alone.
Gareth Reynolds
You won't be left alone. Yes, well, shake for nothing. Wasn't that my last name? Shank. Shank. Yeah. All right. I'd like to shake your hand. How's that? That better?
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
You could take that money and put it in the shank. I've been single for quite a while.
Dave Anthony
Yes. Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
And I think it's because I'm picky. I'm not just gonna settle for anybody. Yeah. What do you think about that?
Dave Anthony
I don't.
Gareth Reynolds
You single?
Dave Anthony
No. I'm married.
Gareth Reynolds
Your wife got any single friends?
Dave Anthony
Nope.
Gareth Reynolds
Maybe she got some married friends who are unhappy.
Dave Anthony
How old. How old are you, by the way?
Gareth Reynolds
How old am I?
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
What year is this? Like 1912. So hard to tell. 25, probably.
Dave Anthony
That's right. You're 25.
Gareth Reynolds
25. 26.
Dave Anthony
That's right.
Gareth Reynolds
Something like that. I sure would love to party with you and your wife.
Dave Anthony
I bet you would. But that's not good.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, that'd be great.
Dave Anthony
Nope.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah?
Dave Anthony
Nope.
Gareth Reynolds
Bend over. I'm gonna shank you.
Dave Anthony
What does that even mean? What does that mean?
Gareth Reynolds
What do you think of me?
Dave Anthony
I don't know. But coming from the mayor. It's a threat. It's not.
Gareth Reynolds
Get the fuck out. You suck.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, okay.
Gareth Reynolds
You sick.
Dave Anthony
Shank Came from a working class household where money was tight. And as Gareth just showed you as a teen, he developed a booming voice and a gift for Patterson.
Gareth Reynolds
For those of you who think this show might be scripted. So my throat infection cleared up. How are you? Good to see you.
Dave Anthony
Good. Thanks.
Gareth Reynolds
Well done, Eh?
Dave Anthony
Yes.
Gareth Reynolds
Spot on.
Dave Anthony
Really good.
Gareth Reynolds
Way to go.
Dave Anthony
Yes.
Gareth Reynolds
We're going to turn this place around. Okay.
Dave Anthony
He was discovered on the streets of Indianapolis and given a job as an auctioneer. He kept crowds laughing, so they stayed longer and bought more stuff. People.
Gareth Reynolds
600 going one. 600 going twice. 600 going three times. 600 going four times. 600 going five times. I keep going.
Dave Anthony
People would buy turnips or cabbages to bring him just so he would make jokes about them.
Gareth Reynolds
You're so late. I didn't think you were going to turn up.
Dave Anthony
Weird, because this is a cabbage.
Gareth Reynolds
How old you got to be to get into a taxi?
Dave Anthony
I don't know the right cab.
Gareth Reynolds
Edge. Get the fuck out.
Dave Anthony
His campaign stops were performances. Auctioning off a chicken or a loaf of bread before getting down to the brass tacks. Okay, so he ran several times and lost. And then he took his campaign to new levels. He took out a local. He took out local and national newspaper ads.
Gareth Reynolds
He took out a national ad to run for mayor. Yep, that's right. Sometimes you gotta think out of the box. Local budgets aren't that much, so you need to spend wisely. Like taking on an ad in a national periodical for what 600 people need to see.
Dave Anthony
That's right. Like one for a fake palm reader that said palmistry. Read your hand and see if it don't tell you to vote for Lou Shenk.
Gareth Reynolds
It's terrible.
Dave Anthony
Ads with images of personalized soap that said, get up early and vote for Lou Shank.
Gareth Reynolds
I'll speak for all of us. We expected a rhyme.
Dave Anthony
He trained a dog to look happy when he was asked how his campaign was doing and look sad when asked the same about his opponent.
Gareth Reynolds
No, he didn't.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, that's. Yeah, he did. Yeah. There's no way it would be any.
Gareth Reynolds
He tried to.
Dave Anthony
He did.
Gareth Reynolds
He didn't. There's no way a dog is like,
Dave Anthony
oh, yeah, there's dogs that smile. One of my dog smiles.
Gareth Reynolds
One of your dog? Yeah, because you gave your dog human teeth for some reason. One of Dave's dogs literally has human
Dave Anthony
teeth and looks great.
Gareth Reynolds
Not enough people doing that.
Dave Anthony
When grocery prices were jacked up by profiteers, Lou went to the suppliers, bought out their stock, and sold fresh produce on the city hall steps for way less.
Gareth Reynolds
Look, he clearly has some money, but also, fuck yes. I mean, could you fucking imagine?
Dave Anthony
Someone tried to.
Gareth Reynolds
Donald Trump was out of the White House steps. Who wants a pineapple?
Dave Anthony
Well, imagine if someone, like, wanted to open up low cost grocery stores.
Gareth Reynolds
It's disgusting. How would you even get there?
Dave Anthony
Communism.
Gareth Reynolds
On what, a free bus?
Dave Anthony
I will New York get by.
Gareth Reynolds
You mean you're talking about Zoran Namdani.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, whatever that guy's name is. The guy who doesn't sexually harass women. Which is not a politician thing. If you're a good politician, you sexually harass women.
Gareth Reynolds
All right, we're not gonna. You know, I'm a Cuomo guy. And he said very clearly, a couple Days ago, he learned his lesson. He won't ever be alone in a room with a woman again because they're fucking liars. Like, you know what Mike Pence did with his wife? That but for a grown ass man.
Dave Anthony
But Pence didn't want to be alone with the women because he thought they would pounce. Because, well, Pence is a sexual being.
Gareth Reynolds
Pence is. Pence is a lump of, like, sculpted.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, yeah. He's like pure.
Gareth Reynolds
Women would be in the room with Pence and have no choice but to go to 7 11, get Wonder Bread and just rub themselves on it.
Dave Anthony
Yes.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, sweet old Pensy boy.
Dave Anthony
Cuomo is different, though.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, he's got a big hog, though. He's hung like a Pence on January 6th.
Dave Anthony
Not hung, by the way.
Gareth Reynolds
Huh?
Dave Anthony
That's not hung.
Gareth Reynolds
No, he was.
Dave Anthony
No, they hung By Pence on January 6th is not hung. Yeah, they didn't catch him.
Gareth Reynolds
They didn't catch him. Like, he was Scooby Dooing around the Capitol.
Dave Anthony
Didn't a guy take a dump on Kelsey's desk?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, I think I believe in it.
Dave Anthony
Shouldn't they turn that into a statue?
Gareth Reynolds
Yes, 100%. Yep, yep.
Dave Anthony
You get to open up the little metal. It's like a turd.
Gareth Reynolds
I mean, look, you can put your
Dave Anthony
own turd in there.
Gareth Reynolds
After Trump is president in 2028 again, that will be like a thing. You'll be able to go to, like, Pelosi's desk and open the Golden Duke. What a hero that guy was.
Dave Anthony
So because Lou Shank sold produce for way less at City hall, this led to co op stores and the permanent lowering of prices. And this is how he got the nickname the Potato Mayor.
Gareth Reynolds
I gotta be honest, I really thought he was a throwaway character when he came up. He's the Potato Mayor. Oh, fuck.
Dave Anthony
The union also reached out to Governor Samuel Ralston.
Gareth Reynolds
Ralston, okay.
Dave Anthony
Ralston grew up in a log cabin and was so poor he patched his shoes with cardboard as a boy, he'd slip away from his farm chores to do extra schoolwork. Once hiding in a hay loft reading Shakespeare until his dad found him furious that the cows hadn't been milked. He wanted to be a politician at a young age and gave political speeches to the pigs and chickens.
Gareth Reynolds
Don't clap. Okay.
Dave Anthony
He lost his first election for Secretary of State.
Gareth Reynolds
Pandering to animals. Too much. Yeah, more seed for all of you. We're going to milk the shit out of you people.
Dave Anthony
Local papers mocked him for looking like a, quote, country preacher out of place at a political picnic. But by 1912, he won over voters. It's educated but folksy nature with a small but real progressive streak. Had him favored by everyone from the poor farmer to the wealthy businessman because people believed he was authentic.
Gareth Reynolds
It's interesting to be able to get both of those people. I think that that's weird. It seems impossible now. You got to pick one.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Like right now, we pick the farmers. We'll upset the elites. We'll be on the side of the farmers. We will help the farmers.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. They know.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. We're doing them right. The one person who keeps clapping is puzzling me too.
Dave Anthony
I don't get it. I'm a little scared.
Gareth Reynolds
As we all should be.
Dave Anthony
That's probably a farmer. On the afternoon of October 31, 1913.
Gareth Reynolds
That's Halloween. Well done, Hallows. Well done.
Dave Anthony
Thorpe and a committee of workers had their demands rejected again. And that was the Boss's final chance. The men voted and announced the strike was on, starting at 11:00pm so it's Halloween. Perfect time to jam up the works because thousands of people are returning home from parties drunk and dressed up and the trains would not be there to help them.
Gareth Reynolds
Right. A trick.
Dave Anthony
At 10:59pm Workers walked out and marched to the labor hall where hundreds joined the union. Thousands filled the streets of downtown. And so it's pretty surreal. There's empty streetcars abandoned in the road. Union organizers hung from fire escapes giving rousing speeches as people drunkenly danced in costumes and police blared searchlights from an alarm tower.
Gareth Reynolds
Wow.
Dave Anthony
Even though railroad boss Robert Todd ignored union demands and brush it off like it was nothing, the company had bought in Pinkerton style. Strike baggers from Chicago to operate the cars, beat up strikers and keep the money rolling, baby. Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Work ice.
Dave Anthony
They didn't. They didn't pay for the cream of the crop though. Quote, Joseph Demetros, a Greek leader of strikebreakers, recruited them in a pool room.
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
Indianapolis News. Quote, every man that has even breathed that he was in favor of organization lost his job. The traction and city companies admit they hired a large number of strikebreakers whose pictures occupy places in the Rogues galleries in different cities of the country. These men, the Boss admits, were hired for the purposes of spotting and trailing union organizers. These so called inspectors were armed with revolvers, blackjacks and knucks. They threatened the lives of organizers and insulted the wife of J.J. thorpe even once in a restaurant.
Gareth Reynolds
What would they say to her?
Dave Anthony
You fucking milk drinker?
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
What are you, a beef eater, woman?
Gareth Reynolds
Excuse me?
Dave Anthony
What are you eating? Peas?
Gareth Reynolds
Yes.
Dave Anthony
Peing woman.
Gareth Reynolds
Hey.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
You're not hitting her with the insults.
Dave Anthony
We were talking about one of those mashed potatoes yet.
Gareth Reynolds
She's eating that, you idiot.
Dave Anthony
Godamn.
Gareth Reynolds
Those are her sides.
Dave Anthony
Woman eating mashed potato and peas.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. Huh?
Dave Anthony
She's having dinner And a steak.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes, she's having steak with mashed potatoes and peasants. Yeah. No.
Dave Anthony
Got her.
Gareth Reynolds
No, you didn't. She thinks you work here.
Dave Anthony
Would you like more milk?
Gareth Reynolds
No. Well, don't offer more milk.
Dave Anthony
Sorry, I thought.
Gareth Reynolds
Go get her more milk.
Dave Anthony
I'm very tense.
Gareth Reynolds
Go get her more milk. Idiot.
Dave Anthony
Would you like to see a dessert menu?
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, for sake.
Dave Anthony
When the first scabs car routed the
Gareth Reynolds
corner, the pinkertons unionized. It feels like they had a pretty good life.
Dave Anthony
It does.
Gareth Reynolds
I mean, they must have to some
Dave Anthony
extent had, like, they got paid well. But they. They're like, hilarious.
Gareth Reynolds
If one of them was just like, dude, we could be doing better if we all stuck together. So we need Pinkertons for the Pinkertons.
Dave Anthony
No, they're like ice. They got off on harming people.
Gareth Reynolds
All right.
Dave Anthony
Same. Same mindset.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
When the first scabs car rounded the corner, the crowd exploded.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, no.
Dave Anthony
Stryker.
Gareth Reynolds
That was our only hope.
Dave Anthony
That was not literally. Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
So the boss won.
Dave Anthony
Yeah. That's it. That's the end of the story. Everybody blew up.
Gareth Reynolds
Jesus Christ. Thanks.
Dave Anthony
Yeah. Who knew that it would end that way?
Gareth Reynolds
I'll tell you what. This is not gonna stand. Nothing I like better than a revenge story. Want some kidney beans?
Dave Anthony
What?
Gareth Reynolds
Half price.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Come on. They're from my pocket.
Dave Anthony
Where do you know?
Gareth Reynolds
Want some corn?
Dave Anthony
No. Is it.
Gareth Reynolds
Have some corn.
Dave Anthony
Is it in the other pocket?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm a wandering co op.
Dave Anthony
Absolutely not what anybody wanted.
Gareth Reynolds
What would you like to eat?
Dave Anthony
Nothing from you.
Gareth Reynolds
How about a watermelon size?
Dave Anthony
Oh, no. No.
Gareth Reynolds
Why?
Dave Anthony
No. Where is it? Where is it?
Gareth Reynolds
I have it with me.
Dave Anthony
Okay. Where is the watermelon?
Gareth Reynolds
Why? Right up my sleepy poo.
Dave Anthony
What do you consider to be a sleepy poo?
Gareth Reynolds
My underpants. Back of house.
Dave Anthony
I don't want your ass. Watermelon.
Gareth Reynolds
Come on, guy.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Please.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
First bite's on me. Once you're hooked, you start paying.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes.
Dave Anthony
No, sir.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes, sir.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
All right. Maybe you're someone who would like something else.
Dave Anthony
No, I do not want something else.
Gareth Reynolds
Some lemons?
Dave Anthony
Lemons?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
I can sit down and make lemonade.
Dave Anthony
What does that even mean?
Gareth Reynolds
What do you think it means?
Dave Anthony
I don't want that.
Gareth Reynolds
Do you have a glass?
Dave Anthony
How does it get around the watermelon?
Gareth Reynolds
Would you like to buy a glass?
Dave Anthony
Why are there glasses?
Gareth Reynolds
So I can see the savings. Hi, I'm the mayor.
Dave Anthony
What?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, we already knew that. My name escapes me.
Dave Anthony
You're Lou Shank.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, Shank. Shanks for the memories. Shakes for nothing. Did you say something?
Dave Anthony
Nope.
Gareth Reynolds
It sounded like you said something.
Dave Anthony
I didn't.
Gareth Reynolds
Did you just say dessert?
Dave Anthony
No. Where would dessert be?
Gareth Reynolds
In your mouth, if you're lucky.
Dave Anthony
Quote Strikers and sympathizers hooted passengers and crews. Scab was shouted with cries of we'll get you yet. Threatening fists were shaken. Men. Men ran to surround the car, telling passengers to get off and that they worked under horrendous conditions.
Gareth Reynolds
Wow.
Dave Anthony
And workers threw bricks. One shattered the front glass and hit a scab between the eyes.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, scab. Got a scab.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, he staggered. He went down and then he staggered to his feet and then fell face first into the broken glass.
Gareth Reynolds
Those are my favorite falls. The get up, go back down.
Dave Anthony
The cops move in. Moved in to save him. While doing so in the wagon, he ran over and killed the young black man.
Gareth Reynolds
Wait, what?
Dave Anthony
Oh, he's. He's down, and so the car is just going and.
Gareth Reynolds
Right.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
So they didn't stop to check on the young black man. They just took the scab to the hospital. And the crowd pulled up a thug out of a streetcar and held him over their heads and marched him to the labor hall and forced him to sign up for the union. I'm sorry, Bill. We got to let you go. From the Pinkertons. I didn't want to. Fucking union piece of.
Gareth Reynolds
I didn't even say my real name.
Dave Anthony
Along the way, the union men ran into more scabs and quote several fist fights started. The cops. Remember, there's a lot of people in costume.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, right. Zombies are like you. Listen to us, motherfucker. I want you to sign up to be in the union.
Dave Anthony
The cops kept trying to arrest union sympathizers, but a crowd will rush them and force them to let them go. Quote Crowds of workers and teamsters helped block the tracks. Women used their wash bucket to soap the tracks, reducing traction. The boys taunted the scabs and threw rocks at trolley windows. The more agile climb poles and cut wires. I mean, this is how you do it.
Gareth Reynolds
I. I'll be honest, I don't love the role the women had. Get your bucket, honey.
Dave Anthony
It's time to wash, girls.
Gareth Reynolds
No, he's cutting the cables just to be safe. Soap up the tracks. Get to work. Women We've got to get rights for people who work.
Dave Anthony
A man dressed as Uncle Sam boarded scab trains and told riders why this strike was happening and why it was good.
Gareth Reynolds
We better listen to this guy.
Dave Anthony
Oh, my God. Could you imagine if people started dressing up like Uncle Sam? And.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, my God, that is so fucking good. We should also dress up like Trump and the.
Dave Anthony
And the Statue of Liberty.
Gareth Reynolds
Statue of Liberty, Trump and Uncle Sam. Make them just beat the shit out. Dress up as the Constitution.
Dave Anthony
The crowds often would listen to Uncle Sam and then get off the train.
Gareth Reynolds
That is so fucking America. Yeah, well, he's in charge. Doesn't matter where you stand. We got to listen to him. Honey, I think that's just a man in an outfit.
Dave Anthony
No, my God.
Gareth Reynolds
That's the real Uncle Sam, honey. He's kind of like America's Santa. He'll hear you.
Dave Anthony
He will fucking hear you. And if he hears you, a lightning bolt will strike us dead.
Gareth Reynolds
Listen to your husband. It's me, Zeus. Kind of. What the. What? No, I'm. I'm Uncle Sam. But I do have powers like that. Lightning bolts. Yep. Say what? Say you and I hang out for a little while? You seem pretty cool.
Dave Anthony
Oh, no, actually, I'm a little busy.
Gareth Reynolds
What do you mean? I got a. I could come with you.
Dave Anthony
I'm in the middle of a strike, so I got stuff to do. That's.
Gareth Reynolds
Hell, yeah, brother.
Dave Anthony
That's. I mean, you do make me a little uncomfortable. I gotta be honest.
Gareth Reynolds
I Pledge of allegiance.
Dave Anthony
What the Is that?
Gareth Reynolds
To the flag. Come on.
Dave Anthony
I pledge.
Gareth Reynolds
Of the United States of America and to the Republic. Come on. For which it stands. Come on. One nation under God. Let's get lunch. We'll split some apps.
Dave Anthony
Liberty and. What?
Gareth Reynolds
Huh?
Dave Anthony
What was the last part?
Gareth Reynolds
Liberty and justice. Guacamole for the table.
Dave Anthony
Are you ordering?
Gareth Reynolds
Huh? Of course. I'm ordinary.
Dave Anthony
No, are you ordering food?
Gareth Reynolds
I'm ordering. Yes.
Dave Anthony
We're not at a cheesecake factory. If someone did get off, Uncle Sam would give really good directions on how they could get home. The demonstration ended around 2am conductors returning to their cars were given a choice. Free food and more pay if they didn't join the union or an immediate payout and fired.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, yeah.
Dave Anthony
Yeah. There were arrests for cutting trolley cables, inciting a riot, throwing stones and bricks, loitering. One guy got wasted and cussed out so many scabs that he was arrested for profanity. There's always me in every crowd.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, there is. Yeah.
Dave Anthony
The next morning, an ex county treasurer complained at the Police station that the cops weren't protecting the scabs.
Gareth Reynolds
Huh?
Dave Anthony
Yeah. He, quote, asserted that a crowd had dragged a motorman from his car and assaulted him and that the police stood. I stood by idle and smiled at their performance.
Gareth Reynolds
It's. You know what's fucked up is that when it's in that direction, I do like it. So it is a matter of just, you know. Yeah. When I see it done to good people, I'm like, oh, fuck cops. And then in this version, I'm like, you know what? Maybe they're not all so bad.
Dave Anthony
The next day, factory women took over recruitment, convincing young men to ditch the company and join the strikers.
Gareth Reynolds
Okay.
Dave Anthony
Ranks of strikers were being increased by the hour. Scabs weren't experienced running the cars, so they kept stalling out, allowing workers to surround them, cut the cables, and throw bricks through the windows.
Gareth Reynolds
That's great.
Dave Anthony
One scab took a curve too fast and launched his car off the tracks, wrecking it.
Gareth Reynolds
Awesome. They were desperate, like speed.
Dave Anthony
The thugs, the fucking scabs and the Pinkertons threatened Thorpe's wife. He's the head of the union.
Gareth Reynolds
Yep.
Dave Anthony
With death. And that they would burn her house down. So that is a boo.
Gareth Reynolds
Did they not live. Did they not live together?
Dave Anthony
You guys are against that?
Gareth Reynolds
They didn't live together.
Dave Anthony
They. They did live together, but, you know,
Gareth Reynolds
we're going to burn your house down.
Dave Anthony
Well, no, he was. Yeah. I mean, both. They didn't go like, well, burn they.
Gareth Reynolds
So right now was like, we're going
Dave Anthony
to burn your house down. Say both. Say both of them. We got.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, it sounds like a Mr. It sounds like how a child views. Like, when the guy leaves, then it's her house all day. Then he comes home and it's his house again.
Dave Anthony
So she had a nervous breakdown. And this is the. Go ahead and read it.
Gareth Reynolds
Mrs. Thorpe, wife of the strike leader, suffered a nervous breakdown. Dread of sluggers who have followed her husband since he organized the local union, was given as the cause of her condition. A labor paper spread broadcast today said that blackhand threats of death and arson had been sent by mail to Mrs. Thorpe. Male arson.
Dave Anthony
It's basically saying that she was hospitalized. And the condition is dread of sluggers.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. Yep.
Dave Anthony
Jacket.
Gareth Reynolds
It's what the brewers had.
Dave Anthony
Wow. So on the third day, all the cars were at a standstill. Thorpe called it, quote, the most successful strike in the international union's history. And they're also starting to win the hearts and minds of the press, even, which is amazing in a strike.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
The Indianapolis News quote, will the boss answer the question? If they can afford to hire special trains, employ strike breaking agencies and important men at enormous expenses, pay them $4 a day with board and room rent free, why can they not pay their employees who have worked for them for years the same amount and save all this trouble?
Gareth Reynolds
That would be like being able to buy private planes, bail out Argentina and yet say that we can't afford health care or to pay the farmers anything.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, I mean, I guess.
Gareth Reynolds
Think about it.
Dave Anthony
I don't really see it that way. How are we supposed to. How are we supposed to have a pay for our schools if we don't have men outside of them in military gear tear gassing them? Did you ever think about that, Mr. Fucking Brain?
Gareth Reynolds
Okay, counterpoint. We have sacrificed a lot of our tear gas budget to build a beautiful ballroom where we can all dance and frolic and just be around. Beautiful. Gold. Sweet gold. Hey, what if the President was an Austin Powers bad guy?
Dave Anthony
The dumbest people are always attracted to gold.
Gareth Reynolds
They love gold. I mean, but it's. What if there's gold on the roof and on the walls?
Dave Anthony
What if the toilet is gold?
Gareth Reynolds
And he was in there and he was just like. He's like, there was never enough gold. One thing Biden got wrong was he never had gold. He didn't have enough gold. He had no idea what he was doing.
Dave Anthony
Gareth.
Gareth Reynolds
Dave.
Dave Anthony
If your business is running like a telephone game, that's just totally off the rails. Sure. Scattered messages. You're missing calls like, who's dealing with this?
Gareth Reynolds
What are you talking about?
Dave Anthony
Time to fix it.
Gareth Reynolds
You sounded like you're getting mad at me again.
Dave Anthony
A modern comm system, that's like just giving your team a GPS instead of a treasure map drawn by a toddler.
Gareth Reynolds
I mean, I get the appeal of both, but I understand what you're saying.
Dave Anthony
Everyone's together, they're lying, nothing's fallen through the cracks. At some point, you say. I would say. You probably say this. All right, let's fucking quote.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, what happens is. The truth is. What happens is so much falls through the cracks. And it's not a joke. There's so many things where you just go, where is that thing? But that's over now, Gareth.
Dave Anthony
Why? Because we have Quo. Q U O. That's why. Today's episode is brought to you by. Quo Q U O. The smarter way to run your business. Quo is the number one rated business system phone system on G2. With over 3,000 reviews. It's built for how like a modern team is working not. Over 90,000 businesses, from solo people to, like a bunch of teams, rely on Quo. Stay connected, stay professional. You're consistently reachable. This is what you and I need. Because you're a problem.
Gareth Reynolds
You're a problem first.
Dave Anthony
And I think I need to reign you in with Quo.
Gareth Reynolds
I think I need to quo you in with rain.
Dave Anthony
Quo isn't just a phone system. It automatically logs calls, it generates summaries and highlights next steps so nothing gets lost. It can even qualify leads or respond after hours, ensuring your business stays responsive even when you're finally offline. Gareth.
Gareth Reynolds
Good.
Dave Anthony
It's easy. Calls, texts, voicemails, transcripts. All lives in one clean view with full context at your fingertips. It's just working faster together, communicating faster. They're aligned. It delivers a more personal experience. You get what I'm saying?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. It's a way for your team to be on the same page. But it's not a page. It's quo. Quo. We're not a page.
Dave Anthony
Make this the time where no opportunity and no customer slips away. Try quo for free plus get 20% off your first six months when you.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, I got a good tag.
Dave Anthony
When.
Gareth Reynolds
A good tag for them. What?
Dave Anthony
Try quo for free plus get 20% off your first six months when you go to quo.com dollop that's Q U O.com dollop quo quo. No missed calls, no missed customers. That's it. That's the end.
Gareth Reynolds
No, it isn't. Because I'll tell you what, I was talking to them the other day and they like this tag. Quo's gonna have you like, whoa.
Dave Anthony
Wow. I don't think they like that, Gareth. The dollop is also brought to you by Chewy. If you're a pet. I'm not a pet parent like I am. I'm a pet dad. I'm a. I've been known as a labradoodle daddy on the Valley. So you know about Chewy. If you're kind of guy like me. And. And when they say they have everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy, well, Chewy is. Is. That's. That's true. That's exactly right. They're not messing around over Chewy. They got everything locked down.
Gareth Reynolds
Everything. Look, Dave, I'm not going to B.S. you, literally. Today I went on the Chewy app because I know something is. I was like, is this set up for auto ship and it tells you when the next one's coming, when the last one was there? It's got your back. You don't have to do auto ship, but Chewy just makes it all so easy. And by the way, this is a company with ethics. Love your animals. They're a great extension and they just make it easy on you. Huge fan of Chewy.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, they got foods and treats and beds, you know, whatever. Whatever you need, they. They have it. It gets shipped straight to your door and one or. One or two days it's there. And it's not just dogs. It's cats, it's birds, it's reptiles. I assume a dragon if you have a dragon. I assume ferrets if you got ferrets. Rob is also. They. They have Rob Food. And they have 24. 7 customer service, which Garrett has told us that they are awesome.
Gareth Reynolds
Literally, it's like. It's like you're calling a landline that someone just is like, hello. And you're like, what's the trick? And they're like, nothing. We just care.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, they care. And it's great. It's really. It's honestly great to have your food on a subscription. That's what I have. Chewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now, you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to chupanions.chewy.com dollop podcast that's Chupanions chewy.com dollipodcast to save $20 on your first order with free shipping. Chupanions.chewy.Com dollip podcast minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for detail. Gareth the Dollop is brought to you by Squarespace, the All in One. The all in One platform designed to help you stand out and succeed online. Doesn't matter if you're just starting out like young Gareth here, or if you're scaling up your business like me, Squarespace gives you every single thing you do not.
Gareth Reynolds
You almost said.
Dave Anthony
Do not.
Gareth Reynolds
You almost said it.
Dave Anthony
Do not Square. Squarespace.
Gareth Reynolds
Squareth.
Dave Anthony
Squarespace gives you Squarespace. Squareth gives you everything you need to claim your domain, showcase your offerings with professional website, grow your brand, get paid all in one place. That's what we're saying. We have all of our websites with Squarespace because we love them.
Gareth Reynolds
Every website is associated with Squarespace. We love.
Dave Anthony
I was working with Squarespace before I got in business with Squarespace.
Gareth Reynolds
That's how I became Square with pretty recently. So I've been working with them a ton. But no, it is as easy. And we're shortchanging them because there's. They've got a ton of Ways for you to scale. Scale it up. You got video content, you can sell merch on there. We had that for a minute. Not. Not their fault. And SEO tools. My favorite.
Dave Anthony
What I like about Squarespace is how they. They won't jump on to a. Like a.
Gareth Reynolds
The way I love that about speaking.
Dave Anthony
If you miss, they won't launch.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, my God. That's. Well, that I combined with them and go by Squareth because of that. I agree. I agree.
Dave Anthony
You can make smarter business decisions with Squarespace's intuitive built in analytics tool. Review website traffic, learn where to focus engagement and track revenue from bookings, invoices, or product sales. All from one place, which Gareth does, because he's got that whole foot site where it's just his feet.
Gareth Reynolds
I put Squarespace into me and I recently became Square F. So go to
Dave Anthony
squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use offer code DOLLOP to save 10. Save 10 off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use offer code dollop to save 10 off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Gareth Reynolds
Something just beat up. Godzilla, I think they call him Squareth.
Dave Anthony
Scabs were pushed back into the barns. So the scabs are pushed back to the barns where they hold up. And then they would. It was surrounded, so they would indiscriminately shoot out at workers who are standing between them and the streetcars. But it turns out the scabs weren't really good at shooting either. One actually shot another one in the back and killed him. So we're gonna. We're gonna need a new guy.
Gareth Reynolds
What happened? Who shot him?
Dave Anthony
That.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, my God. They got him from the streets.
Dave Anthony
Yes. He turned around. He was talking to me.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, because he's got shot in the back of his head. Yeah. And he's facing that way. Well, he's facing where they were.
Dave Anthony
He.
Gareth Reynolds
When he got the wound, exits.
Dave Anthony
When he got shot, he went, oh. And he turned and he fell.
Gareth Reynolds
He did a half spin.
Dave Anthony
Did a half. Yeah, he was like, I'm going, whoa. And they fell down.
Gareth Reynolds
His hat flew that direction, though. That would.
Dave Anthony
I picked that up and moved it because.
Gareth Reynolds
Why would you move his hat, though?
Dave Anthony
I thought it was too close to this part.
Gareth Reynolds
So after he got shot, did a half spin and landed. You took his hat and threw it five feet.
Dave Anthony
I was like, wake up. And I thought a lot of guys, if they get really hurt and they see their hat they'll come.
Gareth Reynolds
Most of the spray of the brain and the skull fragments look like they're coming from our direction out to the street.
Dave Anthony
There's this big gust of wind that came in.
Gareth Reynolds
All right, so wait, wait, wait, wait. He got shot from the street. He did a half spin, then you threw his hat. But then also while he was doing a half spin. And the wind blew the chunks back through the wound out the other direction.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, it was crazy. Like, it was just one of those moments. It's just like you really had to be there, you know, like. But man, I'll never forget it.
Gareth Reynolds
I was there. I saw it all. He shot him.
Dave Anthony
That guy's in a Union.
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
That guy's a Union spy. We gonna put up with this? I submit we are not.
Gareth Reynolds
Hey, man.
Dave Anthony
Hey, man. What?
Gareth Reynolds
Are you cool?
Dave Anthony
Yeah. I'm a scab.
Gareth Reynolds
Are you?
Dave Anthony
I'm super cool. Scab guy.
Gareth Reynolds
I feel like you shot him. He.
Dave Anthony
That was wind. And there was hats. There was all kinds of stuff going on. Like it was chaos. Wind and hats and bullets. And I was just back here.
Gareth Reynolds
Your gun's warm.
Dave Anthony
I was.
Gareth Reynolds
Why is your gun barrel warm always?
Dave Anthony
I'm rubbing it.
Gareth Reynolds
That doesn't make it warm. Not like that.
Dave Anthony
I keep. I keep the barrel warm with my hands. Cuz if it's not warm, the bullet might.
Gareth Reynolds
There's a shell right here.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
That's like something's ridding on the casing.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
Antifa.
Dave Anthony
I don't know.
Gareth Reynolds
What does that even mean?
Dave Anthony
I don't know.
Gareth Reynolds
What does that even mean?
Dave Anthony
I don't know. We're not even there in history yet, so. I don't know.
Gareth Reynolds
What are you talking about?
Dave Anthony
That's like ten years away, so.
Gareth Reynolds
All right.
Dave Anthony
Keep that because it's from the future. You know what I'm saying? That could be worth money.
Gareth Reynolds
All right.
Dave Anthony
Anyway, let's get back to scabbing.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, I want to, but it's just. I don't know.
Dave Anthony
Put that guy, you know, push him out.
Gareth Reynolds
No, he deserves his respect. What are you talking about?
Dave Anthony
That guy's a Union guy.
Gareth Reynolds
Is that why you shot him?
Dave Anthony
I tried to. Yeah, he's a.
Gareth Reynolds
You did shoot him.
Dave Anthony
He's a Union spy.
Gareth Reynolds
You just said you shot him.
Dave Anthony
I was trying.
Gareth Reynolds
What about the wind?
Dave Anthony
I didn't know if I could trust you.
Gareth Reynolds
What about the wind? And you threw the hat.
Dave Anthony
That happened.
Gareth Reynolds
And he did a half spin.
Dave Anthony
That's all true.
Gareth Reynolds
But then you shot him. You said.
Dave Anthony
Well, because he's a union guy.
Gareth Reynolds
So did he last.
Dave Anthony
His last words Were union strong.
Gareth Reynolds
And then you shot him after the. Yeah, after he did the half spin and his brains fell out.
Dave Anthony
And is the wind. And then the hat. I was trying to keep the brains on with the hat. So. You know, I would. Thank me. Because the mess would be a lot worse. Think about it. This is your first murder on the job.
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
Because they get. They get easier.
Gareth Reynolds
What are you doing with your hand?
Dave Anthony
Just getting ready.
Gareth Reynolds
Weird.
Dave Anthony
Fucking scab, man.
Gareth Reynolds
Okay.
Dave Anthony
We don't. We're not built like other people. We're cooler.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm leaving.
Dave Anthony
Crowds surrounded the barns all day. Local socialists did what they do best. Lectured people. New newspapers made sure to point out what a big deal it was that nobody tried to stop them. The strikers had taken over the city. But Mayor Schenck had barely done anything to make the bosses concede and enter arbitration.
Gareth Reynolds
I certainly went in there and made them an offer that they couldn't refuse. Sweet potatoes.
Dave Anthony
What does that even mean?
Gareth Reynolds
Cantaloupe.
Dave Anthony
You offered them sweet potatoes and cantaloupe?
Gareth Reynolds
Oh. As far as the eye can see.
Dave Anthony
Any protein?
Gareth Reynolds
Not for me. I have cantaloupe.
Dave Anthony
What do you mean?
Gareth Reynolds
I. Kidney beans. Kidney beans? High protein. I offered them a bunch of it
Dave Anthony
out of the pocket.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
And where were the sweet potatoes?
Gareth Reynolds
Where do you think the sweet potatoes are? Where would the sweet potatoes be?
Dave Anthony
I just hope your Mrs. Wasn't there.
Gareth Reynolds
In my armpits.
Dave Anthony
I didn't think there was any more places.
Gareth Reynolds
Potatoes, huh?
Dave Anthony
I didn't think there were more places for it.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, of course there are. There's always room for more.
Dave Anthony
Expect you to bring your wife and put some on her wig or some.
Gareth Reynolds
You dirty sack of. That's my wife you're talking about. She has to stay at her house.
Dave Anthony
Why?
Gareth Reynolds
Because I'm at work. Okay? Look, we got off on the wrong foot.
Dave Anthony
I don't know.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. I'd like to offer you some stuff.
Dave Anthony
I don't even know what you said.
Gareth Reynolds
I'd like to offer you some stuff.
Dave Anthony
Do you remember when you got a job as an auctioneer?
Gareth Reynolds
As a what?
Dave Anthony
Auctioneer. Oh, yeah,
Gareth Reynolds
that was me. Wasn't it? Yeah. Well, how about this? I'd like to give you three lemons. Did you have four lemons?
Dave Anthony
A stroke?
Gareth Reynolds
Do I have five lemons?
Dave Anthony
You had a stroke.
Gareth Reynolds
Six lemons.
Dave Anthony
I don't want six lemons. I don't want any lemons.
Gareth Reynolds
Six lemons going once. Six lemons going twice.
Dave Anthony
So I don't want the fucking lemons.
Gareth Reynolds
Come on. You got to. That's legally bonded. I Used to be an auctioneer. How about some rice? I don't know why you don't know what I do you need?
Dave Anthony
Where the is it?
Gareth Reynolds
Where's the rice?
Dave Anthony
Yes.
Gareth Reynolds
Nostrils.
Dave Anthony
Jesus Christ. Well, that's not.
Gareth Reynolds
Both are full of it very much.
Dave Anthony
It's like hardly any rice.
Gareth Reynolds
Come on.
Dave Anthony
What do you mean come on?
Gareth Reynolds
Come on, Come on.
Dave Anthony
What?
Gareth Reynolds
Jump on my stomach, you get a prize.
Dave Anthony
Get the away from me.
Gareth Reynolds
What?
Dave Anthony
You're fucking creep.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm the one who's going to save this whole story.
Dave Anthony
The mayor hadn't really done anything except let the sheriff deputize 400 businessmen.
Gareth Reynolds
Wow, that's good. That's actually ideal. Let that happen. Let the billionaires be the cops for a day.
Dave Anthony
Well, they had gone to yell at the mayor about the cops in action. So the mayor was like, all right, well, you guys do it.
Gareth Reynolds
I think the quote is, all right, well, yeah, you guys do it. Hey, I heard them. When they looked at you, they said bacon.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, they was looking at the cops and they were saying bacon. Well, I got a steal on bacon, kid. Oh, you can handle six strips. You six strips of bacon?
Dave Anthony
You literally made that up so you could say that.
Gareth Reynolds
No, I didn't.
Dave Anthony
Yes, you did.
Gareth Reynolds
No, I did not. You don't talk to me like that. You want some bacon? I can fry it for you on my person.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes.
Dave Anthony
No.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes.
Dave Anthony
Where? Back.
Gareth Reynolds
I can heat my back up to that of a griddle.
Dave Anthony
Then what happens to the watermelon?
Gareth Reynolds
The what?
Dave Anthony
The watermelon.
Gareth Reynolds
We'll be snacking on it while I'm cooking. Silly.
Dave Anthony
Have you ever been hospitalized?
Gareth Reynolds
You can't hospitalize a God.
Dave Anthony
Okay, okay. The International Socialist Review quote. It scared the businessmen out of their boots when they were expected to do their own fighting.
Gareth Reynolds
Yep.
Dave Anthony
On day five, the 29 cops refused to defend the scabs and resigned.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, there we go. It's important to remember day five, they wilt.
Dave Anthony
They called in a reserve of 10 more cops who also resigned. Then they called in the final ten reserve men who also resigned. Only two cops said yes. The rest were charged with refusing orders.
Gareth Reynolds
Those two are not smart.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, so cops then weren't like cops now. Mainly because they didn't make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and live in other locations. Their jobs were still to defend the property of the ruling class. But they weren't upper middle class homeowners. They were working men, which led to working class solidarity.
Gareth Reynolds
The last two cops. We have bikes.
Dave Anthony
So many cops just resigned. Others just refused to take orders. Mayor Schenck said he supported the cop mutiny and that he would only force officers out if the governor sent in the National Guard to protect them.
Gareth Reynolds
That's right.
Dave Anthony
He said it would stop the bloodshed. Governor Ralston went after Schenck in the press. He refused to call in the guard and said the mayor could protect the cars. Quote, Shank's failure to do so is disgracing our capital city in the eyes of the country. Oh, he's not protecting the streetcars.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, that's crazy.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, you got to protect the streetcars.
Gareth Reynolds
I have protected all the streetcars.
Dave Anthony
I'm sorry, what?
Gareth Reynolds
I have protected all the streetcars.
Dave Anthony
Okay, we need to get you back into speech therapy.
Gareth Reynolds
I refuse. It's my charm.
Dave Anthony
I disagree.
Gareth Reynolds
Strawberry preserves. I'm offering. Super. Good deal. Would you like some? And some bread?
Dave Anthony
No, no, no, no.
Gareth Reynolds
I can toast it.
Dave Anthony
I'm good.
Gareth Reynolds
Toasted bread. No, please, no. Grilled cheese?
Dave Anthony
No, please.
Gareth Reynolds
No. Guess where I make it? No. Between my legs. I'm like a human panini.
Dave Anthony
So it's a taint oven.
Gareth Reynolds
No, it's in between my thighs. There's a little surprise.
Dave Anthony
But the potato mayor got in trouble because he didn't back either side. He never came out one way or the other. So it looked like complete inaction and just letting chaos reign. He just kept telling both sides things that he'd do, then he wouldn't do it.
Gareth Reynolds
Imagine
Dave Anthony
it's known as a Democrat, ladies and gentlemen, when the federal government sent a mediator to meet with him and Governor Ralston Shenk just didn't show up and just left the city.
Gareth Reynolds
Sayonara, suckers. Fool. He's just got, like, bags on his side like a donkey. Here we go. That's right.
Dave Anthony
The bad press and carnage in the streets led to Mayor Schenck resigning before the end of his term. I have to resign, but it's fine. He immediately got a contract to perform on vaudeville, where he told packed audiences about his career and the harrowing strike.
Gareth Reynolds
It's the fucking greatest career, right? Yeah. That is like. I love. The move to the vaudeville was always the greatest.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
It's really like how if you now are just a piece of shit, you'll find someone to celebrate you.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Like. But back then, it was like, you were just like, yeah, I'm a real piece of. Come see my play.
Dave Anthony
And people would come see me be a piece of shit on stage.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, I've got a lot of pies to sell.
Dave Anthony
Well, I'll talk about shooting Jesse James in the back.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, I Got a bunch of plums to sell today, everybody. And other items.
Dave Anthony
Is this.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm. Yeah, this is the show. I'm Mayor Shanks.
Dave Anthony
So you're just selling fruit?
Gareth Reynolds
Prop fruit.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
This time I don't have any.
Dave Anthony
Well, is there anything else to the show?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, there's other items.
Dave Anthony
No, but, like, besides selling things.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes.
Dave Anthony
Are you gonna do, like.
Gareth Reynolds
There's a love story.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. A really good love story.
Dave Anthony
Who are you in love with?
Gareth Reynolds
Apples.
Dave Anthony
Okay.
Gareth Reynolds
Myself, your wife. Oh, my wife.
Dave Anthony
Did we talked about you having a director for the show.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes, I hired a director.
Dave Anthony
Who?
Gareth Reynolds
A watermelon.
Dave Anthony
Okay, so that's a.
Gareth Reynolds
How are the numbers for the show?
Dave Anthony
They're not good.
Gareth Reynolds
How bad? How low?
Dave Anthony
Well, there's a Pacers game.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, well, that's the problem. That's entirely the problem. That's the problem right there. The show. Quite the quality of the show is where it needs to be. Just the Pacers are playing.
Dave Anthony
Yeah. Yeah. First game of the season.
Gareth Reynolds
Is the first game of the season. Yeah. How are they doing this year?
Dave Anthony
Well, everyone's pretty excited because last year they went to the finals.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, they did?
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
I didn't know that. How would I know that?
Dave Anthony
I don't know how.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm very busy.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm such a big, important businessman. I'm too busy to know these sort of things. Just go to my office and block people on Twitter.
Dave Anthony
Protestant ministers tried to intervene for a peaceful ending. They approached Thorpe, who said the company agreed to arbitration, then the strike. If the company agreed to arbitration, the strike would end immediately. Quote, the ministers said they were very impressed with Mr. Thorpe's presentation in the case. Then they went to company boss Todd, who was not as impressed. All they would say was, todd promised to write a reply. Lawsuits were filed against the traction company. One to take over their operations and the streetcar contract. It was alleged they weren't doing what they agreed to do, like, quote, heat the cars with safe and convenient appliances. And, of course, not meeting with the union. The company lawyer said the suit was, quote, simply Buncombe. Buncombe. Buncomb. Buncombe is bunkum. A saying.
Gareth Reynolds
I don't think you should be saying it anymore.
Dave Anthony
That what it is? It feels like their area means like, bullshit, I assume.
Gareth Reynolds
I thought it was like a bussy. By the way, bussy's where I hang all my cured meats.
Dave Anthony
You're gone.
Gareth Reynolds
No, I'm not.
Dave Anthony
You're on tour.
Gareth Reynolds
No, I'm not. They canceled the show. The Pacers played a lot of games. So now I'm back and I'm ready to do more stuff.
Dave Anthony
Todd put his response to the ministers in a full page ad. So the ministers came to him. He's like, I'll let you know later. And he puts it in an ad. He said all his employees were happy and loved working for him.
Gareth Reynolds
Yep, that's right. Because it's printed, therefore it's true.
Dave Anthony
So Governor Ralstead acted. The Indianapolis Star reported officials were, quote, instructed to make ready a special train to carry companies of National Guardsmen to Indianapolis for special duty.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, my God.
Dave Anthony
Got to bring in the fucking. Yeah, you got to fucking shoot people. How else is this going to end? You're going to pay people. You got to fucking kill them.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, my God. The National Guard part is just a rite of passage.
Dave Anthony
Then the union began making concessions. They said they would do arbitration with just workers so Todd wouldn't have to formally recognize the union. And Todd said, there's no reason to arbitrate the union. Men were moving away from the anger and violence of the first days, and they are winning. And the strategy was to keep public support on their side. A labor leader gave a speech and, quote, warned the men against drinking and urged their wives to assist them.
Gareth Reynolds
The wives to assist them and not drinking. Well, I love that. That's a two. I'll take my left hand, you take my right. Wow. Fuck, man. Drinking used to be.
Dave Anthony
Yeah. Serious business on Friday.
Gareth Reynolds
Right now, you can't hang in there and be sober. They're like, we're in day five. We better start negotiating. The men are looking to get hammered. We don't know what to do.
Dave Anthony
On Friday, a week after it began, the National Guard arrived and set up a giant cannon in front of the Capitol building.
Gareth Reynolds
By the way, that is like a decent threat, but it's also like, you got one can. What are you doing? It's not a fucking machine gun.
Dave Anthony
Then it's got to be pointed just down that one street.
Gareth Reynolds
There we are. All right, everybody move away from which way the cannons pointed. Shit. They figured it out. They know how these things work. Fuck. I don't know what to do. God damn it. But they won't know when we're gonna fire it.
Dave Anthony
That's right.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, except for the big. The fuse.
Dave Anthony
They're lighting it.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, that whole thing and yelling.
Dave Anthony
Clear.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, we have to for safety of everybody. Obviously. We can't just.
Dave Anthony
Other than that, they won't know.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, and we got to do the jammy. We got to do the Jammie Dodger inside of it.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
Okay. Thinking Thinking, thinking, thinking.
Dave Anthony
I feel like this was the cannon was not a good idea. It feels like a bad idea at this point.
Gareth Reynolds
Cool. You're that guy. Cool. That's cool. That's cool that when we were wheeling the cannon out here, none of this came up. And now that we're out here, you're like, yeah, let me Monday morning candidate. Yeah, I guess I'm a say now. Yeah. Okay, cool. Good for you.
Dave Anthony
Money Morning.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. No. Okay, cool. Yeah, good idea. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. We should just drop a fucking atomic bomb.
Dave Anthony
Literally. My job is to be a money Morning. Cannon back. Yeah, Cannon backer.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. You're the guy who came up with the slogan, let's get our can on.
Dave Anthony
I have a lot of ideas.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. And by the way, that one was really good. It deserved more.
Dave Anthony
I thought Cannon backing did, too. The governor, Department of Labor rep, and the union men agreed to arbitration.
Gareth Reynolds
Okay.
Dave Anthony
They just needed boss Todd to sign on. He agreed if Thorpe would dissolve the union. He went to agree to arbitration.
Gareth Reynolds
That's great.
Dave Anthony
There's no arbitration if the union's gone.
Gareth Reynolds
That is no, that's good negotiation. All right. I will meet you in the middle. Get rid of everything you want. You know, gentlemen, I think that this could all be soothed by a little snack.
Dave Anthony
The workers obviously refused. Then 300 women of the garment workers union barged into the governor's office demanding he force arbitration. And Ralston said he couldn't. Union President Edna Davis said, we are willing to take up arms to help win this strike. We just wanted you to help us stop drinking.
Gareth Reynolds
Look, we can't ask for your help because of how our dads didn't hug us, so you need to step in. We won't ask for the help, but we need it. Okay?
Dave Anthony
The National Guard being deployed was bad for many things. A headline from the Richmond Palladium and Sun Telegram quote, wabash players on strike duty. Five members called out with militia to Indianapolis. Team is crippled. Quakers believe it is a ruse to lull yellow and white to sleep.
Gareth Reynolds
I like the Quakers popping in at the end. We haven't heard much about them.
Dave Anthony
That's who they're playing.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, okay. I didn't realize that.
Dave Anthony
They're playing the Quakers or the Wabash is playing the Quakers. I didn't know. I wasn't actually asking you.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, you really look like you were.
Dave Anthony
I don't need you to answer. Look, that guy's mad he's leaving. He's like, these people won't shut up.
Gareth Reynolds
He's going to see that country guy who's playing here, or whatever his name is.
Dave Anthony
That guy's sweet.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, that guy does kick ass. I really hope it is show. It's half full and he's like, fuck it, Pacers. Fuck.
Dave Anthony
Ralston was threatened with assassination for sending out the guard. He sent 2,000 troops. He did promise that, quote, if he lived until the next legislature met, he would do his best to have enacted legislation compelling arbitration of all labor disputes. So he's coming around. He's coming around.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, if he lives. But he's putting out 2,000 National Guardsmen, right? Yeah. So, yeah, he's super cool.
Dave Anthony
But on Saturday, Bas Todd suddenly agreed to the initial agreement to arbitrate, which didn't destroy the union. Labor representatives credit the governor for bringing both sides to the table. And the strike was over. The agreement was simple. Regular train service would begin in 12 hours because of arbitration, which, without recognizing the union would begin in five days. But it did recognize a group of employees as a bargaining union. So the union thought full recognition would come after.
Gareth Reynolds
Okay, so it's a step.
Dave Anthony
It's a step. Local socialists bemoaned a missed opportunity the workers had.
Gareth Reynolds
Is that just always the role of the socialists? Kind of like, we were so fucking close. Yeah, but we got Obamacare.
Dave Anthony
It's pretty good. It's not good.
Gareth Reynolds
Quit laughing like a demon with a cock barrel.
Dave Anthony
The workers had so thoroughly won and taken over the city that the socialists thought they should have held out for more.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, always.
Dave Anthony
But the.
Gareth Reynolds
You're always right. Like, if you're at that point, it's like, push it.
Dave Anthony
Yeah.
Gareth Reynolds
They could get it all the way in.
Dave Anthony
They could have got more.
Gareth Reynolds
Say that. Look, it might seem like it's too big and lofty. Just give it a chance and keep shoving, and eventually maybe you'll get everything you want. You can push it through.
Dave Anthony
I'd also use a lot of lube.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. What? No. What? He completely ruined it. That's crazy. Now I'm against it.
Dave Anthony
The union's main goal was arbitration, and they got it. Even if they left a lot on the table. And the public supports themselves.
Gareth Reynolds
They sure did leave a lot on the table.
Dave Anthony
The public still supported them. The people got on the trains. They shook the conductor's hands. Quote. The greetings were almost as warm as would be expected between friends who had been separated for much longer than a week.
Gareth Reynolds
Can I be honest? First two days, I'm like, that's great. If that happens more than three days, I'm like, jesus Christ, let's Fucking. Are you gonna shake everybody's fucking hand on this? Fucking.
Dave Anthony
Supposed to fucking walk to work.
Gareth Reynolds
Jesus Christ. That's fucking crazy. Oh, my God, it's so good to see you. You're a real hero. I'd be like, all right, we're good. Let's go. Feels like we're back on strike, you're saying. Thank you so much. Keep it moving.
Dave Anthony
The scabs left, quote, they were a picturesque crew. Nearly every one of them carried clothing under one arm or a ham under the other.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, well, well, well, welly, well, well, well, well. So let me get this straight. Underarm hams. Where the fuck do you think they got that idea from? Next thing you know, they're gonna have potatoes and ass melons and they're gonna be making man ninis between their knees. Count it.
Dave Anthony
For three months. Arbitration went on. Ms. Ethel Downey testified the Indianapolis Star quote, woman is attractive. That's a good headline.
Gareth Reynolds
Couldn't you. Couldn't you just put that in the story if you had to? Does that have to be the headline?
Dave Anthony
I think so.
Gareth Reynolds
Does he even talk about the case? Ms. Downey, through fail modesty, dressed. Presented a rather attractive appearance. She was attired neatly in a black suit, which she said cost $20. And a wealth of light hair was covered with a black hat trimmed with black feathers which she said belonged to her mother. Hey, what happened? What happened when she was up there? What did she do? You remember what she said?
Dave Anthony
No, I actually didn't take any of that down, but look how beautiful she was.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dave Anthony
I feel like I really captured. Oh, I didn't put in the. The part about her bosom.
Gareth Reynolds
No, you did. It's. We cut it. We cut it. We had to cut it. It was crazy.
Dave Anthony
What about the.
Gareth Reynolds
Yes, the derriere. Yes. We put two watermelons.
Dave Anthony
It seemed like. You understand.
Gareth Reynolds
Don't. Don't. Don't do that. Don't do that. Don't do that. If you talk about it three times, you know, he appears.
Dave Anthony
Did you also turn on Candyman in the hotel room?
Gareth Reynolds
Are we doing a bit or are you being real right now? That is so crazy.
Dave Anthony
It's. Yeah, it's.
Gareth Reynolds
Woman hot as. Said something earlier today, a big old thing about something happened. And a woman with a. The real badonkadonk waddled all the way up into a little box where she put her hand on a book of some kind. Holy fuck, was I lost in her eyes and cleave. When I asked her how much it all cost, she said, $20. When I said, hey, you seem to like numbers. What's yours? She told me to get lost. Lost. I didn't as I followed her for a little while until she met up with a fellow who was a lot bigger than me. When she pointed me out, I said, hey, guy, I'm just a reporter. He said, oh, let me look at your notes. And then he looked down at him and realized I'd just drawn her in a bikini and me with my cock on a wheelbarrow. He said, what the hell's this? I said, what do you think it is? I'll do anything just to lick her legs. He said, get the fuck out of here. He said, today she had a huge testimony. I said, a testimony? What the hell's that? All I saw was an angel without wings. That night I got drunk alone, and I woke up in a pile of mud. This morning I had to go back to my wife. Quite average, mind you. When she asked where I'd been all night, I said, pining. She said, for who? I said, it doesn't matter. Then she went through my notes and was a real meanie about it. Is it just me, or are women the worst? They should be out there washing those tracks with soapy waters, if you ask me. Anyway, I look forward to doing more court reporting. I think I'm pretty good at this.
Dave Anthony
Ethel testified she needed money.
Gareth Reynolds
Well, I can help.
Dave Anthony
Her husband was a motorman.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, gross. Husband, yuck.
Dave Anthony
But had tuberculosis.
Gareth Reynolds
Oh, wait a minute. He's gonna die.
Dave Anthony
And couldn't work.
Gareth Reynolds
He can't work. He's not your husband anymore. Let's kick him in a river.
Dave Anthony
She met with the company assistant superintendent and told him of men claiming to be company spies but were working for the union. He then hired her to become a honeypot. To take Thorpe to a wine cellar at a fancy hotel, get him drunk and put him in a compromising position so that he might get arrested. Instead, she started learning about unions and their benefits.
Gareth Reynolds
So this is like James Bond, basically. Oh, yes. James, come with me down here to the honey pot. I can't tell you I was sent here by someone else. But now that I'm here with you, you're so perfect. Walk me through these union rights again, James.
Dave Anthony
And she told Thorpe about the plan. Men went on the stand and talked about the shit wages, how they couldn't afford clothes, living at home with their parents. Once said he saved money by, quote, not eating an egg within a year. The ruling came on February 11, 1914. The company had to sort of recognize the union. 5% wage increase and a scale increasing wages over five years, much less than they wanted. All fired workers to be rehired one Sunday off a month. Jesus. Part time workers get minimum pay. A permanent arbitration committee.
Gareth Reynolds
It sounds like they got completely fucked.
Dave Anthony
Yes. But of three conservative judges who hated unions.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah.
Dave Anthony
It's like when. When Biden did the thing with the trains.
Gareth Reynolds
Now, wait, they got fucked?
Dave Anthony
Yeah, they got fucked.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. Well, they didn't even. That one's even worse because that was like.
Dave Anthony
That was way.
Gareth Reynolds
Biden directly was just like, no. Yeah, like they never had a shot. They were like, all right, we're gonna do it. He's like, no.
Dave Anthony
Well, he made. He made a deal with. They made a deal with the main union. Given less than they wanted, but that meant that all the other train. Smaller ones and all the other workers got fucked. Really cool.
Gareth Reynolds
It's also so funny because he was like the train guy. He's like, I love trains. I'm a big train guy. I love trains. Fuck you. Die. Not me. Okay, me too. Me too. I didn't do anything. Man.
Dave Anthony
After Governor Ralston pushed progressive labor legislation, particularly protections for workers, which led to a successful run for him. He positioned the government as a mediator which successfully recognized striking and collective action in general as a legitimate response to poor wages and working conditions.
Gareth Reynolds
So maybe that's the.
Dave Anthony
That is.
Gareth Reynolds
That's the win.
Dave Anthony
The strike caused public opinion and state politics to shift away from automatic support for the bosses and torture acceptances of unions as a real and often necessary part of the industrial order. They could have just got a little bit more, though.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. Why? Why did it.
Dave Anthony
I don't know.
Gareth Reynolds
But why? Why? Why as a society does it keep swinging back and forth? Because they just are greedy who are relentless.
Dave Anthony
And they have all. And they have. They have their relentless, but they also have. They control the media and they. Yeah, the politicians. So, yeah, that's why.
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, but that's changing. They don't control the media anymore. That ship's over. That's done.
Dave Anthony
Written by Josh Androwski. The sources the Streetcar War in Indianapolis by Bruce Rogers from the International Socialist Review. Hoosier State Chronicles Politics of Publicity. Mayor Lou Shank and the Power of the Press by Brock Stafford. Car wars by Sidney Lynn Airing Indianapolis News, the Indianapolis Star, the Daily Republic and the Tribune. The Republic, Muncie Evening Press, Fort Wayne Daily News, Princeton Daily Clarion, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the Vincennes sun and the Evansville Courier and Press.
Gareth Reynolds
Let me ask you this. Why'd you start to hate me halfway through the story. You're just awful because all I had was the food thing. There's other stuff.
Dave Anthony
Is there?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah. Mike, I'm a workout fiend.
Dave Anthony
What?
Gareth Reynolds
Yeah, I could juggle.
Dave Anthony
You say you're a workout fiend?
Gareth Reynolds
I know where I can show you a dead body.
Dave Anthony
Okay, now. Now I'm listening.
Gareth Reynolds
You want to go on a waterfall tour?
Dave Anthony
No. Can we go back to the dead body part?
Gareth Reynolds
I bet I could get you in a hot air balloon for free.
Dave Anthony
What does that even mean?
Gareth Reynolds
I can live outside for over two weeks.
Dave Anthony
Okay, cool.
Gareth Reynolds
I hate dogs.
Dave Anthony
Are these all supposed to be things that make.
Gareth Reynolds
I've invented a new way to dive. I can suck my toes.
Dave Anthony
We're going to cut the theater run short. Don't do that with your nose. Don't do that with your nose.
Gareth Reynolds
I'm looking for a new best friend.
Dave Anthony
Yeah, yeah. That we all know. Don't do that. Stop it. Why are you so shiny?
Gareth Reynolds
Because I'm covered in olive oil. Take some bread and wipe it on me. Come on, let's get filthy. This is harassment in the best possible way.
Dave Anthony
This is like being on stage with Cuomo.
Gareth Reynolds
I would never be alone on stage. I only do it in a room full of people I can't trust My hands. All right. Go, Pacers. Thank you, everybody. Appreciate it.
Podcast: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Date: April 7, 2026
Episode Theme:
A comedic yet insightful dive into the 1913 Indianapolis Streetcar Strike—a pivotal labor conflict in American history. Dave Anthony narrates the events and context, while Gareth Reynolds provides spontaneous, often absurdist humor, impersonations, and side commentary. The episode balances labor history with the hosts’ trademark banter.
This episode examines the Indianapolis Streetcar Strike of 1913, a seminal labor movement in which unionizing streetcar workers clashed with private company interests, strikebreakers, city officials, and even the National Guard. Dave and Gareth unpack the mnemonic cast of historical characters, the strategies and mishaps of both strikers and scabs, and the larger implications for workers’ rights.
Socialism in the Air:
Union versus Company Tactics:
On Mayor Shenk’s Persona:
The Essence of Scabs/Pinkertons:
Chaos in the Streets:
Cops Switch Sides:
National Guard Irony:
Women Take Direct Action:
On Arbitration’s Disappointments:
The Strike’s Broader Legacy:
This Dollop episode masterfully blends historical narrative and biting humor to bring the 1913 Indianapolis streetcar strike to life, highlighting:
For listeners, it’s a raucous history lesson: tragic, triumphant, and bizarre—with more than a few potatoes and pocket beans along the way.