Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-09

AFTERNOON there were no Important develop
ments in the Philadelphia strike situation.
There was no violence reported from any
part Of the city.
w. d. Mahon, president OF the Amalga-
mated Association OF Street and Electric
Railway Employees, announced today he
has received a telegram from Samuel Com
pers. president Of the American Federation
OF Labor. who Is in Chicago telling him
that all the organizers OF all the trades
represented in the federation had been or
dered to come here to ~organizte nonunion
workers for the sympathetic, strike.
PHILADELPHIA. March Sail phila-
delphia hopes that the crty-vfde movement
begun yesterday by the United BUSINESS
Mems association to bring to a quick end
the great labor conflict that has kept the
city OF "brOtherly love" IN a. turmoil for
more than two weeks will meet with more
success than the effort made last week by
the same body of men,
This organization asked the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company and Mayor Rey-
burn to arbitrate tho differences existing
between the company and the men,, but
was given no satisfaction. Now this asso-
citation, which Includes practically every
business man Of any standing in Philadel-
phia, will enlarge it's movement by taking
in other organizations that stand for the
progress OF Philadelphia and will mako a
united attack on the warning elements in
the Interest of peace and general welfare
Of the city. ..
Business, especially in the central part
Of the city, has suffered to an extent NOT
known in years. .s,,
Although It is three days since the gem
eral strike order Of all union workers IN
sympathy with the fight OF the trolley
mems union against the transit company
went into effect 1t IL, still impossible ac-
curately to state the strength of the move
ment. Widely divergent claims continue 10
be made by both sides. Union leaders saw
that $4,000 union workers are on strike
and they have been Joined by at least
10000 men and women who heretofore were
unorganized. -V tt.
Police Figures Arc Low.
The police authorities on the other hand
state that a careful compilation of the re-
ports Of a thorough, canvass shows less
thar 10000 on strike. Tho police back up
their statement by a detailed list of the
many concerns affected. Independent in
vestigators who have also made canvasses
say hat while the police figures are fairly
accurate for the establishments represented.
many occupations haYe- been overlooked in
the police report.
The difficulty in. arriving at a close estI-
mate of the number OF idle workers is due
to the fact that the walkout covers the
entire 40 square miles Of territory en-
braced in the city Of Philadelphia. Except
in certain sections AkesK ensington, Mana
yVnk, the big texttle centers manufacture
Ing plants aresprety welltscattered ana
much time Is e0nsp hhed in Covering them.
Another diffielliYv h theSsFeluctanee Of
some employers who for business reasons
do not wish to give an accurate statement
Of the number of men idle.
Aside from actual figures It is apparent
that the, textile and buildinEs,ytrades ara
the most {seFipAaS affected. Practically all
the big building operations in town are
tied up.
There apppared TO he more carsiin service
today than at any time since the railway
strike started.
Labor leaders, intend TO seize the present
opportunity to organize further the work.
men of the city. Philadelphia has always
been known among labor people as a mon
union town" and plans are being laid to
strengthen the cause Of unionism here.
In response to a telegram Frank Morrison,
secretary Of the American Federation OF
Labor at Washington, has assured the
union leaders that no will arrange to have
general organizers take up the work in
Philadelphia at once.
The sympathetic strike has threatened a
new contest, a fight for the open shop
by employers who have had working agree
ments with unions. When the strike was
called many unions were working under
hard won trade agreements and some Of
them hesitated about going out IN SYM
pathy with the trolley men because It en-
dangered the life Of these trade contracts.
That there is trouble. ahead for some Of
the individual unions and employers was
indicated in the action taken by the Mason
Builders association. This body has
adopted a resolution protesting against the
journeymen bricklayers in stopping work
and violating an existing agreement. The
resolution further states that II the men
do not return to work at once the en-
ployers will proceed with their work with
such bricklayers as they may be able TO
hire.
Mayor Reyburn is much gratlfled by the
appearance in the newspapers today as an
advertisement OF the following endorse
ment signed by forty-four prominent men.
We the undersigned citizens OF Phila-
delphia, having at heart the honor and
fame OF the city as a law abiding com
munity, do hereby approve and endorse the
efforts of Mayor Reybuen and the civ
authorities to maintain order and suppress
lawlessness and the destruction OF prom
erty, We hope and trust that all the power
at their command will be Invoked and used
for this purpose II necessary"
The endorsement is signed by five direct
ors of the Pennsylvania Railroad company
as individuals, well known finauciers- and
lawyers and men prominent in other walks
of life.