The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-20
PROMISES TO Be
BIG STRIKE YEAR
I've Have Already Occurred in
$ the United States
y4.AN FOR ARBITRATION
Ian FOR ARBITRATION
sIy in the street Car Strike of Phila-
delphia Has There Been Mob
Violence or Disturbance
OF Any Kind
BY SIDNEY EsPEY

Washington, March l9.-topeclai)-Dy
ali the signs of the official zodiac the
spring of the present year is likely to
be known as "strke year among the
railroad and industrial interests of the
country This is the official prognostica-
ton of a prominent man in government
service whose duties deal with strike
situations throughout the United States.
Since the beginning Of the year no less
than five big strikes have taken place in
volving more than 100000 worlSingmen.
Most of them are connected in one way
or another with the railroads engaged in
Interstate business. OF this number, the
greatest strike that has yet engaged the
public's attention is that at Philadel-
phia of the dissatisfied street car en-
ployes against the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company.
Other strikes that tend to render use
less the great arteries of public travel
and commerce have been instituted In
Maryland, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and
along the right of way of the Canadian
Pacific railroad, embracing nearly all
of the states in the great northwestern
section of the United States. These
embryonic strikes are headed by the
switchmen's Union of North America
the Railroad Photographers union, COM
posed of men employed by the Big Four
railroad and the Baltimore and OHIO
Southwestern, and the Trainmen and En-
ginemen's union of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad.
In every instance the strikers have had
their inception by reason of the low
wages existing and of the long hours re-
uuired for a days work. Also, in eacn
instance 1t has been claimed by repre-
sentatives of the laboring men that rarely
before have these employees sought to
eoerce their respective companies into
any agreement looking to a demand for
an increase in wages or of the curtall-
ment in the number of hours constitut-
Ing days work. In the cases cited
no resort has been had to mob rule or
violence in any shape. The employees
have not quit their jobs nor have the
companies threatened or attempted 10
fire them by reason of any connec-
ton with the union Matters have been
allowed to take their natural course
Arbitra ton.
This means that Chairman Martin A.
Knapp of the interstate commerce COM
mission and Charles p. NELL, commas
sioner of Labor, are using their persua-
sive powers to prove to the strikers ana
employers alike that it Is to their lnu-
tual benefit to arbitrate their differences
The controversies have been left to the
operation of the Erdman aoS under
which Messrs. Knapp and NELL md their
authority to settle these matters. with
this end in view, the Intermediates nave
designated certain men, one representing
the employers, one the men, and the
third to act as an arbitrator
For the switchmen's strike, S. e. Her
berling. vice president of the Switchmen's
Union. of North America: c. K. Gray,
vice president of the st. Louis and San
Francisco railroad, and Steven 5. Greg
DRY, lawyer of Chicago, have been Sc
lected to arbitrate the differences. ON
the Big Four railroad strike, Horace
Baker, vice president of the Big -Four;
i. j. Dermody fourth vice president of
The Te1egraphers' union, and Rev. Dr..
William ]. Kirby of the American Cath
Ole university will adjudicate the con-
tested points G. II. Cross, attorney for
the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern; j.
!. Dernody and DR.. Kirby will also try
10 settle this case, and Chairman Knapp
and-Dr Neill will see If it is not possible
TO prevent the trainmen and the engine
men from walking out of their jobs on
the Baltimore and Ohio.
Hearings are being held in Baltimore,
Cincinnati and Chicago between the
worlsingmen and the representatives of
the railroads. In these cases 1t Is ex-
pected by those who are fully CONVEX
SAINT with the situation that the demands
made by the men will be considered by
the various companies anu thdt they VIII
obtain material benefits 1t is, how
ever realized here that there are two
aides TO the questions involved; but it
is also said there is little doubt that the
men will accept the findings of the ar
bitrat ton boards.
Behind these strikes is the cause for
the action-insufficient pay to meet the
high prices of foodstuffs. In other words
wages have not kept pace with the grow
ing increases noted in the prices of nearly
al! the necessities of life.
In striking contrast to these attempts
looking to a peaceful settlement of the
difficulties is the attitude assumed by the
belligerent strikers of Philadelphia and
the headstrong officials Of the traction