Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-10-31
THE TRANSFERS STRIKE.
No Signs of Yielding on Part of Men
or their Employers.

or tnclF -Em plof Cies
New York, Oct. 31.-A concerted
effort is being made today by the man
ayers OF all the express companies
doing business in New York, Jersey
City and Hoboken, to break the strike
OF drivers helpers. Wagons laden with
matter that has been held up in the
depots for days we're started out OF
every barn before daylight today. Ga
each wagon were the driver, two help
ers and from three to ten armed guards.
The latter carried shot guns and long
ash riot sticks, excellently loaded at
the end for head breaking.
There was no real disorder in the
early hours. due to the vigilance of
the police. In Jersey City and Hobo
ken the entire strength OF the force
was massed between the depot and the
ferry houses. All drivers took the
same route and there was policeman
on each side OF the street at intervals
OF FIVE yards. These men kept their
backs to the wagons and watched the
sidewalks and windows and roofs of
houses along the way. No one was
permitted to stand still. and men with
their hands in their pockets we're close
ly watched. The result was that fully
100 wagons we're moved without dis
turbance.
The Jersey police are no longer using
soft measures with the rioters. They
have been warned that If there is any
more rioting, Coy. Fort will rush troops
into the affected cities, no matter what
the effect may be on the present politi-
cal campaign. Tho police therefore
kept their royolvers in plain sight to-
day and known disturbers were hurried
off the main thoroughfare without re-
gard to their feelings. In Manhattan
early today, police reserves patrolled
the various ferry stations and the vi.
cnity OF the Grand Central depot.
These men had orders to use their clubs
on all disturbers of the peace, and the
result was that the strikers and their
sympathizcrs gave the depots q wide
berth.
Whether the strike is to be given a
national character will be decided on
within the next three days. Danial j.
Tobin, national president OF the Inter-
national Brotherhood OF Tcamstcrs, sent
word from Boston today that he has
organizers hard 1T work getting the cx-
press drivers i'll every large city in the
United States into the union. He has
promised the support Of the American
Federation in the present strike and it
was announced at union headquarters
here this morning that the union will
begin paying strike benefits today.
The formal demands were filed today
with the superintendent of the several
express companies. Tho scale provides
for eighty dollars month for route
drivers; scventy-fyo for assistant drivers
and ffty-tiye dollarsa month for wagon
helpers.
John Mitchell, head OF the conciia-
ton bureau OF the Civic Federation,
conferred with Frank II. Platt of the
United States Express Company, today
in an attempt TO settle the strike. He
is being aide,l by the mcdiators OF the
State Department Of Labor. There
was minor outbreak ut the Offices OF
The. American Express Company on
West 125th street today when a force OF
strike sympathizers attacked guards
there. When city police arrived the
guards we're being severely beaten, but
| the mob was uuirkly dispersed.
Philadelphia, OFT. 91--Four hundred
strike breakers, enrolled by J. A.
Brown, q professional strike breaker,
will leave here on the 2:2o p. m. train
over the Pennsylvania Railroad for
New York and Jersey City to take the
places OF the striking express wagon
drivers in those cities.
Brown, who has opened recruiting
station here, is Offering men So. 90
day
New York. Oct. 31.--Unless the
present strike Of wagon helpers em-
ployed by the various express COM
panies about New York is speedily
settled, the most serious labor tie-up
in the recent history of the city is be-
Iieved certain.
Officials of the teamsters' union,
enragcd because police Inspector
Schittbergcr placed uniformed men
on the wagons of the express today,
declared that they will call out every
union teamsters in the greater city
| unless the police attitude is changed.
In addition they named committee
to visit Mayor Gaynor and object TO
city police acting as private guards.
The temper OF the strikers is ugly
again.
Efforts to bring about compromise
have SO far failed, the companies posi-
lively refusing to recognize the union.
Offers OF an increase OF pay without
union recognition have been refused.
The leader of the strikers in this city,
Val Hoffman, who is vice-president OF
the International Brotherhood. OF
Transfers, said this afternoon that he
has the department store drivers in such
shape that they will leave their teams
on a moments notice. The same state
Of preparedness exists, he says, in the
ranks of$the drivers of the mammoth
coal delivery companies which deliver
| coal daily 70 the downtown skyscrapers.
Between 500 and 1000 strikebreakers
were smuggled;into this city by the ex-
press companies and they were placed
in the barns to be sent out as fast as
they can be used. There were num-
Der Of minor disturbances during the
! morning but no one was seriously hurt.
Iph;Ia orrlers have baan issued TO the