Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-01
GENERAL STRIKE NEXT MOVE
Central Union in Philadelphia lfay
Call Out $4,000 Men.
MAYOR DECLARES IT A BLUFF
Head of City Government Thinks
Chances of General walkout Are
Remote - Company VIII
Not Arbitrate,

Not Arbttrutes
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2S.-Despite the
various acts OF violence committed by r.o-
tous crowds throughout the city yesterday
and last night, the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company was prepared this morn
ing TO open its various lines with an in
creased number Of cars. The members Of
the idle Sunday throngs haYe been once
more transformed into hard working clti-
zens, or are still resting from yesterday s
exciting experiences. for very little 1ffl-
Guilty was experienced in the operation of
any line in the early part OF the day.
More important than the ability OF the
traction company to operate its cars is the
probably effect OF the sympathetic strike
decided upon by leaders of every labor or
ganization at the meeting held yesterday.
This monster wallSout Of 10000 union work
ers Is scheduled for next Saturday unless
the differences between the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company and it's union EN-
ployes have been amicably adjusted be-
fore that time
Organized labor having spoken and the
company having stated that there Is moth
ing to arbitrate the matter is now up to
the city administration. The decision for
general strike Is conditional on the city
Of Philadelphia making bona fide effort
tc arbitrate the differences between the
company and its men.
The city is a partner In the PHILADELPHIA
Rapid Transit company, it having three
representatives on the board of directors
These representatives are elected by the
two branches Of city councils and the pres
ent members are Mayor Reyburn. George
II. Earle jr, and William II. Carpenter
Thinks Strike Talk a Bluff.
Mayor Reyburn's opinion that the proba-
bilities of a general strike are remote was
unchanged by the action of the Central
Labor union. The mayor said that he
questioned whether the labor unions con-
trolled 1900 men, or even much more than
a third Of that number. "All that I can
see in their action is that they hope it
may bring about some settlement" he
said.
There was apparently no question but
that the delegates would/Vote to strike
the split being on the question of whether
or not the strike would be started imme-
diatey. The more conservative element
prevailed, however, and the walkout was
put off until Saturday.
Meanwhile there is hope that the street
railway strike will be arbitrated despite
the repeated declaration of the transit
company, controlling all the lines in the
city, that there is nothing to arbitrate."
Nobody doubts that last nights action of
the Central Labor union makes the sltua-
ton grave There is a strong feeling,
especially among business people, that the
strike should be settled speedily, as all
lines Of business suffer because Of the
stagnation resulting from the interference
with traffic. Consequently there is much
that the meeting OF the delegates lasted
from little after 2 o'clock until $50
The great crowd of work people gathered
outGide the hall would occasionally hear
loud cheering, and a responsive cheer
would go up from the outsiders. Finally
when the meeting broke UP and the an
nouncement was made that the delegates
had resolved that unless the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company comes to an agree
ment with its striking employees by next
Friday, the greatest strike in the history
of Philadelphia will be inaugurated, there
was great cheer and the oTowd dispersed
Man aud Boz killed.
"A man and boy are dead and four
other boys were seriously hurt as the re-
suit of a trolley car jumping switch
downtown tonight and crashing into the
front of a cigar store.
The dead and injured were standing in
front of the store There had been q
down the street and someone
had turned the unused switch at this
point The car crashed through the crowd
on the sidewalk, stopping only after it had
torn the front ont of the etora
Realizing that much Of the disturbance
was started by children, Archbishop Ryan
sent letter. which was read in every
Roman Catholic church today, warning
parents not to allow their children on the
streets during the present trouble.
Alleged DynamiterS Held.
Charged with being implicated in a plot |
to blow up trolley cars filled with passen-
gers and to destroy other property of the
company, Charles r. Copeland, a striking |
conductor, and William C. Field, a station
Rry fireman, formerly of New York, were |
held in $500 BAH yesterday by Magistrate |
Heston in the central police station.
The men were arrested early today by |
II. S. Wilcox, chief detective Of the COM |
pany, and Detective O'Conner Of the Cen |
trail office. Tho detectives stated at the
hearing that a plot had been Matched at |
a recent meeting of the trolley men to
blow up cars. Early today they said they |
saw Copeland pick up something from a
track in West Philadelphia. When they
followed Copeland and placed him under
arrest, bomb was found in his possession.
Members OF the Amalgamated Assool-
alton Of Street and Electric railway en-
ployes, while admitting that Copeland is a
member Of their union deny any knowledge
of the alleged plot and say the detectives
have framed up the dynamiting plot in
order to dlscredt the union.