New-York tribune., 1910-10-31
POLICE ALERT; AWE
EXPRESS STRIKERS
Threat of National Disturbance
Through Countrywide Strike,
Involving 10000 Men.
CALM SUNDAY EVERYWHERE
Labor Men Hasten to Organize
Drivers and Helpers in All
Cities-Night Sticks Will
Fall on the Unruly.

While the riot order Of the Police De
rartu1ent proved effective as a peace
measure vesterday-the disturbances Of
the pre-ious day subsidinE suddenly
after midnight sunday morning-the ex-
rress company employees on strike were
not inactive.
After a series Of meetings held through
out the day ny the strikers it was an
rounced by the labor leaders that a
national strike Of the employees Of the
express companies would be called this
week unless the companies give IN at
once 10 the demands of their men A
strike Of the Brooklyn employees Of the
companies already tied up in Manhattan
and Jersey City viii Iee an ACCOMPLISHED
fact this morning, and the drivers and
helpers Of the local companies who have
remained at work are also expected to
60 out
This means that this morning there
will be added 5000 Brooklyn strikers to
the men already out in Manhattan and
Jersey City for the Adams. American.
United States, National. Wells-Fargo.
Westcott, Boston Dispatch and Long
Island express companies. while the
strikers hope that 1000 more employees
Of local companies viii join their ranks.
making a total Of 12O00 men out.
Would Add $4,000 TO Strikers.
II national strike is ordered. as
Dar'el J. Tobin. president OF the Inter
national brotherhood Of Tedmsters. has
empowered the local leaders to do. 10
@Hh men all over the country viii be
added 10 the force of the strikers
The stablemen have not Vet been
called out. hut the strike leaders viii
consider that side Of the situation to-
Gay. and Tomorrow the Joint District
Council Of the teamsters viii discuss the
question OF calling out the coal team
sters
No demands have been presented 10
tn express companies Vet. as the lead
ers have not been able TO decide on the
question OF a closed shop. At a meeting
of the New York District Council Of the
teamsters. at No. 7Sl Eighth avenue.
yesterday. 4 tentative draft Of the de-
mands was agreed OF to include the
closed shop. and to-day the leaders will
put it in shape 10 present the demands
10 the companies.
Demands OF Strikers Drawn Up.
The demands as drawn up are $50 a
month for route drivers. SO a month for
assistant drivers. S:I:5 a month for help
RS and a union shop An arbitration
.lause is embodied il the draft. which
is in the form OF an agreeemnt No re-
auctions in wages are to be made in the
case Of men who are getting more than
the union scale.
The strikers met at Arlington Hall
II 81. Marks Place. yesterday. and will
meet at No. Isl Eighth avenue all day
today. the employees of the different
companies occupying the hall in rota-
uon. TWO labor members Of the Eng
lish Parliament. who are to attend the
convention Of the American Federation
nf Labor next month are expected to
speak al some Of the meetings.
There WAS frantic cheering in Airing
ton Hall when il was announced that
President Tobin Of the international
brotherhood had authorized the local
leaders 10 caIl national strike. Val
entine Hoffman. local leader of the
strike, said after the meeting:
Strike May Be Longlived.
We have been notified by President
Tobin, of the International Brother
hood of Teamsters, who is in Boston
now, To send word to the local organ
izers of drivers and helpers in all the
large cities 10 organize thoroughly. SO
that their members viii be ready TO
strike in sympathy when we call on
them. President Tobin left Indianapo-
lis some days ago. and is visiting the
different cities. comforting with the
local oficers Of the teamsters before he
goes 10 the convention Of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor next month.
He has been in 81. Louis and other
large cities. and may come to New
York before he goes 10 the convention
The present strike may last more
than . month. and if il is not settled
IN week il is likely that all the men
in the other cities viii be called out
We VIII probably begin 10 pay strike
benefits Of 81 4 week this week. The
International brotherhood has a large
fund available for the purpose. and we
Federation Of Labor. The new union
of drivers and helpers will simply be
known IS The New York Express
Drivers ana Helpers Union until We
receive our charter from the American
Federation Of Labor this week"
Hoffman said that 10y assessing the
meinbers of the International Brother
mood of Transfers 10 cents weekly the
strike could be continued indefinitely
We could stay out five years if nee
tssars.," hc said.
Show Consideration for Horses.
The organization OF the stablemen is
IN progress, but the leaders hesitate TO
call them out. Hoffman said yesterday:
The calling out of the stablemen viii
be our last resort. We feel that we
Would not care to have the horses left
without men 10 attend to them and feed
them The stablemen viii be called out,
however. if the strike lasts long enough
Ia justify il"
The strikers and their sympathzers
and the police got along yesterday with
riu the use of the riot sticks or any
boWlders being hurled, but considerable