Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-08
GOMPERS SAID TO BE
ORGANIZING CAR MEN

Continued From Page ~
traction mems cause and help them
win their fight.
Figures gathered by the police de-
partment are cited by Director of Pub
lie Safety Clay to support his previous
claim that not more than 10000 men
struck
The labor leaders claim that 100000
men will be out by tonight.
Strike Committees Statement.
The strikers committee Of ten is.
sued statement in part as follows.
'The second day of the general
strike finds labor's forces united and
militant with nearly every organized
worker on strike, and with thousands
Of the unorganized preparing to join
In this demonstration. In addition to
those reported yesterday as having
answered the strike proclamation,
thousands more will be added Mon
day, who worked Saturday in order to
protect the stock and property OF their
employers
"The people are thoroughly aroused
as to the meaning of this fight. They
realize that it is a struggle between
the corporate interests and human
rights rs guaranteed by the constitu-
ton of the United States. Mass meet
ings of citizens, held during the last
forty-eight hours, disclose the enthusi-
assn and determination that prevails
among the rank and file Of the people
and clearly demonstrates the correct
ness of our position.
Realizing that the fight has just
begun, providing the traction company
officials do not Immediately settle
their disputes with the car men or
submit the same to arbitration, this
committee is preparing for the COM
ple.e organization of the entire city.
Every striking labor local is directed
to establish headquarters where its
members shall report daily, and to
hold mass meetings under the super
vision of 2 subcommittee of the COM
n,ittee of ten. This provision is made,
the statement says, in order that at
such meetings. irresponsible and I'M
authorized speakers may be given no
opportunity to incite riot or unlawful
action
The strikers will hold mass meet
i'm this afternoon in Labor Lyceum
hall.
Plants Not Affected.
Among the large employers of labor
not affected by the strike are the Bald
win locomotive works, 1900 men;
Midvale steel works, 5000; J. G. Brill
Car company, $500; J. B. Stetson Hat
Manufacturing company, 1000; Dis |
ston's saw works, $500; Atlantic Re-
fning company. 5000; Dobson's car
pet mills, 1900. Other large employers
of labor unaffected are the Bell Tele- /
phone company, Philadelphia Electric /
company, Cramps shipyard, Wilbur |
Chocolate company, Folwell Bros. & |
60. and the sanuuoit Silk Manufacture
ing company.
Among the concerns whose men |
walked out are Hardwick & Magee
textile mills, 1000 men; American |
Lace company, 500; John Blood &sCo., /
hosiery $50; Dornan Bros, textile, 500. I
1t was stated by city official that
the strike is adding $4,000 day to
the expense of running the city. A
Representative of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company said that UP
10 yesterday, the beginning of the
third week of the strike the total
cost of the company had been between
s750O00 and 100000. Asked how
long the comDany could stand the ex-
pense, he said:
THAT is less than $10OO,O0O. The
company is ready and willing to spend
several millions, is necessary to win
put in this fight. It is huge price 70
pay. but we have to pay it to retain 4
the privilege of running the company
and managing the property for the
stockholders and the public.
Calls 1t Industrial Fight.
La Il {rl~ =
eommending it's stand received from
employers of labor in all parts of the
country. made public by the Rapid
Transit company, w. D. Mahon, inter
national president of the carmen's
anion, made the following statement:
"tThe Philadelphia Rapid Transit
company is making public through
President Kruger, kilograms from as
sociations of manufacturers and en-
pioyers all over the country approving
the stand of the company against ar
bitration and offering assistance in
It's fight against organized labor, dis
closes the real issue in this contest. Il
The presentation of these kilograms
was no surprise to me. am somewhat
surprised, however, that the allied in
terests are so willing to publicly show
their hand.
''The Rapids Transit company. with
ITS allied interests, has declared a
sympathetic strike Of capital against
labor. That is what those kilograms
mean. The Garments union did not go
On strike Its members were locked
out as the result of well laid plan to
crush labor in this city
st is an industrial fight now. The
workingman finds capital and cor
porate interests arrayed against him,
and the first battle ground in great
struggle has been pitched in this city,
where the interest think they are
strongest and their opponents
weakest.
"The answer to the Rapid Transit
rompany's kilograms will come from
organized labor of the country"