The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-11-07

election riots The situation has
been further complicated for the rea-
son that taxi drivers are joining the
ranks of the strikers.
New York, Nov. IA climax in the
strike by the drivers and helpers of
the express companies in New York
and New Jersey is expected today
and this in the opinion of the leaders
of the movement will be a general
strike. After conferences yesterday
between Daniel j. Tobin, president of
the international brotherhood of
teamsters, Valentine Hoffman, vice
president Of the union, and Samuel
,Gompers, president of the American
federation OF labor, it was announced
that meeting of the joint executive
council Of the brotherhood would be
held this morning to discuss the ad-
visibility Of a general strike. Mr..
(Gompers will attend. The represen-
.tatIyes of the express companies also
consulted the strike controversy. On
the conclusion of this meeting how
ever, the bare statement that there
was "a short. informal meeting OF the
heads OF the companies, but nothing
developed" was given out.
Both In New York and Jersey City
YESTERDAY there were few disorders,
and these of d trivial character. In
New York several express companies
managed successfully to dispose OF
few Magonloads of freight without
ser,ous interference by the strikers.
In Jersey City instructions were given
out from all pulpits that parents
should keep their children at home al
ter school hours today so that none
of them may be injured in case of dis
orders and to prevent youbns thro"-
ing stones.
While Messrs. Gompers, Tobin and
HOFFMAN were comforting many OF the
35 local unions OF the city which are
affiliated with the strikers held meet
ings and went on record as favoring
a 'sympathetic strike. Some OF these
hodjes are the building material drlv-
ers. the sand and excavation drivers
and ,he local $40 of the internationab
hrotherhood Of teamsters. The latter
organization includes. mail drivers,
flour and seed drivers, paper drivers,
railway express drivers, transfer arr
vers. merchandise and groceries dri-
vers. wholesale dry goods drivers, tax
leah drivers. coal drivers, machinery
drivers and the export and import drl-
vers II was said that the taxicab
chauifeurs would probably JON the
strike today
President Tobin asserted yesterday
that a general strike would call out
every driver or operator OF wheeled
vehicles in New York city except mo-
tormen on the elevated railroads, the
trolley lines and the subway. Inc
imnression among the leaders seemed
IN he that n general strike is all but
assured. Mr. Gompers arrived from
washington yesterday to attend the
meeting and at its close made the tol-
lowing statement: "The strike IS a
neculiar one. II is the first time In
the history of unionism where the
men have been willing to arbitrate
all questions, even including recog-
milton Of their union"
Asked as TO the probability OF a
general strike, Mr.. Gompers saiu'
II hope ne serious industrial distur'
bance will occur, but II the express
companies do not veer to q more EN-,
frightened position, the situation Will
react against them. hope the strike
will have no serious results" vice
President Hoffman did not mlnce mat
tiers. He said the action of the com,
NAMES In refusing to arbitrate would
in all probability result in general
strike AS Mr.. Hoffman was leaving
the conference for strikers head1uar'
ters he was seized with a sudden at
tack and fell unconscious. lie was
taken IN a taxlcab to his home How
serIous his Illness is could not be
learned Mr. Hoffman has laDoreu
dav and night since the strike began
and IL is believed that the attack was
due TO nervous exhaustion.