Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-06
0afeful Work of Police Prevents
Serious Outbreak in Square.
FOOD DELIVERY NOT HAMPERED
Drivers for Milk, Bakery and Grocery
Firms Not Called Out.
SEVENTY THOUSAND STRIKE
This ~ Estimate of Union Committee,
but Director of Public Safety
Clay Says NOt More Than
Twenty Thousand.

order in many parts of the city marked
the first day of Philadelphia's great sym.
pathetic walkout of organized labor Ia
back up the fight of the trolley men
ANainst the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company. Nearly every section of the city
had its tale TO tell of cars attacked, OF
men assaulted by strikers or sympathiz-
ers, or of clashes with police.
The scene Of the most general disturb
ances shifted from the heretofore turbu-
lent Kensington district to the very cen
ter Of the city. The greatest trouble was
experienced by the police at Independence
square whre, despite the announcement
by Mayor Reyburn that no demonstration
could be held on that historic ground, a
crowd of $4,000 persons gathered to par
ticipate In or wath the demonstration Of
organized labor
Policemen mounted and afoot were
were there by the score with strict orders
20 keep the crowd moving The city au-
thorities had learned much during the
last week in the handling of crowds and
II was the belief that If the immense
throng could be Kept on the move trouble
would be averted.
Crowds Kept Moving.
ThiSS was accomplished and 1t is due
TO the patience carefulness andd steadi-
ness of the police that no serious out
break occurred. great crowd Of strikers
paraded through the square and weee not
molested by the police.
There was a wide difference of opinion
today an to the extent Of the strike. Sat
urday, being a half holiday and in some
industries no work being done at all on
the last day of the week, 1t was utterly
impossible to get more than rough esti-
mates OF the number of men that quit
work. The committee of ten of the Cen
tral Labor union, which is conducting the
strike, in n statement made tonight
Charles A. Hope, secretary of the Central
Labor union and member of the COM
mittee, announced that reports show that
10000 union men are out and that the
walkout has affected 10000 other workers.
FOOd Delivery Not Hampered.
Secretary Hope declared that bakers, milk
wagon drivers and grocery clerks were not
called out and would not be. 1t was not
the desire Of organized labor, he said, to
Inconvenience the public to the extent Of
handcapping the delivery Of the necessaries
OF life,
other labor leaders said that 5000 men
had struck and that the number would be
greatly Increased by Monday.
Although the entire population Of the
city looks upon the strike as a most seri-
Gus affair, the effects Of which are likely
TO be felt for long time to come, the city
officials, from Mayor Reyburn down, de-
clare the walkout is not as widespread as
claimed by the labor leaders.
Henry Clay, director OF the department
e pablc safety, said today that he had
police reports to show that not more than
1900 men were on strike.
However, with all the conflicting reports,
Il was evident that Phlladelphia's in
dustrles are not yet prostrated by the con-
flct. The great industrial establishments,
such as Baldwln's locomotive works,
Cramps shipyards. Brill's car works, the
Mldvale steel works, all OF which are open
sahop concerns were in operation today
with practically their full forces.
BuIIdinE Trades Are Out.
The greatest number Of sympathetic strik-
ers were found among the textile works
in the Kensington district and the allied
building trades.
The strikers claimed that $1,000 persons
were out in these two industries alone and
that the scattering unions in other trades
were well represented by strikers. The
mastpr builders at a meeting today ad-
mitted that their industry is seriously
crippled. No hand was raised today to
stop the conflict which is rapidly paralyz-
ing business. There was a rumor in cir
culation tonight that the labor leaders
might request President Taft to use his
influence to bring an end to the trouble
or take some step along the lines adopted
by President Roosevelt in the coal strike
OF 1901, Such a move, II is believed, would
be welcomed by the people of the city.
There was no talk OF arbitration or peace
heard during the day and It is evident
that employers Of large numbers OF work
men are waiting the events of the next
few days before attempting any settlement
OF the general strike.
More Cars Running.
The day developed nothing in the street
car strike itself. The trolley company had
about as many cars in operation as II had
yesterday according to. the company-a
little more than 1000 However, the cars
did not carry as many passengers as on
other days OF this week. People generally
were not willing TO take a chance of being
injured and many would not ride in them
because Of principle.
The company opened one new line in the
southern part OF the city. but after a few
trips the cars were Withdrawn because OF
the frequency with which they were as
sailed by stones and bricks. Half Of the
cars In operation during the day were