New-York tribune., 1910-11-07
Chauffeurs' Union Votes to Call
WaIkout in Sympathy with
Express Drivers
ALL TRANSFERS WOULD QUIT
Conpanies' Interstate frattic
Signs on Wagons May Mean
Federal Interference in
Case of Rioting.

Elghth avenue. IT was 0SCtueU 20 Cdit
out at once one thousand taxicab driv-
ers. Their strike while in sympathy
with the express strike is also for the
closed shop they demanding Of their
employers that they hire only union
chauffeurs for the taxicabs in tie
greater city.
Indications pointed last night to gen.
eraI strike. of teamsters in this city IN
less the express companies receded from
their position Of denying recognition to
the union of their drivers. who are now
out Thirty-f1ve local organizations OF
the teamsters' union. at meetings yes
terday. voted in favor Of general sym
pathetic waIkout.
/ It is announced that the express COM
panies win have signs al their
I wagons to-day reading
| This wagon is engaged only in inter
state traffic
In case Of attacks upon drivers by the
strikers or their sympathizers the ex-
press companies. it is understood. Will
call upon the United States government
for protection
William H Ashton and other labor
| leaders addressed the meetings. and later
Ashton was in conference with Samuel
( Cfompers. president of the American
/ Federation of Labor. and Daniel J. To-
/ hin president Of the International
I Brotherhood OF TeamsteTs. at the Hotel
/ Victoria
/ Ashton said last night that all the or
eanIzed teamsters in the city were ready
TO go on strike at the drop of the hat
The labor leaders expressed themselves
| as still hopeful that the express COM
/ panies would change their attitude and
a general tie-up be avoided II nothing
1 more favorable was heard from the ex-
press companies to-day, il was said the
general strike order would probably be
forthcoming by "Wednesday
Would Call General Strike.
| II Mr. Tobin declared that a general
| strike would call out every driver or
operator of a wheeled vehicle. with the
| | exception of the elevated. trolley and
| subway motornen- He added. however.
| that the drivers of milk, meat and gen.
/ ersI provision wagons would continue at
work in the event OF a sympathetic
| strike The leaders said there were
about $4,000 organized teamsters IN the
city and 10000 unorganized- The latter
| could he counted on 20 go cut IN SYM
/ pathy if the union men struck 1t was
| estimated that more than twice that
| number of men in trades touching the
express companies would ultimately be
| affected.
III President Gonnpers said that the pres
| ent strike was a peculiar one in that il
II hf-To -
| unionism where the men had been will
| ing to- arbitrate all questions. including
| that of their union
| "The men have gone the full limit" he
| said. "and unless the companies reoede
| from their present position the situation
| will become desperate I hope thar the
| controversy will be settled annicably and
that no serious industrial disturbances
will be necessary
4 Several Of the express officials were IN
| conference yesterday afternoon. ard tt
i was said afterward that nothing had de-
/ veIoped at the conference and the sttua-
tion remained unchanged so far as ths
/ | companies were concerned
The increasing bitterness in the ranks
| Of the strikers was very noticeable
J Yesterday. The death OF Peter Roach.
a striking express driver. az Flower Hos
pital yesterday. who was shot BY guard
on an Adams Express wagon at Broad
. wav and 10th street on Saturday after
noon. has caused much bitter feeling
among the strikers.
Held for Shooting Striker.
y John Perry. OF No 26a West 43d street.
the guard who shot Roach, vas som
7 n1itted 10 the Ton1bs Yesterday without
:. bail TO await an inquest into the death
5 Of Roach The wagon was attacked BY
!. crowd OF strikers and sympathizers.
+ and Perry declared that Roach threw a
o brick at him, and he shot in self-de-
= fence. Before he died in the hospital
o Roach denied the assault on Perry
b Valentine Norman. vice president OF
the international Brotherhood or Team
. sters. was stricken with sudden shock
y soon after he left the conference of the
J, labor leaders az Hotel Victoria He
had started for the teamsters' hsadqusr-
2 ters. AZ No. Isl Eighth avenue, and was
2 within fev steps Of the entrance. when
! he fell 10 the sidewalk. Friends ran TO
Z his assistance and physician was
T. called The labor leader was lifted into
I a taxicab and hurried 20 his home N
Jefferson avenue. Brooklyn His sudden
illness threw a gloom over the strikers
| Headquarters. Hoffman has worked day
and night since the beginning OF the
| strike and ~ rs believed that the attack
was brought ON by nervous exhaustion.
-. Trouble Feared To morrow.
n Mayor Gaynor visited Police Head
a quarters yesterday afternoon and talked
e with Commissioner Cropsey for short
time. They discussed the strike situa-
Il tion Considerable trouble is expected
2 tomorrow when the police protection
$. will have to be temporarily withdrawn
u from the transfer depots and wagons OF
the companies in order 70 allow the DO
ucemen 70 be on duty at the polls II IS
% said the companies have arranged 70
% have private detectives guard their prop
erty on Election Day.
n The American and Adams companies
~ moved some perishable matter yester-
N dav from their transfer depots. on Mad
son avenue at 18th and 4Sth streets