Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-10
NEW LIFE GIVEN
GENERAL STRIKE
Waning Labor Campaign Aided
by Action Of State Federation
More Men Join.
OVER 1000 FROM OPEN SHOP
Employees Of Baldwin Locomotive
Works Had Heretofore Re-
sisted Pressure--Mass
Meeting This Noon.
OVER 1000 FROM OPEN SHOP

Philadelphia. March s-Prcmise Of help
from without and development Of
strength In its own field. which appeared
to take even it's most confident leaders
by surprise. injected new life into the
Philadelphia general sympathetic strike
movement to-day. A labor campo Ign
which yesterday gave every sign of wan
ing force received its strongest impetus
to-day from the action of the State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor convention in New
castle In declaring that n state wide and
even nation wide tie UP OF industry would
not be too great a price to pay If neces-
sary to insure success 10 the local cause.
Added to this came the revelation that
the union labor movement in sympathy
with the striking employees Of the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit company was
strong enough to invade what was sup
posed to be a secure citadel OF the op-
posing forces and open UP an admittedly
wide breach.
The success Of the strike leaders in
inducing somewhat over 900 employees Of
the Baldwin Locomotive works to walk
out this afternoon. following the early
morning desertion of possibly rs many
more was the most striking development
of the day in the local situation. This
aione was enough to cause the COM
mittee of 10 in charge of the general
strike. to regard this as its most SUCCESS
ful day. Their claim that nearly 5000
men of the Baldwin plant, which Is an
open shop and had hitherto resisted
strike pressure had quit was not ad-
mitted by the company which cut the
figure more than hall.
STRIKE LEADERS SATISFIED.
The strike leaders however were
seemingly satisfied that they mad won
| their most important tory and tonight
| announced that no, only had many
hundred men from other plants Joined
the ranks OF the strikers, but that the
next day or two would witness even more
! important atcessions to their ranks.
To the threat of a country wide
! strike il the local traction heads did
not agree to arbitration with their
men. the officials of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company made curt re-
sponse announcing that they had said
| their last word on arbitration and
that If the widespread strike depended
on its yielding to tho arbitration de-
mand, the strike would have to come.
| Other evidences, too. were given by
the city's employers Of labor of many
classes that there was confidence in
their ranks that national strike
could not or would not, be forced and
that the sympathetic movement i'm the
! city. portentous as 1t now appeared,
would wear itself out. Several firms
announccd that their hands We're re-
turning to work and others announced
that they were content to walt and
| let time work for them.
Possible trouble was indicated by the
announcement Of the strikers committee
tina It would hold an open air mass
meeting in the Na,iona! League base bali
park tomorrow noon. The police au-
thorltles declared that the meeting would
not be permitted. but after this declara-
ton the men reiterated their Intention
OF holding /, as scheduled, claiming the
| right of peaceful assemblage and eX-
erciso OF free speech NJ meeting on en-
closed private property, as within their
constitutional ,ithts Results Of the IN
licated clash are awaited with some Nt,e
| tropidat!on The strikers declare their
meouns will ne orderly, however and
.hFt tere will be no just cause for inter
ference.
MlNOT RIOTS DURING DAY
The day was without disturbances o,
CONSEQUENCE and up to late hour to-
might the only outbreak had been minor
riot or two in the kcnsington shop dis
trict. No one was injured.
The street car company slightly in
creased the number OF cars in service
ard the lines IN the business and resi-
dence districts were apparently more
largely patroniaad than on any day since
the strIke began.
committee representing the United
business Mems League in the northeast
district waited upon President Kruger OF
the Rapid Transit company and request
ed him not to run cars In the Kensinstor
district after nishtfail, so az to avoi(
danger to life and property in that ter
ri,orv. KRUGER declined 10 grant the re
quest
An important acquisition to the rank:
NJ the strikers was announced to-nigh
from Camden, y. j., where 1900 calpcn
tors went out. About the same number
o,,,t work at suburban points along th'
pennsylyania railroads main line an'
the men declared that If necessary $50
moro carpenters Woulu ne called out IL
/ NontQOmery county, next adjacent Il
philadelphia, tomorrow. In the business
dstr,cts of the city to-day, there wa:
pothing to Indicate that a strike wa'
on.
II was announced tonight that th,
committee of 10 had granted permission
for the men working on the improve
ments on the Philadelphia Natona
League to so back to work and complet,
the lob. Work will be resumed to-mor