Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-05
PhiIa deIphia, Strike, How
ever, Causes Appre-
hensiOn.
PEACEFUL AT START
Union Committee EndeavorS to
Prevent Actual HardShipS
to Public.

Philadelphia, March 5-The number
of men on strike cannot be ascertained
at present. Labor leaders say they
will not know definitely until tomor
row or Monday. Director of Public
Safety Clay says not more than 10000
walked out. The only claim the strike
leaders will make is $4,000 workers
are out.
Would Save Public,
The commits ee managing the strike
has taken act on which is calculated
to prevent as ar as possible real suf-
fering to the general public. An order
was issued exempting from the general
strike union employees of the city water
works, electric light plant, drivers of
funeral carriages and employees in hos
pitals and homes.
Attack CoIOred Police.
The first disorder of the day came
from, not the strikers, but traction
company employees who attacked a
force Of colored police sent to protect
them Power house employees resented
the presence of negro officers and
made a concerted attack upon them
retired in bad order. while the power
house employees telephoned headquar-
ters declaring white policemen only
would be welcomed as protectors.
Both Sides Firm.
Only minor disorders characterize
the strike so far today. Both sides re-
main firm and as yet there is no indi-
cation of either yielding. 1t is appar-
ent the number who quit work in re-
sponse to the general strike order is
much less than was expected by the
labor leaders.
Mass Meeting Not Held.
A mass meeting advertised for Inde-
pendence square this afternoon was
not held. Radicals were anxious to
hold a meeting despite the mayors
prohibition. but the conservatives pre-
vailed and the meeting was aban-
doned. A great force of policemen
kept the throng moving. Little trouble
was experienced
Parade is Formed.
At o'clock this afternoon a big
procession marched around Independ-
ence square, but was not allowed to
enter. Police are everywhere and
alert but there is apparently dan
gerous undercurrent in the temper
of the crowds.
In the procession were 900 uni
formed a street car men headed by
National President Mahon. They
were given a tremendous ovation.
The crowds, though noisily enthusias-
tic, have made no riotous demon
stration.
Urged From All Over Country.
Philadelphia, Pa, March 5.-En-
couraged by messages of sympathy
and of offers of assistance from labor
organizations from all parts of the
country, the union workers of many
trades ceased work at midnight and /
inaugurated what promises to be one
of the greatest sympathetic strikes /
ever witnessed in the history of organ |
lied labor.
Promptly at midnight union orches-
tras playing in the leading hotels and /
cafes picked up their instruments and |
started for their homes.
Union cab drivers and chauffeurs
also abandoned their posts, and the
hotel and railroad cab and automobile
service was badly crippled. The driv-
ers of both taxicab services In the
city are members of a union and re-
fused to take out their machines after
the strike had gone into effect.
In Session All Night.
The committee of 10 remained in
session at their headquarters all night
receiving reports from the various
local unions.
The labor leaders refused to com
ment on the report that the police
officials would prevent the demonstra-
ton planned for this afternoon in In
square
William Drexler. AZ years old, was
shot and probably fatally injured last
night by a policeman who shot at a
crowd that bad congregated on Frank {
ford avenue
Several cars had been stoned by the
crowd along this street and the police ]
guarding them fired a volIey. One of
the bullets struck Drexler in the
stomach
Crowds also attacked cars in the
downtown and northwestern sections
If the city
Company Also Commended.
While the labor leaders are receiv- t
ng moral support from their fellow 1
vorkmen in all parts of the country, {
many associations of employers have /
'-''t Letters and kilograms to the Of 1