The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-27


Philadelphia, Feb. 26.-Unless
the labor leaders are four-hushing,
this city is up against general
strike. Happenings OF the past
twelve hours have combined TO
bring matters suddenly to head.
There is now a distinct probability
that within tweny-four hours there
will be turned loose upon the streets
from 5000 TO, 100000 union men
in sympathy with the striking con
ductors and motormen Of the Phil
adelphia Rapid Transit Company.
Yesterday, when John Muir
ply. head of the Central Labor
Onion, declared that there would
be a general walk-out, with violent
consequences, and Pratt backed
Murphy up, most people thought
that the labor bosses were reaching
for the fifth card of a flush. The
situation appeals differently to-
night. even to the sober thinkers.
FIRST and foremost. the striking con-
ductors and motormen realize they are
whipped. 1t hardly needed the announce
ment of the Rapid transit Company that
If they didn't return TO their jobs by
March they needn't come back at all to
convince them that they were in bad.
Eject of Murphy's Arrest.
Then came the arrest of Murphy for
iniammatory remarks, and finally thor
ough understanding on the part of the
FESTIVE unions affiliated with the carmen
shat if they failed 10 make stand at
this time they were likely TO be smitten
as sorely as the carmen have been.
Whether Msgphy and his felloW-Dosses
have the nerve to make good their threat
whether they will back and ill and side
step action, remains to be seen. The best
information ob;ainable. both from en-
ployers and from the labor union leaders,
Is that a general strike viii be called.
Philadelphia is not a union town, and
IL never has been, and for that reason
il is not conceivable that the industries
of the city could be crippled for any
length of time There are three non
union workingmen here for every one
who carried a union card, and the unions
themselves are in position none too
strong when It comes to fighting whole
city The situation is ominous for one
reason particularly-the danger that must
come inevitably when thousands of men
get upon the streets.
Secret Conference Held.
There were secret conferences of the
labor leaders all through the day and
evening one subject took up most OF
the dlscussion-that the time has come for
the trades unions to stand out for recog-
milton. Murphy, Pratt. and the rest have
been talking constantly. saying that the
fight OF the carmen is the fight OF all the
unions, and that if ever Philadelphia Is
to be made union city it will have 70
be now
Never in the history OF the city has
a corporation won such Roadway in fight
ing recalcitrant employees as the Penn
slyvania Rapid Transit has in this trou-
bic, even though the sympathy OF the cit
liens was no more with the transit com
pany than it was with tine strikers. It
was successful partly because of the
silent approval of the Republican politi-
cal bosses. Senator McNichol Recorder
Ware, and their leutenants. the men who
hurried to Florida to get away from
ructions. and because the cOmpany's good
friend in the city hail. Mayor Reyburn.
and Director of Public Safety Clay. AT
any rate it has won It's battle and has
backed unonism up against the wall. To-
morrow viii determine whether unionism
viii turn and claw, or whether it will
stick.
Labor Mass Meeting To-day.
At the meeting tomorrow of the Cen
trail Labor Union, everybody of organized
labor in the city will be represented.
There are 40 organizations affiliated with
the central body, and most Of them are
hankering for trouble. Certainly their
leaders are Whether the rank and file
of the workmen in these unions are anx-
ious TO make a fight of it. cannot be told
until another day has passed.
Something Of the attitude of the leaders
was determined to-day from a speech
made by C. O. Pratt, leader Of the strik-
Ing carmen. He said that a general
strike was imminent, and that the sentl-
ment of the unions seemed to be for il
. strongly. He said that the present strug-
gle was not merely a fight on the part OF
the carmen TO improve their own condi-
tion' but fight OF organized labor
against capital He said that the strike
CoufFuuod IN D.uo raH-