The Washington times., 1910-03-11
All Branches Represented
At Mass Meeting In
Philadelphia.
SUPREME EFFORT
TO HALT STRIKE
Return of McNichol Awaited
Police Charged With
Brutality.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, March Il
Flow TO end Philadelphia's street-car
strike and thereby stop the general
strike, which has literally paraIyzed
business in ne City Of Brotherly Love,
is the object of great mass meeting
of representatives Of every civic organ
izatiOn in the city, which was called
this afterp Jon.
The sit:ation is critical Bloodshed
and rioting have become matters of
daily occurrence, and each succeeding
riot incites the IawIess element to great
er outbursts
Business At Standstin.
Business is practically at a stand
stin. Factories and great Industrial
plants are either closed down or Sc
riously crippled by the waIk-out Of a
larger proportion of their men.
Immense plants. unable to get out
their spring samples and goods, threat
zen to close down indefinitely The
financial loss in the city already is
appalling.
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany refuses to make any concessions.
The officials Of the company laugh al
threats of a State wide strike They
say they are running more cars than at
any previous period during the strike
and are satisfied
But merchants and manufacturers,
stung by The loss Of their own trade
and by the daily sight Of rioting are
demanding a settlement. How it can
be brought about no one knows. Moth
ing tangible has been suggested.
Await McNichoPs Return.
PeacemaHers are awaiting the return
from Florida Wednesday of State Sen
ator James P. McNichol, who, as leader
of the municipal political machine, can
do more. IT IS believed. than any oths-
man to end the strike if he WIZ enter
the controversy.
Headed by President GreenawaIt. of
the State Federation Of Labor. several
of the leading union mon in the State
are coming from New Castle, 20 pre-
pare for the threatened Statewide strike
in fifteen days, if the local unions
throughout the State argree to call it.
Conditions in Philadelphia are grow
ing worse instead Of better as a result
OF the street car and the subsequent
general strike LawIessness is becom-
ing more evident. and the charge is
made freely that, in large measure. DO
lice brutality IS the cause Of the feel
ing OF resentment that may at any time
be crystallized into an open revolt
Loss Is Incalculable
The strike leaders are daily increasing
the figures they give out as represent
ing the number of men on general
strike Today they declare that 125UO0
men are out, and that the great efforts
that have been made I'm the past few
days about Cramps ship yards. where
10000 men are employed, will show tan
gi6le results. The loss sustained bv
the business interests of Philadelphia
since the calling of the street car and
the general strike is inCalculabIe
1t IS for that reason. the representa-
tives or every commercial, fraternaI.
banking, business, and merchants asso-
citation in Philadelphia is partici-
paUinC in the meeting this after
noon TO seek ways for ending the strike
These men declare the real cause be-
hind the general strike-the street car
strike-has been dwarfed into insignih-
cance by the result.
While both Mayor Reyburn and Direc-
tor OF Public Safety Clay deny they fear
for their safety. it is noticeable today
that the police guards through the cor
ridOrs of the city hall have been dou-
bIed.
\ potent factor that may lead TO the
ending of the strike from a hitherto un-
expected quarter is the tremendous fall
in value Of the Rapid Transit COmpauy's
stock, which yesterday dropped SO a
share on the Philadelphia Stock Ex-
change, selling as low at 1875, a decline
Of 81 since the strike began. More than
5000 shares were dumped on the
market.