The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-08
Strikers Number Just About
One Tenth Of Number Of
WoTkmen in the ely
AUTHORITIES BELIEVE
THAT THE WORST IS OVER
Conditions Are Fast Improving ms More
Cars Are Running ON All the Lines
and Policemen Arc Not SO Much
Needed to Protect the Cars

Philadelphia, March 7.--1f the computa-
tlon of the Philadelphia police DEPART
ment is correct-and the officials declare
It to be based on a careful and complete
canvass OF the cty-less than 10000 work
men have responded to the call for a gen.
eral tie-up of the citys industries.
Tonight Director of Public Safety Hem
ry Clay issued the first detailed state
ment purporting to show the extent to
which the long-heralded labor movement
In support of the striking conductors and
motormen of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company has affected the indus
trial life of the city It came at the close
of the first full working day under the
general sympathetic strike order which
became effective last Friday at midnight.
In brief, it showed that a total of 1S,t07
men were on strike out of total of 49,
1893 persons employed in the shops. indus
tries and occupations. ESTABLISHMENTS
and occupations engaging a total of 121.-
239 hands were entirely unaffected by the
general walk-out order, the police cam
vassers reported The leaders OF the gem
eral strike movement. however, declared
tonight that at least $4,000 were out in
obedience to the general strike call. and
that there were practical assurances that
25,oo0 more would join the ranks of the
strikers tomorrow.
Day Is Very Peaceful
The day was absolutely the most peace
full, not only since the calling OF the gem
eral strike but since the walking out of
the car mfn more than two weeks ago.
| A minor dhmonstration follpwine a meet
| ing of workfngnren in Labor 1,yceum this
afternoon was attended by some disor-
der, and stoning of cars, but the police
speedily queled the disturbance. Tonight
there was absolutely quietude. according
| to the police reports. in all parts of the
| city, UP to late hour with every indi-
cation that the night would pass without
outbreaks of any sort worth mentioning.
Mayor Reyburn late today declared that
| the sympathetic strike was over SO far
as the city administration was concerned.
| adding that the aftermath could safely be
left to the efficient police department to
handle satisfactorily Word that the or
der for federal troops had been cancelled
tonight indicated that the authorities be-
lieyed the worst Is over.
| Transient conditions showed to every
| appearance continued Improvement DUR
| ing the day and evening. There was less
| on the cars, and even timid people are be-
ginning to show a disposition to ride.
Thousands not Affected
There are 121, 2Ss employees in other es-
adjustments not affected by the strike
and this gives by the police figures, .
total OF 1918 employees, of which NUM-
Der only 1S.407 are out and many of these
have quit work, ii is declared, not be-
cause of any desire to go on strike. but
because they have been forced out by the
| action OF certain branch of their trade.
For instance. it is said at the Bromley
| Carpet and Rug mill about 300 dyers quit
| work and this compelled the shutting
| down of the plant and the enforcement
| OF idleness on about 900 other men.
| An order was issued late in the day by
the commandant of the Philadelphia
| navy yard forbidding the granting OF
leaves of absence TO men in the yards
and on the vessels of the station during
the strike troubles.
Another peace making measure an
nounced today by Secretary Neil Bonner
of the Retail Liquor Dealers association,
Is the action of the association, request
ting their members, as we'll as cafe pro-
pritors, to shut down their bars should
disorder occur In their vicinity and keep
them closed until the trouble subsidies.
One of the incidents OF the day was
Allegheny avenue, which was broken UP
by the police. without Just cause the
men claim. An American flag was car
ried at the head of the struggling pro-
cession and as the marcherr passed Z
hosiery mill on the avenue near Front
street onlookers said they made an at
tempt to persuade the workers at the
factory to join the sympathetic strike.
Clubs Freely Used
Their effort was unsuccessful and the
police claim the marcherD became dis
orderly and their ranks had been broken
up. Clubs were used freely and the
marchers dispersed.
The master builders met late today
at the Builders exchange and adopted
resolutions condemning the sympathetio
strike and discussed tentatively action
against some of the bodies OF men who
Joined the general strike. 1t 10 asserted
that agreements adopted by the employ
ers with one of the bodies In the build
ing trade have been deliberately violated
by walking out in the sympathetic strike.
The resolutions call upon leaders OF the
labor organizations which ordered the
general strike to reconsider their action
at once.
Four thousand men and women today
attended a mass meeting of the strikers
In Labor lyceum. An overflow meeting
WAS held In another hall ..earby and
hundreds who were unable to gain an
entrance to either gathered on the side
walks outside. Pratt, Mahon. Murphy,
Tracey and others of the strike leaders
addressed the crowds. The city adminis-
tration was bitterly denounced for its at
titudc in the present crisis. and the
speakers were especially vehement IN
criticism OF the employment OF negro
policemen. One OF thcm declared:
''Our rulers have put club In the black
mans hand with which to club out the
white mans brains"
Noisy Demonstration
Every reference to Mayor Reyburn or
the city hall ring was greeted with
groans and boots by the audience The
assertion by several speakers that the
present fight was one for organised laberso
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