Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-05
ted Pressl


n PHILADELPHIA March 4. - En-
couraged by messages of SYM
n pathy and 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
in the history of organized labor
The committee of ten says that at
least $4,000 organized workers, as well
as many unorganized men, have ceased
work.
Promptly at midnight union orches-
tras playing in the leading hotels and
cafes picked up their instruments and
started for home.
Union cab drivers and chauffeurs
also abandoned their posts and the
hotel and railroad cab and automobile
service was badly crippled.
The drivers of both taxicab services
in the city are members of union,
and refused to take out machines after
midnight.
The committee of ten remained in
session at the headquarters all night,
receiving reports from the local unions.
The labor leaders refused to COM
ment on the report that the police
would prevent the demonstration PLAN
ned for tomorrow afternoon In lnde-
pendence square.
Rioting, which began tonight in sew
eral sections of the city and was par
ticularly severe in the northeast sec
ton. is thought to be a forerunner OF
more serious trouble tomorrow, when
thousands of idle men Will throng the
streets. While the labor leaders are
receiving moral support from their
fellow workmen in all parts OF the
country, many associations OF en-
pIoyers have sent letters and telegrans
To the officials of the Philadelphia
RAND Transit company and the city
OFFICIALS, commencing their position
and urging them to stand firm IN thelr
determination not to recognize thS
union.
All policemen, firemen and specials
who have been on duty since the strlke
began, received orders tonight TO re-
main at their posts. The NUMBER OF
emergency automobiles IN the CITY man
courtyard was increased. ,
Manv of these machines are driven
hv their owners, wealthy men, VINO
have volunteered for police duty, ana
have been f-orn in by Director Clay.
William Drexler was shot and prop-
ahlv fatally injured tonight by po-
liceman who fired into a crowd thal
had congregated. .a
Several street cars had been sloieu
by the crowd and the police guardlng
them fired a volley. One bullet struck
Drexler in the stomach.
Crowds also attacked cars in other
sections of the city.
Philadelphia Typographical union
No. 2 will not participate in the gem
eral strike All night long reports
came into the offices of the Allied
Building trades from the small union
Headquarters detailing the numper OF
men who would cease work in sympa-
thy with the striking car men.
1t is certain the sympathetic strike
will cause much suffering and incon-
venience. 1t is declared that practl-
cally all drivers of bakery wagons,
milk wagons, and teamsters for trult
and produce dealers will stand by the
order to cease work.
The Teamsters' union, comprising at
least rs per cent of all drivers in the
city, will quit work, it is said, and VIII
not return until the general strike IS
called off.
Three thousand textile workers, ie
is reported, have decided TO strike.
This will cripple nine woolen mills
1t is reported 10000 tailors and cloak
makers, 5000 bricklayers unaffiliated
with the Central Labor union; 10000
members of the Building Trades coun-
Gil (75 per cent of that class), 800 MEM
berS of the International Goldbeaters'
union and 400 or 500 cabinet makers
are among those who will strike.
The city authorities are thought to
have greatly underestimated the pro-
portions of the strike 1t was stated
by Director of Public Safety Clay late
today that he had ascertained by
careful canvass that not more than
80 600 union workers would respond to
the general order but his estimate
falls 80 per cent below the number al
ready out, according to union figures.