Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-07
THF STRIKE In NEW YORK.
City About to Face Serious Conditions
Samuel Gompers Directing Strike.

Samuel Gompers Directing Strike.
New York. Nov. Tile joint exc
cutiye council OF the local unions
affiliated with the International Brother
hood OF Transfers went into session to-
day determined to force peace with the
big express companies or tie up every
wheel in tue greater city and surround
ing towns.
AS an earnest of what may be ex-
pected 1000 drivers Of taxlcabs and
more than half OF the delivery wagon
drivers employed by Park Il Tilford did
| not report for work this morning. Other
drivers were ordered to hold themselves
in readiness for the word to quit.
The fight Of the men is being direct
ed by Samuel Gompers, head OF the
American Federation OF Labor, who
established headquarters in the Hotel
| Victoria.
Not in years has this city faced
situation so fraught with danger as at
present. II n general strike is ordered
the first places to be tied up will be the
big coal aclivery yards. These supply
the coal which keeps the big downtown
skyscrapers with the fuel for running
elevators and heating purposes. In
cidentalIy the coal wagon drivers are a
hardy bunch that can be depended on
10 keep the policemen busyin case they
take it into their heads to pull strike
breakers from Tho wagons. The de-
livery wagon drivers, drivers OF mail
and city garbage and ash collecting
wagons are all we'll organized aud can
be ordered out on signal.
The strike OF the taxicab chauffeurs
was decided on to enforce closed shop
conditions. There are 5000 union
chauffeurs in the city, but those called
out were only the ones employed by
concerns that do not recognize the
union. Police guards have hecn sent
to all of the garages to prevent dis
order.
The express wagons of the big COM
pauies were moving through the city
today with Inscriptions tackled on them
reading: This wagon is engaged III IN
tcrstate commerce only" Through
this sign the companies planned 10 get
around the decision Of the city authori-
ties that every driver must have city
license. Incidentally il was said that
the express companies expected, III
case OF violence, to call on the federal
government for protection.
Daniel 5. Tobin, president OF the
International Brotherhood OF Team
slers, said just before he entered the
conference of the leaders that he con-
sidered the situation serious. lie SAID
that he had done all in his power to ar
range amicable settlement, but that the
officers OF the express companies did
not seem inclined to make any conces-
sions whatsoever to the men. While
refusing to admit that the outcome OF
the conference will be n general strike
order, Tobin's attitude indicated that
he expects nothing else.
The condition ofEalentine Hoffman,
leader OF the local strike, who was
stricken with paralysis earlytoday, was
reported to be serious today. The at
tending physician said that his attack
was due to overwork in connection
with the strike.
The meeting Of the executive council
decided to postpone definite action un-
til tomorrow in the hope that Valen-
tine Hoffman, one Of the strike leaders,
will be able to be present. The rank
ane filed OF the. teamsters are almost
unanimously in favor OF the strike and
the indications this afternoon were that
all teamstcrs would be called out to-
morrow.
Several OF the big stores signed up to-
day with the teamsters and their drivers
returned to work. The express COM
panies, however, have not shown the
slightest sign of weakening.