Evening journal., 1910-03-02
READY TO OBEY
STRIKE CALL
Rapid Transit Company Re-
fuses to Consider Arbi-
tratiOn
MATTER WILL BE BEFORE
COUNCILS TOMORROW

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
PHILADELPHIA, March 2--Unless the
officials OF the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
sit Company can be forced 10 recede from
their persistent refusal to arbitrate with
their striking employees by Saturday,
Philadelphia will be in the throes of one
o. the most serious labor disturbances
known in the history Of a big American
city.
Every union organization in Philadel-
phia il is believed. will join in the call
for the general sympathetic strike 1f
matters are allowed to go that far Pres
ent indications are that it will take some
hitherto unthought Of eNpedient TO force
the street car company to agree to ar
btrate.
Despite this pessimistic view of the = Z
uation which is forced by the attitude
of the company in refusing positively to
deal with its striking employees the lead
ers of the strike express considerable
confidence and declare they will not have
TO resort TO general strike.
Upon what they base this statement
they refuse to say and to the outsider
Il appears that the general strike is in
evitable. The matter has gone too far
for either side to recede.
Unions Have 10000 Members.
While Philadelphia is not strong
union city. there are at least 100000 we'll
organized union men here who, 1t is be-
lieve stand ready to obey the order to go
out Saturday Various locals have been
holding referendum votes since the gen.
eral strike was called last Sunday, and
IN every instance they have voted to
obey the call Those unions which have
not voted will do SO before Saturday. The
locals which have already voted to &c
out according to reports furnished al
urion headquarters, have a membership
OF 1880 men.
Although the state police have been
withdrawn and returned to their various
stations i'm the Western por-'nt of the
State and the State Fencibles have been
relieved from strike duty, no trouble was
reported last night, but the officials arc
inclined TO believe this is but calm
before the storm. and are to-day swear
ing in every man who applies for a 20.
sition as a special policeman It is re-
ported that at least 1000 men have be
come special policemen within the pas
two days. although the figures are rcfus
ed by Director Of Public Safety Clay
Car Service Nearly Normal.
with street car service nearly t'
IlDINUAA AhUdN anu WIN Hffi1rN'iitlf
freely patronizing cars. Philadelphia
has not the appearance Of city OF
the verge of a great labor outbreak
As a matter of fact as the day pro
crosses, the belief has grown that thl
dispute will never be allowed to go L
the point of a general strike.
Though the Philadelphia Rapil
Transit Company obstinately refuses
TO accede to arbitration. powerful in
terests are being brought TO bear OF
councils to force the company to benz
the knee. There is no doubt that, po
litically, such a strike would hurt thl
lAIcNichol machine.
The resolutions to be presented L
councils Thursday and which, it is be
lieved will pass viii be so worded, i
is believed that the company can graci
fully retire from its position.
Heavy Loss TO Merchants.
There Is no doubt that the peopl
of Philadelphia have withdrawn sym
pathy for the Rapid Transit Compan.
and given it TO the strikers the los
to Philadelphia merchants is conser
vatively estimated to be 100000 a da,
and the merchants are bringing al
their powerful influence to bear to set
tie the strike. It is a unit in demanding
an early settlement. A proposition
made by an afternoon newspaper L
have differences arbitrated by repre-
sentatives of the car company ant
the men themselves, with Chief Jus
tice Fell, of the State Supreme Cour
as umpire. is meeting popular approval
In spite of all of the peace talk an
the growing belief that the threatene
strike will never be allowed TO TAX
place. unionists are preparing for tn
general walk out The meeting at IN
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