The Washington times., 1910-03-09
Walkout of Street Car Men
In Large Cities
Proposed.
COMPERS WILL GO
TO PHILADELPHIA
Prompt Settlement Confidently EX-
pected IF Great Sympathetic
Strike Is Called.

Organized labor expects to make a
master stroke during the next week
which will be Of such a powerful nature
that this street car mems strike in
Philadelphia will BE brought to an I'M
mediate and satisfactory conclusion.
This Information was given out today
by an official Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor According to this official,
Samuel Gompers. president of the Amer
lean Federation. who has been IN Chi
cago comforting with national labor
leaders, will go to Philadelphia and per-
sonally conduct the fight Of the strikers.
Sympathetic Strike.
It is aUthoritatively stated that the
Federation leaders have decided that the
street car men in four or five Of the
laree cities Will he called out on a
general sympathetic strike, as a means
Of bringing about the settlement Of the
Philadelphia trouble.
II is known that this grave step has
been considered by Mr.. GOmpers and the
other leaders he has been in conference
with. and that it has been decided as
the most effective step to be taken at
this time
II Is known that the men who control
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany also control or own a large part
Of the stock of transit companies in
Cleveland, omaha, San Francisco, and
PittsburS, and II Will be in these cities
that the American Federation Of Labor
first issues the call for a general walk
out"
It IS looked upon as certain that the
controllers of TIE Philadelphia company
Canrot Withstand such an action on the
part Of the Federation and viii readily
make overtures to come to an agree
mont IN Philadelphia
100000 Affected.
II this nationwide strike is called
more than 1000. 900 men will be affected.
That the majority Of these men are In
sympathy with the Philadelphia strikers
has been demonstrated, and the leaders
have every. assurance that the men will
answer The call. almost unanimously.
Letters received at the headquarters
OF the American Federation Of Labor
this morning indicate that the number
of men walking OUT in Philadelphia,
incident to the general strike call, is
increasing daily. One notable thing in
this connection, is that large number
Of laboriuE men who are not members
Of auy organized labor body have Joined
in Tie strike
This shows" said the local leader to-
Hay, what the sentiment Of the labor
ing men is in this matter"
Greatest in History.
It f. pointed out that If this nation
wide strike is called the situation which
will prevail will be the most gigantic In
Importance which organized labor of
America has ever had to do with. More
than a thousand individual labor unions
throughout the country, il is known,
have gone on record as sympathizinE
with the Philadelphia car men. and have
sent resolutions Of encouragement and
offerings OF help to the leaders in that
city.
During the past week three organizers
representing the american Federation of
Labor have been in Philadelphia, and
according to their reports, which have
been made TO the headquarters here,
Mr. GOmperS' presence in Philadelphia
is needed II is considered likely that
the first thing Mr.. Gompers viii do upon
large mass meeting. II will be then that
he makes known his plans for the car
ryInC on Of their strike.