Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18
Break Seen in the New York
Express Drivers Strike.
STORMY Meeting HELD
United States Employees in Jersey
City Ready to Return.
ARE TURNED BACK BY PICKETS
Talk of General Teamsters' Strike
Declared Absurd by Or
ganizer Ashton.

NEW YORK, March 1S.-Threat Of a
general strike of transfers. tying up
Everything on wheels in New York and
vicinity in aid OF the striking expressmen.
seemed less menacing today than last
night. A break In the express strike
movement came at an early hour when
the employees Of the United States Elk
press Company, at stormy meeting IN
Jersey City, voted to return to work. The
United States Express men went out yes
terday in sympathy with the striking
Adams Express Company drivers and
helpers, as did the men of the Wells
Fargo Company. 1t looked this morning
as If the Wells-Fargo men. too, might de-
eide today to resume their positions. which
would simmer the strike movement down
to the point where the ebullition started
several days ago with the walkout OF the
Adams Express Company men.
Before the United States Express en-
ployes voted to go back. it was an
nounced that Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent Of the American Federation of
Labor, had been summoned here in
view Of the seriousness of the situa-
ton.
Few Report for Work.
Notwithstanding the vote of the
United States Express Company en-
ployes to go back to work. it was said
at the company's offices shortly before
noon that few of the men had returned.
In Jersey City the drivers and help
ers who had been on strike reported
at the usual hour, and some of them
went out with wagons. These were
turned back before they had reached
the ferries, however, when pickets in
formed them that by order of William
II. Ashton, general organizer of the
teamsters, that the strike was still on.
The wagons were returned to the sta
bles.
None of the wells-Fargo men re-
turned to his job
On such wagons as were sent out today
by the Adams and other companies in
volved a policeman sat beside the driver
Policemen were similarly placed also or
the wagons of the American Express
strike. This was said to be due to the
fact that attacks had been made or
American company wagons yesterday.
The placing of police guards OH the
wagons was in pursuance of the stand
taken by Mayor Gaynor yesterday, wher
he told committee of expressmen that
he was determined 20 preserve order and
afford adequate protection to men who
wanted to work.
Denies General Strike Rumor.
William H. Ashton, general organizer
of the International Brotherhood OF
Transfers. authorized statement this
afternoon in which he declared that the
persistent rumOr of a general strike of
teamsters was both preposterous and alb
surd, and that the idea of genera
strike was originated by certain labor
leader in Jersey City.
Mr.. Ashton said that neither Samuel
Gompers nor Daniel j. Tobin, head of the
Transfers Union, had any intention OF
coming here, as the atmosphere would un-
doubtedly clear in a few days.
The following telegram from President
Tobin. now at Indianapolis, has been re-
ceived by Mr.. Ashton:
1.-The International organization will not
indorse a general strike under any cir
cumstances. Local unions having con
tracts with employers must respect these
contracts in conference of executive board
of local union. l instruct you to declare
against general strike or sympathetic
strike for any reason. The history OF
sympathetic strikes has demonstrated
that they have always been failures.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y, March 1S.-lt
is announced here that all expressmen in
the employ of the Wells Fargo Company
between New York and Buffalo have been
summoned to New York to assist in re-
lieving the strike situation there.