Evening star., 1916-09-25
Unions Representing 100000
Workers to Pass on Sym
pathetic Walk k-0ut.
OSCAR STRAUS DEMANDS
ARBITRATION OF ISSUES
Some Milk Wagon Drivers Go Out,
Rejecting Master and Ser
want Contracts"

NEW YORK. September 25-Labor
organizations, including about 100000
workers. met today to vote on the ques-
ton of joining in the proposed general
strike to take effect here Wednesday
the conference of labor leaders direct
ing the movement, asserted that unions
representing 179,500 workers already
had voted to quit work.
In some instances it appeared that
the strike movement had been approved
by the executive committee or execu-
tive councils of the governing bodies
of trade unions, but had not yet been
passed upon by the local unions. In
other cases the unions have empowered
their officials to call them out. One
large union voted to quit work If the
other trade unions did the same.
Leaders to Meet.
A meeting of the leaders will be held
this afternoon to hear the reports from
the local unions. Among those to vote
today are the machinists, metal work.
ers. 1aundrymen and butchers.
Secretary Bohm asserts that, II the
general strike becomes effective, 1t will
not last more than two days, as he be-
lieves it will quickly force the traction
companies to arbitrate with their
striking employees.
Milk Wagon Drivers Strike.
According to Secretary Bohm, the
strike among drivers for condensed
milk company. which began yesterday
and continued to spread today. was due
to an attempt by the company to en-
force upon the men the master and
servant form of contract. one Of the
issues in the traction strike. This
company's example was being followed
by other employers, he said, and would
not be tolerated. The milk drivers
strike would be extended to other milk
companies, he declared.
/ Oscar Straus, chairman of the public
service commission, has issued state
ment in which he declares that the
public, which already has been greatly
inconvenienced by the strike. is de-
mandfng that both the carmen and
their employers submit their differences
to arbitration. The question, he as
serted. now concerns the 100000 inno-
cent -persons-inG Greater New York In d
larger measure than organized labor
on the one hand and the operators of
the transit lines on the other
"Public Demands Arbitration"
The public demands arbitration" 4"
said Mr.. Straus. land makes its de-
mand strong enough that the traction
companies and the unions will have to
consent. Neither side has been free of
wrong, and the public is tired of the
inconvenience that has been imposed
upon it because both sides could not
agree"
While several unions, representing
various trades, met yesterday and dis
cussed plans for the threatened "sus-
pension of work" Wednesday, active
picketing of the transit lines declared
unfair" by organized labor was be-
gun by thousands of men and women.
Sentinels were posted throughout the
city to watch for union men riding on
the cars. All cases of the kind will be
reported to the unions to which the
men belong, and fines will be assessed,
it was said.
Eight hundred coopers. affiliated with
the Longshoremen's Union. it was an
nounced, voted in favor of general
strike. They will take no further ac-
ton, however until decision is
reached by the longshoremen, it was
said.
Situation Is Unchanged.
Except for sporadic attacks against
elevated railway trains by men 1urk-
ing on housetops, there was little out
ward change I'M the situation. Service
on the subway and elevated lines con-
tinued normal, while surface car travel
showed improvement.
What few attacks there were upon
cars were of minor character, accord
ing to the police. No one was injured
Jitneys and various other vehicles
pressed into service during the strike
apparently did a thriving business es-
pecially on the east side of the city,
where many union sympathizers re-
fused to patronize the transit compa-
nies