New-York tribune., 1919-09-16

will venture to comment on the pos
sibility of a general strike.
1t was stated, however at the Office
of the Central Labor Union tonight
that the sentiment among the city's
110,00 organized workmen that the
police should be upheld to the limit is
stronger than ever before. This, it was
explained, does not necessarily mean q
general strike. Nobody knows how the
vote Of the local unions has gone ex-
ccpr the committee of seventeen Of the
Central Labor Union having charge Of
the ballots.
With sentiment crystall2inr in the
labor unions in favor Of the locked out
policemen. the general opinion of citi-
zenS IS that. while general strike
would be a calamity, it would be pre-
ferabe to the submission Of the city
to. unionization by the police depart
meIc
Firemer Said to Favor Strike
The principal and most vital labor
organizations mentioned in connection
with the possibility Of general strike
arc the telephone workers and the car
mems and tiremens unions. Despite
the statement of Fire Commissioner
Murphy that he has the situation as
far as the hremen are concerned we'll
IN hand, reports came to the surface
to-day that 85 per cent of the tiremen
are in favor of q general srike, and
that the telephone workers are 100 per
cent for it. Labor leaders would
neither denY nor confirm these re
ports.
The carmen are not playing an i'm
por ant part in the discussion as yet,
but 1t is recognized that in case of q
general walkout the Central Labor
Union would xert all the pressure at
its command TO have them Join.
1t is believed that in the event Of
general strike the labor leaders would
see TO it that the supply of food for the
city is not interrupted.
The three big obstacles 70 the sac
cess of any general strike movement at
this moment are the presence of thou
sands Of unemployed in the city who
would be ready TO take the positions
lett vacant by strikers, the fact that
sentiment is overwhelmingly on the
side OF the attitude taken by Police
Commissioner Curtis and Governor
Coolidge and the detailed preparations
made by the state authorities to man
all public utilities With national
guardsmen III case of necessity,
For the Central Labor Union to call
a general strike. observers believe,
would simply mean emphasis of the
defeat suffered by them in backing the
walkout Of the policemen. thus in ur
ing stll more the prestige and stand
my Of organized labor in Boston. This
is point the labor leaders cannot
overlook and which they Will seriously
consider before ordering general
cessation Of work.
In addition, considerable dissatisfac-
tion with Organizer Murphy. Of the
American Federation OF Labor. IS to be
observed IN the labor ranks. It Is felt
that III urging the policemen to strike
and organized laba' III general to back
them he was extremely tactiess. At
least il is felt that the time he selected
for the police strike was inopportune,
II g. 8 question whether the Central
tit 10 follow his leadership any longer.
The results OF the vote now being
taken by the local unions on the gen
eral strike proposition Will not be an
noOnecd until next Sunday. The IN
tervening period viii give the labor
lead srs Il chance further to gauge
public sentiment and the chances for
success.
TIE machinery for the calling OF q
general strlke'ls rather cumbersome and
involved. lleccssitaling protractcd &C
vote on the proposition, and must re-
ceiVe the consent of its international
council IN writing. The final decision
is in the hands of the Boston Central
Labor Unon.
Even if the local unions should show a
ma ajority in favor of general strike, the
Central Labor Union need not call one
if il decides chat the time is inop-
perfume. 1t is the latter point which
makes d genera strike an improbable
ity, for while much talk Of a general
strike Is heard in the ranks of labor.
the union leaders are maintaining a
severe silence.
The authorities today completed
their preparations for any eventuali-
ties by sending q request TO Vermont
for riot guns and ammunition, to
whic.. Adjutant General H. T. Johnson
has .complled by dispatching 70 Bosto