Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-08
MAYOR OF
SEA 7 TIE
READY FOR
ARMY RULE
viii Ask Federal Government
to Take Charge of City
If Strike Is Not
Called Off Today.

Seattle, Feb. 7.-"Unless the SYM
pathetic strike is called off at 8
o'clock Saturday m6rning | shall,
at 9 o'clock, ask the federal govern
ment to declare martial law" Mayor
Ole Hanson said, in formal state.
ment issued late tonight.
After nearly three hours discus
sion between Mayor Hanson, ]. wv
Spangler, banker, the Rev. NJ. A.
Matthews and special committee
of the general strike conference, it
was announced that the conferees
had failed to reach an agreement to
call off the strike of $4,000 union
workers in sympathy with 25,0O0
shipyard workers, who laid down
their tools January 2l.
The strikers committee, it was
said, offered TO recommend that the
sympathetic strike of 10000 workers
be called off if the mayors com
mittee would agree that a commit
tee of business n.en would be form
ed to present the demands of the
$4,000 striking metal trades workers
for higher wages to the proper
shipping board authorities and urge
that they be granted. The mayors
committee took the stand that the
shipyard workers were under con-
tract with the government and thar
nothing could be done until the
men showed good faith BY returning
to work.
Guarantees Protection.
Mayor Hanson issued the follow
ing proclamation today:
ITO the people of Seattle:
"By virtue Of the authority vested
in me as mayor / hereby guarantees
to all people Of Seattle absolute and
complete protection.
"They should all go about their
daily work and business in perfect
security We have 1,500 police OF
fcers, 1900 regulars from Camp
Lewis and can and will get the SER
vices of every soldier in the Pacific
northwest to protect life, business
and property.
''The time has come for every per-
son in Seattle to show his Amefi-
canism. Go about your daily duties
without fear. We will see to It
that you have food, transportation,
water, light aid gas and all neeessi
ties.
"The anarchists in this com
munity shall not rule its affairs. ALL
persons violating the laws will be
dealt with severely"
Industry was halted in Seattle to-
day, but in Tacoma the walkout had
not assumed great proportions and
the only outward indication there
Of unusual conditions was the alb
sence, of street car service. AT a
conference late today the Tacoma
car men announced they would re
sumo work tomorrow.
Morrison to Take Command.
Maj. Gen. John F. Morrison, COM
mander of the western department
of the army, was enroute from San
Francisco to Seattle tonight to as
sumo personal charge of the regular
army troops that are adoing guard
duty here and in Tacoma. In Sc
attle soldiers from Camp Lewis oc-
cupied today the municipal iight and
gas plants. Operation of the plants
was not interfered with last night
by the strikers.
I'VE are here for the protection
of property and person and the sup
preston Of all disorders" Brig.
Gen, Frank B. Watson. Commanding
the troops in Tacoma, said today
I'VE do not intend to take any ar
bitrary action except in case Of the
gravest emergency. Any plant
which wants to reopen will be ell
titled to and receive protection bv
us to its property and the person
of its employees"
Single Car Operated.
Street car service in Seattle TODAY
consisted Of a lone municipal car
which made its way on the regular
run between this city and Ballard.
a suburb. Civilian guards were sta
toned beside the conductor and
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