New-York tribune., 1919-05-30
Toronto Strike
Set for Today;
$4,000 Ready
Mediation of "a Hour Week
Refused and Sympathetic
Walkout Now Is Likely to
Grip Whole Dominion
City Employees Exempted
Cavalry Brigade just Back
From Oversee Willing to
Do Guard Duty if Needed

TORONTO, May 80. A general
strike in sympathy with the metal
workers will go into effect in this city
at 10 o'clock this morning. The final
call for the walkout came shortly af-
ter midnight, when the central strike
committee of fifteen declined the Of
fer of the employers in the metal
trades to arbtrate the question of
44hour week.
Those workers not included in the
general strike order are: Hotel, cafe.
dairy, bakery, gashouse, waterworks,
artificial limb factory, moving picture
and theatre operators, policemen, fire
men, school teachers, professors, doc
tors clergy and hospital help.
Whereas settlement here might
have brought a compromise in other
parts of the country, it is now prac-
tlcally certain that organized labor in
Fort William, Calgary, Hamilton. Lon
don and other cities in Ontario and AL
berta will go out on a general strike,
which may even spread through the
whole Dominion
$1,000 to Go Out in Toronto
Unions in Toronto, with a member
ship of approximately $4,000 voted
Monday night in favor of general
strike. leaving about $1,000 other
trades unionists to be heard from.
The latter included street railway en-
ployes, printers, telegraphers, letter
carriers, railway brotherhoods in the
Toronto terminals and BARRIERS.
Among the stronger unions which
have arrayed themselves in favor Of
strike are the Amalgamated Garment
Workers, with a membership of 1000;
International Garment Workers, 1900;
Brotherhood of Carpenters, 800, and
Metal Trade Workers, 5000 Of the
last group approximately 5000 are now
on strike.
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, May 29.-The
Canadian Corps Cavalry Brigade, which
returned to-day from overseas aboard
the Carmania, has been invited to vol
unteer for duty in preserving order, if
the need arises, in cities affected by
the widespread strikes. The invitation
though there was no rush of volun-
teers, most of the men, it was stated,
expressed willingness to serve if re-
quired to do so.
Won't Be Strkebreakers
1t is understood the troops compris-
ing the Fort Garry Horse and Strath-
coma Horse, Of Winnipeg, and the Royal
be sent in the order given, if a call is
made for them. to Winnipeg, Calgary
and Toronto. They were informed that
they would not be used as strikebreak-
ers. and that furloughs would be
granted before they were summoned
for special duty.
OTTAWA, May 29.-Premier Borden
and a delegation from Toronto CON
ferred here day IN All effort to head
off the general strike in Toronto, called
for tomorrow morning. The confcrrees
discussed the situation throughout the
morning, but apparently without re
suit, as the meeting is to be resumed
this afternoon after a brief recess
The labor men in Toronto propose to
strike Friday TO enforce a demand for
an eight-hour day
During the recess employers and en-
ployes in the metal trades met separ-
ately to formulate proposals. These
will be considered at joint meeting
to be held at 1880 D. m At a later
conference the two parties will again
meet Premier Borden and members of
the Cabinet
A sharp divergence over the question
Of hours was indicated at this morn
ing's conference. Representatives Of
the men urged the "A hour week as a
means of meeting unemployment, but
the employers responded that a.
hour week would place them at seri-
Gus disadvantage in meeting intcrna-
tional competition.
Divergence Of opinion was expressed
also over the question of collective
bargaining
Urges Steadying Influence
Sir Robert Borden. in addressing the
delegation, emphasized the situation
throughout the world He pointed out
that population as large as that of
the North American Continent had
been engaged in warfare and campaigns
we're being waged in Europe to-day.
Employers and employees we're, there
fore, called upon to exercise steady
ing influence.
In regard to one of the points in
dispute Sir Robert suggested the pos
sibility of compromise and the estab-
lshment of q tribunal for this purpose
Announcement was made here to-day
that Premier Borden was considering
the advisability of calling a general
conference in Ottawa of all interests
concerned in the general strikes
throughout Canada with a view to
bringing about an amicable settlement
of the industrial unrest.