Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-09
BACKBONE
OF STRIKE
SEEMS TO
BE BROKEN
Business Assuming Normal
Phases as Authorities
Assure Protection to
Workers and Public.


tions in union ranks, coupled with
results brought about by Mayor
Ole Hanson's ultimatum that troops
would be used if necessary to re-
store Seattle's business operations
to normal channels, the sympathetic
strike affecting $1,000 workers
seemed near its end tonight.
The general strike conference
committee continued in session to-
night discussing whether 10 call off
the strike. In the meantime busi-
ness fast began assuming usual
phases. Municipal street cars had
been operating all day.
Late in the day Superintendent
w. S. Richardson of the Puget
Sound Traction, Light and Power
company, took out the first of the
company's cars, with a soldier and
special police officer on the rear
platform, Other cars followed.
Papers Resume Publication.
All papers except the Times, az
ternoon, and Post Intelligencer,
morning, appeared during the day.
Tonight these two newspapers an
nounced they would publish regular
editions as usual on their own press
es, regardless of the strike situation.
Similar signs that the backbone
Of the strike had been broken ap.
peared in various ways, so that il
was believed by city officials that ali
workers, except possibly the 25,0O0
metal trades men of the shipyards
would be back at work Monday
These men went out January 81
asking for increased wages. The
sympathetic strike, affecting ito
unions out of total of $50, repre-
sented in the city, was called last
Thursday morning.
Strike Declared Rebellion.
The general strike resulting, term
ed by Mayor Hanson and a busi-
ness committee as a rebellion
against the government" in a state
ment issued today, is said TO be the
first of its size in the United States.
1t was followed by an attempt 70
call general strike in Tacoma and
by announcements from Everett,
Wash, and other points that refer
endum endorsing the strike would
be taken.
Four causes for the strikes ex-
pected failure were given by city Of
ficials, who expected the strike to
fail. The first was the fact that
the city maintained operation OF
light and gas utilities, many men re.
fusing to strike.
The rationing scheme adopted by
the strikers of using 2l Soup
kitchens" to feed strikers and the
public dependent upon restaurants
failed to function properly. Food
was slow in arriving and there was
little cutlery.
Many strikers, first to feel the dis.
comfort, were left hungry on Thurs
day. A third factor assigned was
the presence of regular army troops.
a final cause, said city officials, was
the evident lack of public sympathy
with the strikers cause.
Bakers Continued At Work.
Union bakers continued at work
today and grocery stores attempted
to make regular deliveries. One
union barber shop reopened and
the engineers and janitors' union
is to consider returning to duties
i'll the public schools.
Ship caulkers at the Gray's Har-
Dor ship yards have voted to re-
turn TO work. They struck in syin-
pathy with the metal trades work
ers. At Vancouver, B. C., the long
shoremen have voted not TO handle
any freight diverted to Vancouver
from Seattle, on account OF the
strike.
Q. S. Larson. representing the
war labor board at Tacoma after
meeting with c. r. Barrett, secre-
tary of the Metal Trades Council Of
Tacoma, expressed the belief the
strike there would be settled within
a few hours.
Bans Privilege Sign.
Taxicabs bearing the sign athis car
exempted by organized labor" fol.
lowing hearses in funeral procession
we're among the unique scenes pre-.
sented to Seattle residents YESTERDAYS
and today, as one result of the gers
eral strike here Wagons of a laun.
dry company allowed to operate IL
supply hospitals with clean liner
and the eity's garbage wagons also
bore exemption signs, All such
signs were ordered removed by the
Mayor Ole Hanson today, who
sa:d:
we will operate all wagons and
trucks we need without signs
Police and FIRE department men
i was said, were driving an oil com
oany's gasoline trueksto supply FIRE
and police stations with gasoline.
Strike Sanction Refused.
Contributing causes to ineffective
ness OF the general strike were Civ
IN as including failure of several in
unions to sanction strikes
of local branches. Electrical work.
Continued on Page Two. COluus e