Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-04
STRIKE MENACES
MILK DELIVERIES
1900 Dairy Workers Quit
and Urge Others to
Follow
U. S. TAKES UP CASE

Striking dairy workers threaten to
tie up the milk distribution Of the city
More than 1900 workers are already out,
the strikers say and others are ex-
pected to quit work today
So serious is the situation that the
United States food administration has
been appealed TO for relief and DR.. Clyde
L. King. of that organization, has been
designated to bring about some form Of
agreement between the strikers and the
employers.
"An adequate milk supply is a vital
necessity to mothers. children and sick
people. as well as Others" Doctor King
SAID today, and We will take steps at
once to see that no hardships will be
suffered by these persons. We have
outlined no definite policy as yet. but
! feel that steps leading toward the
solution OF the difficulty will be under
way before nightfall"
Meanwhile the strikers have called
two meetings today to make plans for
strengthening the union.
Confer with Food Officials
Following meeting OF milk dealers
and officials OF the food administration
at the Manufacturers Club. Doctor King
issued the following statement:
Certain milk dealers went out on a
sympathetic strike this morning. The
understanding of the food administration
Is that the strike was called in order
10 force the Abbott firm to recognize a
union OF the milk drivers other than
'ne union the Abbott firm have recog-
hiZed The strike is sympathetic
rA hAtt i.
10 wages. hours for working conditions
Two organizations we're formed
among the drivers in the Abbott firm,
one headed by the group in Lancaster
avenue. the other by a group in Ger
mantown. The company recognized both
organizations.
ne Germantown organization. which
contains some Of the South Philadel-
phia drivers, demanded that the Abbott
hrm sign an agreement that all milk
wagon drivers in their firm should Join
the Germantown organization. The other
organization took the position that IL
tnis were done they would quit. The
Abpott firm had to choose between one
Vi tne TWO unions. For this reason
a portion Of the Abbott drivers walked
out last Saturday.
The milk drivers OF Philadelphia ar.
the best paid Of any firm reporting TO
the food administration, their wages
running from $40 to $50 per week.
Inc customers can get milk at any
time by going to any of the plants or
branches of the firm from which thev
have been buying milk. Steps have been
taken to supply all hospitals and chill
dren"
The trouble was augmented this morn
ing when union dairymen in various Sec
tlons OF the city declared a sympathetic
strike and left their places, Al mol
fingers dairies, Sixteenth and Taskar
streets. l1O men. virtually the whole
working force, quit. No delivery routes
were operated by that firm this morning.
the manager said.
Feels Effects OF Strike
The Supplee-Wills-Jones daIries. Eley-
enth and Jefferson streets, would issue
no statement in the absence of c. Hen
derson Supplee, but it was admit ed that
the firm had felt the effects of the SYM
pathetic strike. Harbison's dairies re-
fused to make any statement regarding
the number of men affected and referred
all questions to Doctor King This con-
cern operates at Front and Diamond
streets. and sends milk to all sections of
the northeast.
The Wawa, Scott-Powell and seyera,
other dairies issued statements TO the
effect that the walkout had not crippled
their services.
The meetings of workers today will
be held at Passyunk avenue and Moore
street and at sos West Girard avenue
The strikers will take up the question
of remaining out until there is a general
recognition of their union and several
other questions which are expected to
come up
The owners of the various milk con-
Germs also are in conference and expect
10 formulate plans to quash the strike.