Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-22
MAY ASK TROOPS
TO GUARD DOCKS
Team Owners Prepare to Ask
U. S. Aid Pending Strike
Settlement
FREIGHT EMBARGO NOW ON

Military control of the waterfront dis l.
tricts If disorders incident to the team
sters' and stcvedores' strikes continue
will be demanded by the Team Owners
Association.
Insurance companies announced that
the owners would run drays and teams
at their own risk, following the burn =
ing of two trucks the shooting of a
boy and the arrest of eleven strikers.
Officials of the Philadelphia and
Heading are considering the advlsabllity
of placing an embargo on all shipments
into this city, with the exception of
food. The Pennsylvania Railroad
authorities said they would take similar
action if congestion on the local plat
forms is not cleared up today.
$500 Men on Strike
B. j. Devine. president of the Team
Owners Association, said the big team
sters have men enough to operate their
wagons, but prefer to have them remain
idle for Il few days. The teams will
be put into operation before the end of
the week, he said.
At the Team Drivers Union head
quarters. Front and Race streets. it was
said today that approximately 5000 men
are on strike. Many owners have signed
the agreements favored by the strikers,
it was said.
The majority of the coastwise steve
dores who went on strike yesterday re
turned to work today, shipping men say.
Six hundred men were reported out yes
terday and several ships were delayed in
their clearance.
The team owners decision to ask for
soldier patrols along the waterfront
was determined upon after they found
they were liable to forfeit their $780,
keep all freight sidings and platforms
clear of merchandise. They met at
222 Chestnut street last night.
The members Of the organization will
make their request TO the federal au
thorities on Friday if the strike is not
settled before then. and sooner if the
disorders warrant such control
Affects Coastwise Shipping Here
Most Of the coastwise shipping COM
panies doing business from this port
were affected by the walkout. Among
these are the Merchant and Miners
Company. where two ships are waiting
to be unloaded the Ericsson Line. oper-
ating between this city and Baltimore
the Baltimore and Ohio pier; the South
ern Steamship Company, plying between
Houston, Texas. and this port, and the
Wilson Line, between Wilmington and
Philadelphia.
At one pier the strikers failed to state
their demands. and said they had
"enough money" to last them the week
and that they would not work
At the Wilson Line Office workers aud
crews of the ships, as well as foremen,
cast aside their coats and collars and
loaded the ships when the men walked
out. In several places the longshore-
men demanded seventy cents an hour
and 81 10 for overtime. Their present
scale is forty five cents, with sixty
seven and one half cents for overtime.
There is said to be no union Of the
men.
A number of additional teamstcrs
have signed the union agreement, but
these in most cases were the owners of
but one or two wagons. The large
owners remained firm in their position
Of refusing to treat with the strikers
Riots, incendiary fires and fights con
tinued to characterize the strike yes
terday, as gangs of strikers sought to
| ;ntimidate the drivers still at work
Policemen rode on trucks with the
drivers, but the unionists attacked the
| unprotected men in the sections where
the police were not present.