The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-23
STRIKE
THREAT IS HEARD
IN LABOR RANKS
Union Leaders Have Little to
Say After Thursday Nights
Council Meeting, But Rank
and File Talk.

With renewal Of enthusiasm
through meeting 81 the Trades and
Labor council Thursday night and with
meetings Of haH dozen other unions.
the probability Of general strike IN
Memphis In sympathy with the walk.
out OF city ftrenen Is greatly Increased.
Officials OF the council, which Is cont
posed of all union heads, maintain si-
lence about what plans were adopted
or Just what course will be pursued.
However, many Of the members OF orr
ganlzed labor have admitted that strike
votes have been taken and several un-
ions have decided upon waikout.
From comments heard around the
meeting Thursday night the situation
now is Ringing on what action viii be
taken by the union OF street car em-
ployes. Meager opinions expressed In
oicate that this union has turned q
deaf ear to petitions TO join in ~tIch
strike, while many OF the indiv1duas
members have expressed the desiref to
aid the firemen.
II is known, members declare, that
the painters and BARRIERS Unions have
voted favorably on strike. Boiler
makers, carpenters and bricklayers also
are understood 10 have decided upon q
walkuut All are being held back untii
fun canvass OF Thursdays meeting can
be made and reported TO various union
heads
one point is agreed on by all sides
This is that Monday probably viii be
the date Non which a general strike viii
become effective. A few of the unions
may quit Saturday IL the order is car
ried out but the majority would de-
| cline to report for duty Monday.
Refuses to Answer.
President Arch Schwalb. Of the coun-
| ell, declined TO answer questions on the
| proposed walkout When asked II the
|
same time. he said they would not. but
| would not affirm nor deny the rumored
| plan for many OF them TO strike at once.
each walkout being the individual action
| Of the union concerned and not as a.
trades council proposition. or any move
| that might appear as a prearranged
| general strike scheme.
Thursday nights meeting WAS marked
with more calmness than any previous
session. There was little excited talk
| OF strikes. or OF tying up the city. as
was heard at last Mondays session.
Even in the meetings OF various unions
there seemed 10 be less agitation and
more method. II reports Of voted
strikes are true, this could be accounts
ed for in the laying OF plans for the
| walkout
one development OF the past few days
Is that leaders are beginning to realize
that unless something Is done and done
quickly the possibility OF winning tho
strike is lost. Delays have brought
much criticism and have caused de-
sertions from the union side.
| Another point raised Is whether rail-
n road workers viii participate In thf
strike IL one Ii called The settlement
of wage demands az the conferences
recently held In Chicago lie welding 2
strong influence against any drastic
action on the part Of these unions
However. early rumors of the strike
showed switchmen and other railway
employees among the most radical Of
the entire organization.
An attitude Of wait and watch US
continues to be manifested by the union
leaders Denals OF a general strike
which have been issued at regular in-
tervals seem to be threatened with
dlsproof and the men are becoming
more and more reticent about discuss
ing the situation.
There was no change in the situation
lin so far as the city was concerned
Friday In the firemen's controversy. 4
number of new men have been signed
up In the new department. but X is
improbable that additional companies Of
regular fiUemen win be organized al
present II Is the plan OF Leon y.
Wolf, fire fighting instructor. to train
these new recruits before they are as
lsigned to regular duty and this course
has been given the approval Of John
b. Edgar, fire and police commissioner.