Hellraisers Journal: Luella Twining on the Philadelphia Carmen’s Strike and Formation of Woman’s Auxiliary

Quote EVD, Lawmakers Felons, Phl GS Speech, IA, Mar 19, 1910 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday May 12, 1910
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Carmen’s Strike Continues; Women Organize

From The Progressive Woman of May 1910:

The Philadelphia Situation

LUELLA TWINING

The most significant features of the Carmen’s strike in Philadelphia are the sympathetic strike that was called soon after the carmen went out, involving 200,000 men and women; the awakening of the workers of this city to the fact that the government is the bulwark of capitalism; and the great organization of carmen’s wives that has been built up in two weeks, now numbering five thousand women.

Government Officials Control Situation

Senators Penrose, McNichols, Director Clay and other officials have taken charge of affairs for the Transit company. There was not even an attempt at a settlement till those senators appeared, Mr. McNichols coming from Florida where he had fled to get away from the strike. Indeed, so apparent has been the connivance between the Transit company and national, state and city officials that even the least observing have been forced to see it. Mayor Reyburn has issued statements for the Transit company showing that the city hall is openly against the strikers; policemen are put on the cars to run them and scab on the carmen; when the carmen attempted to hold a meeting in the ball park, which had been rented for that purpose, mounted policemen rode into men, women and children, trampling them down and beating them on the heads with clubs, till the pavement was covered with blood. So active has the government been in attempting to break the strike that the strikers and their wives discuss the political situation almost exclusively. It might well be called a “political strike.”

Meet April 20th to Form a Labor Party

Organized labor of Philadelphia will meet April 20th to form a labor party. Socialist sentiment is strong among the strikers, but not sufficiently so to control the situation. The secretary-treasurer of the carmen, Hugh Barron, is a good Socialist and, indeed, I think it is not too much to say that almost all the prominent members of the carmen’s union are Socialists. However, the majority do not yet understand the class struggle, and will be obliged to learn by bitter experience that the only party that can help them is one based on the fact of class antagonism. They have advanced far enough to wish a labor party and when they shall have seen its deficiencies they will then be ready for the Socialist party. The victory in Milwaukee caused a great excitement and I predict it will have an influence on the convention to be held the 20th. All I have talked to on that question admit they could have won their strike had the Socialists been in power here, but they insist that all can agree on a labor party while many would oppose the Socialist party.

They do not realize that a large vote for the Socialist ticket would so frighten the powers that be that they would offer concessions that they will not even consider now. Till the workers learn that their interests are opposed to the capitalist’s and that is the reason the police are called out when a strike is on, they will be helpless. The strikers see that the city, state and national officials are against them, but they do not see that the fact is fundamental. They do not yet know that all governments throughout history have defended the class in power and that they were established for that purpose. The Socialist party is the labor party that stands for the interests of the workers. A new labor party is superfluous.

Short Story of the Strike

In June [1919] the carmen went on strike and went back to work after an agreement had been signed by the company and the carmen. The carmen being suspicious of the Transit company, Senators Penrose and McNichols promised them that, should the company not live up to its agreement, they would see that a law was passed compelling it to do so. The senators were lying and double-crossing as usual. As soon as the men went back to work the company began to discharge them in large numbers every day. Another cause for grievance is the Keystone union formed by the Transit company for the purpose of destroying the carmen’s union. It consists of Pinkerton detectives and scabs. The Keystone men received all the favors, such as the best runs, and favorable action on complaints. In the barns where the men wait for calls on their runs, the Keystone men were constantly making trouble by trying to get the new members of the carmen’s union into the Keystone union. They started fights frequently and tried in every way possible to break up the carmen’s union. The crowning blow was the discharge of 174 men in one day and the threat to discharge as many more the next. A vote was taken among the members of the carmen’s union as to whether they would strike. The vote carried to strike and they went out in February [1920].

A sympathetic strike followed, not only to show the Transit company that organized labor of Philadelphia stood by the carmen, but to protest against injuries suffered by the various unions. After two weeks the strikers went back to work that they might assist the carmen financially. From the time the carmen went on strike the Transit company has done everything in its power to injure the carmen. No outrage has been too great to perpetrate upon them.

The Transit company has lost thousands of dollars through the strike. Last week it asked the city for a loan of $2,500,000 and begged for $100,000 immediately. The scab conductors steal the fares. A passenger had a conductor arrested for not ringing up his fare. The case was taken to court and the conductor was defended by the Transit company lawyer. Every day many persons are run over and killed; today three persons, a man, a woman, and a child. Yesterday two children were killed; the day before three persons and an ambulance containing three very sick children was ground to pieces. The grand jury has demanded that competent men be put on the cars to run them and the Business Men’s association has demanded the removal of the state railroad commission because it refuses to arbitrate the strike, not because the business men sympathize with the carmen, but because their business is paralyzed by the strike.

From ten to twenty carmen are arrested daily on the charge of “inciting to riot.” They are bailed out for amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000. You can see that this will be a terrific drain on the treasury of the carmen’s union, especially considering that their strike benefits amount to $30,000 weekly. Three young ladies gave a dance for the benefit of the strikers last Saturday. The police gathered around the hall and at first refused to allow the hall to be opened. After the young women succeeded in opening the hall the police crowded in and infested the hall all evening.

The Woman’s Auxiliary

The formation of the Woman’s auxiliary of the carmen’s union has been the redeeming feature of the strike. Within two weeks 4,000 women have joined this organization. Two weeks ago the first general meeting was held the writer was elected president and Mrs. Leonore West secretary. When volunteers were called for to serve on the committees, the women arose in such large numbers and came forward to give their names that it was necessary to ask them to remain in their seats. There was danger of their breaking down the platform. It was certainly refreshing to see members of a union so anxious to work that they had to be restrained. Generally, as is well known, it is difficult to get people to do anything. The women are holding bazaars and fairs all over the city. Every day at least a dozen fairs are going on in the different car-barn districts. They make from $300 to $400 at each affair. Every thing sold is donated. It is truly inspiring to see the women work. Comrade Elizabeth Baer, with whom I am sitting, has attended many of the woman’s meetings. She said: “I never have been so interested in my life in anyone as in those women.” Indeed, one must feel so to see how brave and energetic they are.

At our central meeting we voted to hold a parade. I applied for a permit to be made from Director Clay and he promptly refused, of course. I immediately engaged a lawyer to apply for an injunction to restrain Director Clay from interfering with our parade. Immediately the city hall gang got after our attorney and he promptly retired under duress. We now have a splendid attorney, Mr. Maurice Speiser, who will give the Mayor and his underlings a good fight, have applied for permits almost every day, a continuous performance. Our case will go to court tomorrow. If we are not successful in enjoining Director Clay at least we will advertise the nefarious gang and gain sympathy for the Woman’s Auxiliary. The director gave his excuse for refusing the permit that the walk is too hard for the women. Hundreds of women were beaten on the heads by police sent out by Director Clay. He has grown solicitous suddenly.

The Woman’s auxiliary of the carmen’s union has excited so much comment that auxiliaries are being organized in other trades. I received a request from the general organizer of the strikers’ union to assist in organizing the strikers’ wives. There is good reason for this. When a strike occurs it cannot last long without the sanction of the women. This fact is well known now, though not always recognized in the past. Labor leaders say, almost without exception, that women are better fighters in the men.

[Emphasis added.]