 
on july 17th, charles wheeler, vice-president of the mccormick steamship 
lines, said that raids on radical centers would start soon, with government 
consent. 
that day a series of vigilante raids began up and down the coast on the 
marine workers industrial union, the ex-service men's league, the western 
worker, and many other radical organizations and gathering places. 
according to the "new york times," the vigilantes "were connected with the 
committee of 500 organized by prominent citizens at the behest of mayor 
rossi." 
the raids followed a regular pattern; men in leather jackets drove up, 
broke in, smashed windows, furniture and typewriters, and beat up those within; 
the police invariably arrived just after the attackers departed and arrested 
those they had beaten. 
u.s. army and immigration officials interrogated many of those arrested 
and held some of them for possible deportation. 
radicals faced a virtual reign of terror. 
the general strike succeeded in preventing the crushing of the 
longshoremen for the moment, but the labor council leadership began 
maneuvering to bring it to an end almost before it began. 
on july 18th, president green of the a.f.l. disowned the strike. 
the second day of the strike the general strike committee called for 
arbitration of all issues, thus giving up the basic demand which the strike was 
all about, the union hiring hall. 
the third day it reopened all union restaurants and butcher shops and 
ended embargoes on gasoline and fuel oil. 
this generated irresistable pressures on those still striking for, as the 
strike strategy committee in the east bay declared, "it would be unfair to the 
unions to continue the strike in view of the return of some san[francisco 
organizations to work." 
by the fourth day, the general strike committee voted 191 to 174 to end the 
general strike. 
