The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-26
STRIKE OF TIE aSTAGERS"
Conspicuous Absence OF the
Broadway Stages.
The Drivers Unyielding and
United.
Seven Hundred Stages Withdrawn from
the Streets.

The strike Of the stage drivers continued yester-
day, all the men going out on the different lines
The men presented themselves for work at six
O'Clock yesterday morning. Offering their services
at the demanded rate OF So a day. but refusing to
work at the old rate OF 81 so. The bosses abso-
lutely declined to give the additional fifty cents
day. BY previous arrangement the men on the
Fourteenth street line were allowed by the drivers
on the other lines to run two trips hut after these
were got through with the men refused to con-
tnue at work unless at the SO day. This the
bosses refused, and the men went out.
Whatever chance there had been that the strike
would fail at the start was lost by this action OF
the Fourteenth street line and by nine O'Clock the
leaders or the strike felt that the action OF
the men would be marked by unanlmlty. AT each
OF the stables q few men ventured to take out the
teams, but after a trip abandoned the work ana
announced to the employers that they would join
the strikers. The men then resolved to wait until
the afternoon before taking any further action,
when meeting would be held and an organization
effected. They wandered about the stables and
In the neighborhO0d OF them collected In groups
discussing the situation, but not showing the
slightest inclination towards disturbance of the
peace. superintendent Matsell had given instruc-
tons to the captains OF the precincts in which the
stables are located to have the employers fully pro-
rected and protect, at all hazards, the safety OF
any new men who would undertake to drive Only
few men ventured to take the places of the
strikers On. the Madison avenue line one
Of these, after making the first round Of
trip abandoned his horses In the street.
taking with him the So the employers had given
him to be used Tor change money. The horses
and stage were taken charge OF by q policeman,
who sent them to the owner, the latter being
obliged to pay some few dollars to the man who
took them home. The employers seeing that
affairs were taking turn that showed the deter
minatiOn of the men to insist upon the demand
resolved to discontinue running altogether, so
that before noon all the lines were idle. Mean
while both the employers and the men
were busy at work on the consideration
OF the difficulty. but no agreement could
be arrived at between them, and by degrees the
men scattered farther away from their respective
headquarters, and the committees began to grow
busy in throwing ont scouts and taking the pre-
cautions usually put In operation by strikers.
The organization of "the men" was admirably
quiet and orderly showing cool determination,
though as yet no nosrinty to any strangers
VINO might become engaged In their places.
The bosses on their part evinced no desire
to nette the feelings OF the men by
exhibiting any undue eagarness to employ the
applicants who had presented themselves Tor work
as DRIVERS. The police kept close watch at each OF
prevent any disturbance, ana others being detailed
IN the negna6orh e 81 Inc Of the
in the afternoon the men began to arrive at this
place. all being sober and orderly but in the best
OF good humor. Reports were received from the
committees during the afternoon, declaring that
all quiet along the line. At three O'Clock there
must have been about $50 men here collected. all
OF them stage drivers, though some OF them not
holding permanent positions on any OF the lines.
MEETING OF THE STRIKERS.
At about that hour the meeting was called to
ORDER Charles Smith presiding. IT was conducted
IN most orderly manner, though very little busi,
by the men, the maid point Of which was That that
under no oiro".n ances would they yield to the
commune extortion Of the bosses, who had been
to demand a fair days wages for the extraordi-
arlyers. they had 6ofaa the Sisvaiia Tong long
Themselves rigntcd, and as the struggle was begun
they would not abandon tie position they mad
taken .s until t.sy were vctorous Everybody
port family-to procure food, clothing, fuel and
shelter at all seasons; and yet the stage driver
1t was not too much Tor q man working fifteen or
sixteen hours a day. and who had to procure him
ss cen wo tnas to
dental purposes. The drivers wanted to give
their families fifty cents a day more than they had
been giving them, and 1t was Tor that purpose
they had struck. they believed they had the SYM
pathy OF the community with them.
The several speeches were received with
unbounded enthusiasm by the men, who cheered
to the echo.
resolution was unanimously adopted thanking
the drivers OF the Fourteenth street line for the
united manner in which one and all had come TO
the strikers party and lett the bosses.
the me1 ~ s1s eRsS m sssss at s ss
usual hour, six O'Clock present themselves at the
offices Of the respective lines FOR which they mad
worked and offer their services at So day; but
that, should the bosses continue to oppose the
demand, then the men should refuse to 90 to
work.
resolution was also adopted pr ,viding for
meeting daily at the headquarters, and an adjourn.
The strikers renamed after the meeting pat.
tronizing the lager beer In the neighborhood,
but resolved, as some OF their own members ex-
hard cases enough. they knew enough to ''pick up
passengers on pinch"
MEETING OF THE STAGE PROPRIEToRs.
At four O'Clock the proprietors OF tue several
stage lines met at the Hoffman House for the pur-
pose OF considering the situation. The meeting
avenue line, and Messrs. Marshal, McWilliams,
Sheppard and Evans representing the Madison,
Broadway and Iwenty.thlrd street. Fifth avenue
and Fourteenth street ines which constitute ali
the stage lines IN the city the Fourth avenue
being owned by the Firth avenue line proprietors.
Mr.. Sheppard denied altogether the statements
made BY the men. They had attempted TO place
the stage proprietors In false position NO class
as the stage drivers Their salary was So so a
day-t0rty cents more than the car drivers got
although the latters work required them to stand
drivers received their wages every night, when
their work was over, at their own option. What
did they wantp Before the boxes were introduced
on the Broadway and fwenty-thlrd street line the
drivers got 81 IS day, out the proprietors could
prietors just what they pleased and take for
themselves Just as much as they pleased. lie lelt
assured that 1t would be impossible to deal more
DENIAL that the pr0prietors onered to pay them
Tor their services twenty per cent OF the
gross receipts-nOt OF the profits, but
twenty per cent or all the driver could re-
ceve from the stage. Jealousles set In and one
man would be more fortunate than another and
the result was that the drivers asked for steady
wages ut liked rate. They were perfectly salts
fed to work Tor 81 80, but now they again grow
dissatisfied, and OF course they blame the pro-
pretors.
Mr.. Marshall, OF the Madison avenue llne spoke
OF the mock grievance under when the men be-
lleved they la0ored. The truth was the drivers
had come TO know that the public did not wish TO
the stage prOprierOrs. Complaints were becoming