New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-29
UNION LABOR WAR ON LABOR
NEEDY MEN HARAssED BY TIE STRIKERS.
DRIVERS OF THE THlRD-AyE. LINE PRESSED BY
POYERTY-TALEs OF OPPRESSION.

Conimittee of the Empire Protective Association
ordered the tieup." No crowds to be loung
ins about the vicinity, foI the first ie "
days o. the strike and the policemen guard at the
dcpOt Whied away their time best they knew how.
The new employees happy faces they went about
ther Respective duties and obeyed tho orders OF the
many foremen with that cheerful alacry born OF "a
coEten;ed mind. 1t could be seen at glance that the
assertion O the cOmpanys officers that tho strikers are
not in position to dictate terms any longer is not
founded on Idle boasng over three hundred men had
secured places and haTd work. while several
III the stables filed with apr cants anxious to be
taken into employment. Each applicant for work Is
caeoIsed briefly to his life and former occupation
and II found suitable he has the necessary written
recommendations, he is taken OH.
With few exceptions the employees show evidences
OF poverty that from lack o! work Their clothing
is IN many Instances ragged and orlornloOking Many
persons who watched the new drivers twisting the
brakes during the hot days last week wondered probably
why they kept their Overcoas. In it
because OF lack of suitable underwear While OF
tue now hands are young and active great many are
past the middle stage of life, married and have large
families depending them for their bread All OF them
tell tie same story OF hardship; in many cases of abec
nced ami o repeated failures to work. In not
feN Instances hostility Of labor Unions and u the
Knights OF Labor have prevented them from getting
employ \ TRIBUNE reporter who walking
through the stables yesterday recognized in OF the
capacity on the Eighth ave. line within month He
was middle aged, broad sLOUldered with kindly
brown eyes and pleasant face. The reporter asked
him why he had lett tue service OF the Eghthave. road
did moi leave them" replied the conductor.
discharged with clgnt others, five OF them conductors
aid all Americans, because wOuli not join the
knisnts OF Labor You see, after the strike
the Eighth line the dcmaud OF the drivers and
ducioIs that tney be paid - % day was granted.
Well, the company chaed under the scale OF
and they nal conference with committee OF the
Tho company SAIL that they could not possibly pay tho
amount and the road, and they wanted the 10
voluntarily knock Oh 20 cents day THIS the COM
mittec agreed to do provided the road made "a
sOJly ullOn One which could be done by discharglng
nine of Us who had refused to join the knights OF Labor
TIE company finally consented and fired
one of II discharged had been employed by the
road Ior i've yeirs. one Quaker and would not
join organization because II contrary to his
religious belief All OF married and had families
70 c..lo 1t pretty hard We had an interview
with the superintendent OF the line, II. b. Wilson. IIo
SAID he codd not help US and sent us to the president
Mr.. Hays. The latter told lie sJrry aud would
give letters OF recommendation, bu. he could not
afford to oend the Knights OF LatOr. He did not dare TO
rlnstae We sought out the president oi the sikh
ave ana he so said that he did not dare to employ
"a non The meal getting low i'll tue
barrel at when this strike like godsond.
Three the day took place and got
work at once. since then Knights OF Labor have
laid for way home They have tried TO induce
us leave the cOupanys service, but have failed. We
all live the West Side and have to 20 to our
homes By way routes to avoid violence
smiiaI story told by Albert Johnson, new con-
due or, who formerly photographer III Brooklyn.
Ny business Lccane pOcr,' ho said, that could
not sup OFT my my. tired in VAIN to get employ
"a car-driycr. III many places was told that
would have to be Il union before could get work.
rt,,f.t Itf in tnrn at I.ppf
not ~; into the union until l secured work.
Alter 1 got job the Third ave. line some OF the
strikers came to me ana promised mo Sl4 week to
leave inc COMPANY and JON the uhlon but II Is TOO late
William OConror. WHO is now OF the stable fore
men, re- lated his eA pcrlcncc is follows worked for
uis cOngau! i've years and was well satisfied with my
pace wa-c-. I'D not belong to unOu thUug.,
lhd Tor ina reason tho UNION ulNcFs tW' years ago
lna; -ct 10y telling false stories 10 tnc superintendent
ANA Dy Sctls ne drunk once, TO have Inc dschaIecI
Was Out o W0rh, practically iOr TWO years ana huuSof
stared NY and III! self III Tie lace more tran
once maze iurcc chldrcn buried calvary. | could
not get "oik On tue street lioaus DecSc oi the h1n
hostility The leaders IN ths stable sworc that should
never draw horses back While they could
prevent It, / was out of work and Hard up when the
stlINe came. Now can cal Tie turn On them. Thcy
made threats against 0ut defy the whole OF
them. AN glad oi tao ch"Dce TO make decent living
d, last"
just before he started Tor the 1orhyIo Court TO appear
a.aIu,t striker Wn0 Lad assaulted hlm He Is small
has scedy garments hctOkcncd hard struggle |
Tor existence am married man ne i s"id ana was
Il driver on lho BOcran- place lihe III BIoo"yh. was
from hand to mouth uuul this strike.
\ tan German waiting turn to 80 before |
any since SRI emoer last lie conductor on -
street IN cincinnati was thrown down ana hgrt my
aca 80 nat DO but few kinds OF work. came
here hoping 10 sct position As conductor. dOh
last money nad-ll cents--l left with my wife |
1 came aw y TINS mornins have fodr children. The |
poor oman nearly cIIed her eyes out"
am better OH than 20 - remarked another APP
pIicGnt ooAius al tnc big German llty indy. gave
my we L. cents when LETT tomc 10 BE- sure IL was
al
The reporter about hour after this conversation met
the German LOOKING II his heart Drok II. H. sd
tnat his al pncaton for work had been refused. Ihe
reporter hunted up Mr. Beaver, who when tAe oitcum-
stances Of the mans desttuton were related 10 hin,
for the disappointed rnan Who gave his ha0e AS
ge kesser questioned him briefly and then tOd hn
e could bring letters VOuching Tor his character he
would appoint MIN to-day. The mans somewhat heavy
faoe lighted up, then le again As he went outside he
said 10 the reporter: AT No 641 East Eleventh
St, and lhe people who know me are poo tenement
people who cannot write their names. ain not sure
can let those letters, bat Will try.
John >ilvIn who to drive said that
could hot support Ills vile aud amIy on nat he made;
he Jumped at he chance which the strike game him,
rs he REGARDED - - day a. good pay.
George Lawrence driver, said that he had wife
aud three en- lrcn hyIus In sIuand tenement on lie
West side He was formerly car driver WAC lost EN-
roy ment by an injury tua temporarily ecnilned hm to
ls bed. When got we'll ne said, tried to get
the mouse Tor weeks. How did live We liyod. you
might SAY, water and what we picked up in the |
streets. went 10 Bridgeport looking for worK; |
found up there that You could not get work OF any KIND
unless sou Knight Of Laoor. he 'rd OF the
strike and came back h're gad oil the chance to earn
living my poor family"
Those new employees who have been at work over a
week have wonderfully improved in looks ana hablI-
meuis Mnay them have invested their first earnings
IN ering their shabby clothes. The ~ day they get
rom tue company often swclcd 10 - by contributions
pressed their hands ~ well dressed Passengers.
Aud an astonishing OF Well dressed eOpe have
been the Third ave. cars since the strike. |
lady put "a two dollar bill into my hand said TIE
,S Eighth ave. conductor. and sad. You're brave
man gentleman gave the conductor = and sliI pea
u into my hand, saying: There's something for the
wife, keep up the eht. You're fghti1s FOR principle
and the puUt's with yOu. ~
All told a stroll through the Third-ave. barns "
the observer that Il Is III wind mat blows
nobody any good and II was a bright day for many
lrcers mpOy ment sick with repeated
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, when Chairman O'Donncll or the
Em pIre Pr tectiye Committee. ordered the ue-up !
group Ot drivers. prompted by the reporters !
nduFies smiled broadly at 6ne request 10 tell what
brought them to the stables. starvation brought me
here" said one. Rock bottom brought me- cbimed