The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-08-15
BXPRESSMEN STRIKE
Twelve Hundred Employees
of the Adams Com
pany Quit Work.
LONG LIST OF GRIEVANCES
Men Discharged Without Cause
Hours Increased and
Wages Lowered.


In the neighborhcod of twelve hundred
men, representing the clerks. drivers,
helpers and porters. employed by the
Adams Express Company in this city
and New York are out on strike There
are several reasons for the strike given
by the men, but the foremost is that the
new Western managers have been making
them work like dogs, with longer hours
and reduced compensation. The strike
started at midnight and today every
branch of the company's business is eff
fecttvely tied up. Policemen armed with
night sticks are doing duty at the stables
at Montgomery and Henderson street, in
Exchange place, about the Pennsylvania
Railroad ferryhouse and ON the express
company's $ shipping pier. The men say the
policemen will have nothing to do, as they
propose to conduct their fight, which
they deem an honest one, in an orderly
manner.
The strikers. and there are about one
hundred and forty of them in this city,
have engaged Franklin Hall, at Mont
gomery and Warren streets and will make
it their headquarters until the strike is
settled. All the men have been requested
Tiet to gather in groups ON the streets,
but TO repair to headquarters if they wish
TO discuss the situation
Only three wagons pulled out of the
stables in Montgomery street this morn
ing, although it is said Master of Trans
portation Peter Miller exerted every eff
fort to find men to fill the places of the
strikers. OF the wagons that went out
one was double wagon and was in
charge of Frank Steely, who, it is as
serted, was dismissed TWO weeks ago by
Agent Miller for something bordering on
incompetence he not being in amy way
familiar with the streets of this city or
New York. The other wagons were sim
giles or one-horse wagons. One was out
only few minutes when the driver re-
turned to the stables and to the joy of
the strikers declared he coud not do any
thing against the interests of his fellow
wofkmen.
Last night before the strike was ordered
the nen did up all the work. The drivers
coilsctel freight and baggage all day
yesterday, and the clerks and handlers on
the several piers assorted it and made it
ready for shipment before leaving their
posts. The men say that they want to
win fairly, and in order to show that they
do moi want any more people than possi-
bic To suffer by their fight for what they
deem justice, this morning consented TO
nave the drivers of the newspaper de-
Livery wagons remain at their posts until
all thar part of the company's business
iiad been gotten safely out of the way
Although the men have had grievances
against the company ever since Western
men took control of it, it was not until
few weeks ago that the determination
was arrived at to bring the company to
ter1rlss.
The first step the Western men took,
it is said, after assuming control, was to
endow all the local agents with the power
to dismiss and engage men. At about
the time this was done the employees of
New York and this city organized what
is branch of the regularly organized
Knights of Labor. The strikers say that
organization Of the Lodge they began at
once to take steps to root out all the
organized men, starting by chopping off
the heads of the old and high salaried
At frequent intervals men who were
members of the lodge were dismissed
and it is said absolutely refused ex-
planaton or given any cause whatever
for their removal.
A week ago William Prescott, of this
city one of the company's oldest, most
was dismissed and no cause for his re-
moval was given Prescott accepted his
dismissal gracefully. Then Frank Bor-
den, popular clerk on the Forty-ninth
street pier, was removed without any
cause being assigned Dissatisfaction be-
gan to grow among the men. Prescott
portatien Peter Miller in this city and
Superintendent J. Zimmerman at No. 50
Broadway, New York.
Neither of the officials would assign
for ftc vel ,f %t,o
nor would they discuss the subject. Bor-
den and Prescott next waited on Presi-
dent A. c. Weir at his office in No. 50
Broadway, New York. He received them
coldly and said he did not propose talking
with ex-employes of the company. The
men said they were asking for an ex-
PLANTATION and reinstatement as members
of organized employees league Presd-
dent Weir, it is said, bowed them out
with the announcement that he would
hear committee of the employees who
Were members of the league referred to.
Yesterday afternoon committee of the
league, with j. w. Fountain acting as
spokesman. waited on President Weir
They made a formal demand for tne re-
instatement of Borden and Prescott. Mr..
Weir's answer was to the effect that the
several agents had the right and power
70 dismiss and engage men. It was a
power, he said, that he did not care to
interfere with
The committee cited the fact that in
dismlssing men the agents were dis
to the Keystone Lodge. The President
was then asked If 1t was not true that
the company had set afoot movement to
knock out the lodge, because it was a
Kn snts OF Labor organization The
answer. it is said by The committee. was
an evasiye one and was wound up with
the declaration that he would not REIN
state men or in any way interfere with
the actions Of the agents of the cornpanv
When the committee reported the re-
suit OF the hearing the strike was or
dered, and the company is hopelessIv
crippled On the pier there is an enor-
nous number Of trunks and bags which
cannot be moved, and 1t is said that there
Is q considerable quantity Of perishable
freight tied up. The strikers say that
II viii take the company a month or
more TO hlre new men and as much longer
to break them in, so that even small
quantity OF baggage can be handled. This;
IL the busy time of the year for the
company. and strike at this time will
upset the company efTectually. The men
say that II the quitting OF the New York
and Jersey City men does not cripple
the company, the employees of the com
pany on all the lines operated by Il will
be called out The men say thew are
determined to win. but insist that thes,
will conduct their fight III manner
which viii reflect no discredit upon them.
One of the prominent members OF the
Keystone Lodge, speaking OF the situa-
tion this morning. said -
This is no new fighf. a strike has
only been averted a dozen times by a
few men. we have been worked like so
f5z