The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-17

New York, May 1T.-Although the mem
bers of the Brotherhood of Taiiors decided
at their meeting ON Saturday afternoon to
avoid strike if possible, 10000 persons
ing, 400 more VIII be called from the
shops today, and within the week it is
likely that the movement will include
$1,000 persons.
Twenty-Five hundred children's jacket
makers also joined the raaks of the strikers
today, SO that in all nearly 900 men are
idle.
Having started, the strike is likely to
spread with rapidity. The tTousers-nlake kers,
who number about 5000, and the vest
makers, about 2,400, are expected to go
out today. Other organizations are expect
ed to fall into line, and the strikers are
confident that within three weeks fully
$4,000 men and women will have struck
in this city, Brooklyn and Newark. The
strike Of the brotherhood tailors was or
dered yesterday morning. II was ordered
against the wishes of the executive board
to satisfy the demand of the taiioTs, who
declared that they wanted a strike rather
than work any longer for starvation wages.
The strikers declare that the contractors
lived up TO their agreement only until last
Christmas. As soon as the heavy work OF
that season was over they say that the con
tractors generally introduced again the old
piece ayStem and that the employees have
been obliged to work from twelve TO fiji
teen hours a day to make from S6 so to
SO a week
The contractors, many of them, admit
that the charges Of the tailors are true
They declare, however, that they have been
forced to resort to the old piece system for
self-pTcserYation.
The manufacturers and W wholesalers. they
ailoge, lave Eeen steadily reducing the
prices for their products, and that if they
had adhered to the prices agreed upon last
August they would have been ruined
The order to strike was given TN willingly
by the leaders under compuision. The
meetings at whichplans We're made to unite
garment makers of the east side into one
great federation Adjourned shortly before
midnight saturday, and the executive com
nittee went into session i'll Waihalla Hall,
nt No iS UFcRaTd street, TO perfect plans
ToI the union Then the tailCrs went home
but at O'Clock yesterday morning they
returned, two or three at fiist, then hun
dreds. I
In a few minutes orchard street from
Grand TO East Broadway was blocked with
thousands of men who called to the ex-
ecutivc c0umittee to come out and show
themselves, ..
William Uohen. chairman of the commit
tee. went Co a window OF the room on the
third floor Strike, STRIKE" shouted
the crowd
What do you mean? Are you mad"
said Cohen "You have just agreed TO
have no strike till all are united. Go home
and sleep
We can't sleep. We are starving You
mus; order US TO strike,' was the reply
Cohen shut the window with bang, and
an angry roar went up from the mob.
Come down and order a strike, or we
will break down the doors Let us strike
or we VIII lynch YOU" they shouted
Cohen pacified the men by promising to
lay the situation before the executive
committee and went upstairs again.
The committee considered for four hours,
spurred on every few minutes by VAN
ing howl from the street. and at O'clock
yesterday morning they appeared at the
windows and hung out the red trade flags
the signal that a strike had been declared
The crowd in the street set up a loud
cheer, and in few minutes dispersed to
their homes.
The committee then began to arrange
for the practical details OF the strike
committee of five men from each branch
Of the trade was appointed to summon the
workers from the shops and at O'Clock it
was read to begin work. The strike came
as a complete surprise 10 the contrar tors
They are about 700 in all, and willprobahiy
get together today or tomorrow to discuss
the situation.
The strikers have not yet decided upon
what they are striking for. The executive
committee will prepare list of demands
The men who struck vest erday are coat
makers. The other branches of the new con-
federation are expected to follow suit he
fore the end OF this week. They are aail-
ors jacket makers, 500: trousers makers
5000: progressive tailors, 2, ,000 knee pants
makers, l 800; vest makers, l 500: overcoat
and sack coat makers, $500: LnthG inian
tailorS, 1000, and coat makers, 10000