The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-18

NEW YORK. May 17.-Thore was no ex-
element manifested today at the head
quarters of the striking tailors. William
Cohen, business agent of the Brotherhood
of Tailcrs, said: I'm this city, Brooklyn
and Newark 5000 men and women are on
strike. The strike affects the entire
clothing manufacturing trade. The reason
for the strike is the failure of contractors
to live up to an agreement made more than
a year ago.
Mr.. Cohen said that the Progressive
Tailors' Union, No. IL, which will meet to-
night, viii probably order strike. This
union numbers about 10000 who make the
better class of ready made garments. The
cutters. who have a separate organization.
will soon be forced into idieness.
NEW YORK. May 1.-THE decision OF
the tailors to strike was not arrived at by
the ordinary process of reasoning. 1t was
wave Of popular sentiment which cul-
minated In an overwhelming and rcsistless
desire to order the strike at once. BY
something like mental telegraphy this
idea spread all over the East Side like a
flash. for in the darkness just before
o'clock In the morning throngs of excited
people poured into Orchard street from
all points of the compass, shouting.
Strike. strike; strike Monday. No more
waiting" A cheer which swelied into a
roar as the surging masses of humanity
swayed in front of the New WASHINGTON
hail. called for the executive committee to
come down, followed the shouts. In ten
minutes all the streets leading toward
Orchard street were black with people,
William Cohen. the new leader OF the
Brotherhood OF Tailors, who Is also the
head OF the executive committee. opened
window above in the room where the
committee met and asked the people what
was wrong.
t~ft-~
starving was the reply from the hun
dreds OF throats
Would you strike now?" said Cohen.
wait until all the trades can strike to-
gether. You have no demands prepared"
yell, mingled with excavations. fol-
lowed, and some OF those in the crowd
declared that II the executive board did
not order a strike they would break the
doors down. The crowd for a while SEEM
ed bereft OF reason. Cohen headed dele
CATION Of the executive committee which
came out TO reason with the tailors.
Each member was mobbed as he came
out. Dozens OF fists were shaken in their
faces.
Lynch them IL they don't order q
strike," shouted several voices
''Yes," shouted hundreds of others.
Lynch thefn XIII them IL they don't"
Men began TO weep and plead, saying:
"Oh, have pity on as and order a strike.
We're earning starvation wages now"
Among the singular features of the ex-
traordinary scene was that the paople
were so implicitly bent upon having
the leaders order a strike: though
they could have gone on strike
themselves. they would not do so
without official orders. They were de-
termined 10 order the executive commit
tee to order them to strike. Cohen ex-
postuiated at such haste, but his speech
was drowned with one word uttered
fiercely by thousands OF voices. the COM
mand. ''strike."
That settled II. The committee hasten
ed back into the meeting room and for
mally ordered a general strike of the
brotherhood OF Tailors I'm the metropolis
tan district. As the chiidren's Jacket
makers and the Progressive Taiiors'
Union intend 10 strike Immediately after,
IL is foregone conclusion that they will
go on strike today After the strike had
been ordered the committee went aro'nd
TO the shops and called the taiiors out
The contractors were taken by surprise.
They were not organized. The average
wages the men are now getting is s. a
week. They will demand from 50 20 $40.