New-York tribune., 1899-07-18
STRIKERS WIVES ARE SAD
rREMBLING. BUT SYMPATHETIC. THEY
WATCH THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR
MEN FOLKS.
MY THEIR ADVICE Is NEVER ASKED BE-
PORE STRIKE. But THEY ABHoR THE
NAME OF SCAR" AND HOPE

BAY THEIR ADVICE is NEVER ASKED BE-
FORE STRIKE But THEY ABHoR THE
NAME OF SCAR" AND HOPE
FOR VICTORY
n Re generally understood that the suffering OF
q great strike IKE that which the streetcar men
have tried 70 inaugurate IN Brooklyn falls chiefly
OF the wives and families OF the strikers From
the Investigations OF q Tribune reporter who rode
out 10 the Ftfty-eighth-st depot yesterday on a
Bensonhurst car and talked with a number of the
strikers wives 1t appears that they are divided in
feeling. perhaps all hoping that their husbands
VII win the fight but most OF them regrettng that
the struggle was precipitated at this time They
were not consulted-they never are before a strike
is determined on But nearly all feel the deep dis
grace OF having their folks called "scabs,"
and look upon the situation as presenting a choice
Of two evils. the Of the two being the loss
Of daily wages and the uncertainty OF securing
other positions
Yes I'm working" said manly looking fellow
coming out Of the depot 10 Tribune reporter;
but rs tough time I'm having at home My
wife hasn't spoke 10 me since yester morning.
She didn't me to 20 on at ALL because all
the neighbors II call me 'scab But I tell you
what II Is was with the strikers four years ago.
an I got laid off my Job. an another fellow got
nv place II good while before I got on
again an l don't feel like running that risk
again But my wife's pretty mad. tell you.
That's her over there, with the baby wagon-an'
you can talk with her IL you want TO-"
Across the road went the reporter to where a
pretty black eyed woman stood jouncing a sleep
ing baby up and down She was pale, and there
were tears In her eyes and a pathetic droop 10
her mouth.
Yes. it's true" she said, that I amt spoke to
Tom since yesterday morning. OF course 1 need
money keep house. an it's dreadful thing for
Us women to have our husbands out Of work, but
It's more awful 10 have everybody calling your
fYtCf ant and
WORRIED TO DEATH"
Tn worried TO death about him an the time
anyhow an wish we'd never seen a railroad
He never has time 10 eat his dnner-none OF the
Coney Island men do; they just have 10 eat on
the car an then they're sick after IT, He al
ways has 10 work twelve hours steady an some
times sixteen or seventeen. an I told him when
everybody was gettin' out yesterday then was MS
chance but he didn't mind thing said and just
went I know he feels awful bad because won't
speak 10 him, but can't stand having him called
'scab.'
In a neat little fat in F1fty-eighth-st. another
wife was seen. She had come down from the CEN
trail part Of the with her husband at the time
Of the big strike" four years ago.
My husband worked on Sunday" she said, until
he felt it was dangerous. and then he told his
rnotorman they had better stop. He is out this
morning and will work long as 1t is safe. Natu-
rally feel anxious about him. but we both feel
that although we not destitute we are not
rich and we need the money for the children.
MY husband has always tried 10 do his best By
tho company and when extra work has been needed
he has done II cheerfully. and the company has
been Just with We are neither Of us IN love
with the railroad Job anyway. and I sometimes
mn husband was well out OF the business
but long as he has no grievance he hates TO
leave. He would Ike to see the men carry the day
FOR a ten hour job. but we have home and chill
dren to think Of and we don't dare join the strik-
IN Ter daVs' time"
In neighboring fat fat woman wiped
the suds from her with her calico
apron. My man got bounced from the cars
last spring" she said an I'm glad Of IT.
This IS the 'scab road. DO you think I'd let my
husband take g now? No. stree! LOOK at the
-scab' man at the Norwegian Hospital with
fractured skull. VIII the company take care OF
him? No sir My went out on the Dig Strike
four years ago. an it was four months ne was out
OF work then. and If he Oh the Job now he'd
strike with the others and be man. II hao 10 20
out by the day support US.
How did get along beforeT NO oother
about that; knew it was comm an looked out
before it come. This ones different. though ~ ~
mouth is goin' 10 have hard time. Ihanks. De 70
goodness my man got laid of this spring an ain
Down the han came poor forlorn specimen OF
womanhood. with stu more Iorotn oaGy sftsr
Her man is one Of the strikers Voluh'eereo
'e aae. she feel about the striker? asked the
reporter.
WOMEN-s VIEWS NOT WANTED.
We'll. her husbands one of that kind she don't
darst open her houth. Most OF the men looks 10
their own Affairs They amt askln women "ha'
.hs,rve got 10 do because they think the women
voyl6 soon run over en- If they did. Her mans
,ripper who only runs the busy hours. But ne
has 10 gt I'D al o. clock an watch list until his
On fha .scab' men are the regular men IN THIS
neighborhood since the big strike. ~. ..h7.
Vel we have common conversation every DAY, an an
'taint always SO peeceabe, eltheI' Ekcn 'tio rs
dren calls each otner scao anu - ~
As the reporter made her way out the fordGTn
Is into the street, where the two oder choieh
were nduging in game SI is s gong to help mat
ao5t 4iI know Anything about it at all" was the
v,eo- o asrons~ hut the tired eyes looked across
the street where the buecoast stood @ guqrH conS n
'scabs'' still. worked and the sulAeIs sum -''''
dark and unutterabe warnings
WOMEN AT THE PAY STATION.
Some suhdued excitement visible near the
pe-ge,-s+ station when the men were being paio
IN the afternoon Little knots OF wives oaueN
and friends Of the strikers were gathered arouno
discussing the situation. One stout young "O'.--'
with baby in carriage expfgbSSeb bSsband were a
striker is;S.,'' 1ea ,..,.r.t land what's more
he sir 9oin; IN he He was in the last STRIKE 9 anu
had hard time gettn' back ana w. va aIone
enough that time 10 learn Hlilt e. r1ep ready TO
You can't fight while there hFe HiS''
take every place thrown up
HOW SHE WOULD HAVE DONE
There wasn't any head OF tall 10 the thins any
way" chimed in a little woman with keen slay
eyes Men don't seem TO manage things riHn'
half the time Why. there was lot OF the iae
didn't know the strike on till sunday moriHn ,
They weren't ready for II, anyhow my wa WY prook
sbeen 70 wait TN the New-York men an an n.St
ln men could strike all together then there df 6e
sbeen nghtin chance There ar am eaves ~ rolled |
gnnn' a scrap TIL you've got your sl"eNe' '''1
up, added this pugilistc small person. Nm dav or
Papa was goin 10 Join the strike uIt orSSaos uS
two before +" ventured a little girl or perhaps |
twelve Years Mamma didn't want him TO- . Du. |