The sun., 1903-05-08
WON'T END SUBWAY STRIKE.
.RBITRATE NOTHING; We WANT
50 4 DAY. SAY THE ITALIANS.
The, Don't Care About the G. r. T.. Their
Leaders. Agreements or Anything Else
-TIe,ve been Taushs They Can Win
nut They'll Take New Vote.

nut They'm Take New Vote.
Nlrn to the surprise of the subway
contractors, who expected that work would
he resumed by their striking Italian laborers
to-day or tomorrow, pending arbitration
Of their demand for 81 wages for eight
hours work. the laborers decided yester-
day not to accept arbitration as set tie
mont Of their strike. and to refuse to go to
work either on the subway or anywhere
also where excavating Is tied up until their
demands are granted to the letter. They
also resolved to oct Independently Of the
Central Federated Union, which has ad-
vised them to arbitrate the strike.
Late last night a conference took place
in the Office of Port Warden March, who is
irving to end the strike. between March
and committee Of the strikers, headed by
Vito Pucelli president OF their union Mr.
March announced afterward that nother
vote of the lnion will be taken on Sunday
afternoon He thinks they will vote
differently next time, but it is by no IN cans
sure that they will
On Wednesday the contractors declared
the strike as good as settled. a committee
OF the Central Federated Union, with which
the so-called Exca vators' and Rockmens s
Union is affiliated, having agreed to arbitra-
tion, the Italians to return to work in the
meantime
Instead of going back to work yes
terday, meetings of the striking laborers
we're held all over the city, and at all OF
them. according to the information given
out Yesterday afternoon at the head
quarters in East 1l3th street, this plan of
settlement was howled down by the Italians.
They didn't seem to care any more about
the Central Federated Union than they did
about the contractors and absolutely noth-
in9 for the agreement made by the Central
Federated Union to arbitrate all disputes
with the subway contractors. In fact,
hey passed a resolution declaring they
would not be bound by it.
The meetings were not meetings Of sub
way workers only, but of all laborers out
on strike. 1t was the laborers working on
other jobs who were most active in getting
The subway laborers to refuse to go back
pending arbitration. because the con-
tractors, outside Of those having tunnel
contracts, have refused so far to treat with
the strikers at all. For the subway laborers
TO 20 back to work. the others said. would
weaken the case of the rest. This argu-
ment seemed to have effect.
One of the biggest of these meetings was
held at Brommers Hall. in The Bronx
When Inspector Titus heard that 1000
Italians had gathered there, he ordered out
240 rese rves from three precincts and
virtually surrounded the place with wall
Of policemen.
The strikers were orderly AT the meeting,
but after it 500 of them marched down from
The Bronx to First avenue and llSth street,
where they found twenty Italians working
in an excavation
The marohers tried to induce them to
quit. When they refused. the strikers
started into the excavation In a body and
began pulling the men out by force. Po-
liceman Boden heard what was going on
and, drawing his revolver. held up the
entire army OF strikers and made them let
10 OF the non-union men. Then he sent word
10 the East 10th street station, and Capt
McNally and tie reserves responded. The
police went at the strikers with nightsticks,
and soon there wasn't striker in sight.
Little Italy was alive with the strikers.
Flags were out and regular gala
day was made Of It, especially when the de-
A few extra police were ordered out to guard
he subway, and the reserves were held in
readiness, in the fear that. once having
made such decision. the unruly, element
would try do damage, but the police were
not needed.
On behalf of the cont ractors whose
work is now tied up entirely by the strike,
/, was said yesterday that the representa-
ives OF the iaborers had acted with the
other members Of the C.. F. L. committee
On Tuesday, and they wore assured even as
Iate as vest erday morning that the result
would be that the men would be back al
work this morning The contractors said
tha, nothing was said by the Central FEEDER
Inn a a
ment being voted upon by the strikers first
I'VE shall probably wait until the meet
ing OF the Central Federated Union on
Sunday to see what they have to say about
i, before deciding what we will do said
a representative Of the contractors asso-
citation yesterday. an the meantime every
Bit of work is tied up and other union men
who want to work have none to do. We
Ger, ainly can't wait forever.
The contractors agreed on Tuesday not to
hire non-union men pending the return of
he strikers under the agreement. II was
decided Yesterday TO let matters stand
until Sunday. If the laborers persist in
-,aying out afterward, the contractors
will undoubtedly carry out their threat TO
import negroes and get outside aborers.
Herman Robinson, organizer OF the
Italians, who is also a member OF the settle
,rent committee. said when he heard OF the
light to refuse such settlement and that
Tie committee had Informed the contrac-
tors that the agreement was not to be bind-
ing until acted upon by the strikers.
The strikers are not parties TO the agree,
rnent made two years ago by the central
Federated Union in behalf of the other
,rades. and they can act independently
il they so desire" said Robinson:
The action of the strikers will be made
known TO the settlement committee, who
vii! report to the main body Of the c. F. L.
on Sunday. Should the G., F. II. indorse
the strike then it will he distinct repudia-
ton of it's part Of the agreement. In the
meantime, 1000 union men in the skilled
trades are kicking because they have no
work