New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-13

But They Take to Their Heels When
the Police ADDear.

In anticipation of possible rioting along the
line of the subway this morning. extensive prep
arations for the preservation Of the peace were
made by the police yesterday. The ultimatum
of the subway contractors is that the 1000 la
; borers on strike must return to work this morn
ing or their places will be filled by other men.
General Greene had conference at Police
Headquarters yesterday afternoon with John B.
Mcdonald. the chief contractor for the subway.
Later General Greene said;
IF there IS any trouble at any part Of the
subway, the police will be ready TO stop 1t. We
have nothing to do with the strike except to
see that the peace is preserved. ANY disturbers
of the peace will find the police able to cope with
them"
That was all General Greene would say on
the subject, but it understood that orders
had gone out to hold all police reserves on
duty this morning until further orders. There
were orders, too, it was said, to call reserves
from some East Side and Brooklyn precincts
to the West Side of Manhattan If the situation
in the morning looked threatening. There will
be about as many policemen strikers along
the line of the subway if the strikers try to
create disorder attempt rioting. The police
will be ready with night sticks and revolvers
to deal with any rioters.
Late yesterday afternoon leaders Of the Ital-
ian strikers seemed to be trying to have the
hour last night, however, the men had not met
10 decide to return to work, and some Of them
declared that there would be bloodshed if their
places were filled by imported laborers this
morning.
Several of the sub-contrdctors have been
making arrangements with labor agencies in
Connecticut and New-Jersey to get for
work in the subway this morning At
parts of the subway 1t will be the rule to give
work to the men who first apply for 1t. If many
of the strikers try to resume work later they
may have conflicts with the
Late yesterday afternoon Herman Robinson
announced that representatives of the Rockmen's
and Excavators unions and committee Of the
Central Federated Union. of which Mr.. Robin
son is a member. had met at No. So East
Fourth-st Mr.. Robinson said that the
mittee urged the leaders to reconsider their de-
termination to keep up the strike. and urged
them to order the men to return to work pend
ing arbitration.
MAY MEET THIS MORNING.
Mr. Robinson said that after the situation had
been explained fully the leaders of the strikers
they announced that they would hold meetings
all over the city last evening and this morning
and order the men to return to work. The lead
ers promised the committee that all the strikers
would be back in their places in the subway by
noon to-day.
The agreement was reached Mr. Robinson
said, On the point that the men would work
while their grievances were being arbitrated.
Mr.. Robinson said that the leaders seemed to
be impressed when the seriousness of the stua-
tion was pointed out to them. and it was not
long before they gave their assurances to the
committee that the strike would be practically
over by to-day
The Rockmen's and Excavators' unions failed
to have an expected meeting last evening at No.
2,229 First-ave. 1t was said there that at an
afternoon meeting it had been agreed to hold a
meeting at a. m to-day. AT the meeting
early this morning it declared the men
would reach a final decision to go back to work
In the subway TO keep up the strike.
THREATS BY STRIKERS.
Some italian members of the unions were
about the hall in the evening. talking of the
strike. When informed that other men might
be taken in to fill their places. they said with
out any hesitation
IF other men put on in our places. then
there will be bloodshed."
The men said they would not others take
their jobs and look on, but would prevent it if
possible, as they felt entitled to
from working for starvation wages and keeping
other men from earning decent living. They
said they hoped Mr.. Mcdonald would not at
tempt taking new men
Captain Smith of the East One-hundred- and
fourth-st station. went the hall before
o'clock last evening with a sergeant rounds
man and twenty patrolmen, but on learning that
there was no meeting he and his left the
place
Several hundred italians who had been en-
Moved subway went before United
States Commissioner Shields yesterday and paid
65 cents each for the privilege of taking oath,
renouncing alegiance TO the King of Italy and
decIa ring their intention to become American
citizens. Few of them could speak any English
William Bradley contractor for a section of
or fV-Gi H.
st had about four hundred men at work yes