The evening world., 1904-09-05
L men AWAITING
bE[M0NT'S ANSWER
Unanimous in Favor of a Strike If the
$3.50 Wage Rate for Subway Motor
men Is Not Granted 800 Strike
Breakers Engaged.

IucIo ~ ho Nhohbe cus. IN to uspuVc tt"tcn ~ hpcy"
q the IL" and the marlborough Rapid Transit Company regarding the
wages 10 be paid to motormen in the Subway. Another uidmatum was
sent to President Belmont. of the marlborough, yesterday, and up to . late
hour this afternoon there had been no formal reply to it. Earlier In the
day some Of the labor leaders were told that the company was preparing q
compromise which would be submitted formally.
While the question Of strike Is hanging fire the omcers Of the company
are working night and day In preparation for trouble. James Farley. the
noted strike breaker who has beaten unions In numerous street car strikes
is n town and men who make a business Of taking the places Of strikers are
is reported that he has summoned 800 motormen. who can assemble in New
York within txenty.four hours: Many Of them reported to- Farley at No,
Is In charge Of the hiring Of men for the subway,
Applications from railroad engineers who are not members OF the Bro
therhood for Jobs as motormen In the Subway are flooding into the onces
OF the PETERBOROUGH, Many Of the members OF the unions represented on
the IL" are impatient at the delay. They say that 1t is foolish. II they are
going to strike. to wait until the company has enough mn on hand to take
their places.
CONFERRED WIT ALFRED SKITT.
Mr.. Belmont General Manager Bryan, and General Superintendent
Hedlsy held a long conference this afternoon with Alfred skitt, formerly
vce-president and manager OF the ~ system when It was controlled BY
the Manhattan company, What business they transacted could not DO
learned,
The labor leaders assembled early to-day at the Broadway Central
Hotsi and remained there waiting for the reply to their communication to the
Interborough company. Grand Chief Stone Of the Brotherhood Of EnsL
neers; Mr.. Wilson. OF the Firemen; W. d Mahou. President Of the Anal
samated Association Of Street Railway Employees, and members Of the
local committees held several meetings
At one time Chief Jencks, Of the local engineers brotherhood; Chief
P1nney, Of the local hremens brotherhood, and George Pepper, President Of
the local lodge Of the Amalgamated Association, called on Mr.. Bryan.
They we're told that the company was not ready to send q formal state
ment Of Its position to the labor leaders. After seeing Mr.. Bryan the
committee went down to Dy street and looked over the long lines Of men
struggling with each other for a chance to work In the Subway.
A careful canvass Of the employees OF the u" conducted by men asso-
ciaed with the American Federation Of Labor, shows that the sentiment for
Q strike unless the company complies with every demand made by the Bro
thrhood Of Locomotive Engineers Is unanimous. The only factor for peace
now is Mahon. and his control over the local branch. which embraces all the
IL" employees outside the motormen. is feeble.
Warren s. Stone, Grand Chief of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Eng-
neers, Is the dominating figure In the situation. He was nrst on the ground,
and through MIN the local officers of the Amalssmatd Association weo
persuaded to sign a sympathetic strike agreement The men are standing
by this agreement, and the struggle now has resolved itself into . contest
between the supreme leaders OF rival labor organizations
Nj. Stone has not receded from his position that the time has come to
make a fight for a standard Of pay for motormen. Although there ID strife
between his organization and the Amalgamated Association at various
points through the country. he succeeded In getting the local branch OF
the Amalsamated to come to his way Of looking at the Subway situation.
The question now seems to hinge on the ability Of Mr.. Mahon, a. head Of
the Amalgamaed Association. 20 hold his men In New York In line
SMALL SUBWAY FORCE.
The work Of training men on the Subway Is progressing night and day
but the force Of competent men b small. Trains were run through 0e
tunnel all last night by crews recruited from men who have applied for
work within the last month. These men. when not on duty IN the Subway
as riding on IL" trains, familarzing themselves with the signals and the
stations, In readiness for duty II called upon.
Concessions made by the ~ management on Saturday and promised
By Mr.. Mahon were passed by at q meeting Of the various unions held yes.
t~day. II was decided that the only imus 10 the pay Of the subway motor
men. A Communication was sent to the Interborough ohcas stating that
the men would stand firm on the demand that the subway motormen bs
paid $50 for q day Of nine hours and that nothing else would b discussed
or considered. A reply to that communication Is awaited to-day. An un-
conditional refusal to act upon the demand will result In Q strike II the
peaceful efforts Of Mr.. Mahon do not prevail
He has been busy since Saturday getting In touch with me local stua~
ton. Should the members Of the Amasamatd employed on the IL" strike
against the wishes OF Mr.. Mahon they would forfeit their membership In his
organization. But he would, In recognition Of the part he has played thus
far for a compromise, undoubtedly be given permission to organize the sub
way employees. This is a point he is said to be playing for.