New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-23
DILEMMA FOR BELMONT.
4 STRIKE OR POLITICS.
EIeUated Unions to Formulate De
mands To-day-Stand Together.

The employees Of the elevated railway lines in
Manhattan, who have been talking strike ever
since the Interborough Rapid Transit Company
announced a scheme for training new men for
the positions which to be open IN the
subway. and to pay them less than is paid on
the elevated showed yesterday that they were
determined to force the issue Preparations
were made to select a conference committee
representing the several unions. If it fails 10
obtain satisfactory agreement a strike will be
called and the attempt made to tie up al of the
elevated lines
That they VIII not be forced to the extremity
Of striking was the opinion of a number OF the
labor leaders last night There confer
ence yesterday afternoon between the commit
tee Of the Amalgamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway Employees Of America and
General Manager f. P. Bryan of the INTERIOR
ough The employees were told that the railroad
company was ready to meet them half way,
though definite action postponed
The elevated men say that they could not
have selected G better time to bring the com
pany TO their way of thinking. They point out
that August Belmont. president Of the INTERIOR
oush company has just undertaken leading
part in the management Of the Democratic ma
tional campaign. He wants nothing less than
strike. especially a bitter strike. that would
come home once 70 q ma i2rity Of New-York
voters
Mr Belmont made a brief statement yester-
day without committing himself TO the merits
or demerits Of the employees demands. He said:
4 am satisfied that all existing differences be
tween the elevated railway employees and the
Interhorough company viii be satisfactorily ad-
justed and that there viii be strike
Then he hurried away to the Democratic ma
tionaI headquarters TO take up his political work.
laFr fba Of Of
elevated men to Mr. Bryan who has dealt with
them before
From 10 o'clock yesterday morning until 10
O'Clock last night the committees of the three
local unions to which the motormeu and fire.
men on the old elevated engines belong held
continuous session at the Harlem Arcade. No.
oil East hundred ed-and-twenty-f -fourth-st
The unions have a membership OF $50 and TOJ
cast a unanimous vote to stand by their com
mittees and 70 insist on the company granting
their demands in regard to the new subway po-
stions.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES To MEET
At l o'clock to-day there viii be a joint meet
ing OF the grievance committees of all the
unions which might be involved i'm a strike The
committee OF trainmen and employees who talked
with Mr. Bryan yesterday will report IN detail
what ne said TO it In behalf of Mr. Belmont and
the company. Then a further conference will
be arranged with Mr. Bran and upon il a set
tlement hinges. If the committee and the rail-
road officials cannot find common ground the
national officers Of the several unions-Store. OF
the engineers, Mahon Of the street raiIway en-
ployes' association. and Hanrahan. OF the 4re-
mcn-wiu be summoned
one thing is certain" said President William
L. Jencks of the local union Of he United
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers. to which
act unit in the present difficulty We have
not always been of the same mind i'm the mast
but this time there are no two opinions There
is a principle involved that is vital aud while
do not think that strike viii be necessary. We
must be prepared for it a last ~esort"
The present trouble between the elevated en-
pIoyes and the operating company is somewhat
complicated. In the first place three unions are
7 concerned, the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engi-
neers. the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and the Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees OF America The
members of the engineers brotherhood are the
motormen of the electric trains now running on
the elevated the iremen have not worked as
such since the steam locomotives were dispensed
with and films other positions until there
is a chance for them to become motOrmen The
amalgamated association includes conductors
guards gatemen. tower switchmen. agents car
cleaners and lamp men
The association holds written agreement
with the Interborough company of eighteen arti-
cles providing for scale of wages and proms-
ing the men seniority of service Il was signed
by General Manager Bryan on April 90 1893
when a strike threatened. 1t also has "a
letter from MIN which. after outlining the
/ scheme of adjustment, says,
This letter is given over nv signature so
as to assure all parties concerned Of the rail-
road company's good faith In the matter. and
we demand equally as good treatment from all
OF the employees.
ment with the company through Mr.. Bryan, as
surng them So 10 day and that vacancies
will be flied from the ranks Of the affiliated
firemen.
There can be little doubt that in making
these agreements the PETERBOROUGH Company
did not intend to bind itself to subway en-
take advantage of the fact that the elevated
service was not specified. and that the subway
is under the same management
What difference does IL make whether the
railroad runs underground through the air?"
demanded one OF the leaders yesterday. our
agreement is with the Interborough Company
and the subway IS part of the system"
THE DEMANDS OF THE MEN
According to President Jencks the employees
have several demands In the first place. they
want seniority of service extended 10 the sub
way system That is they demand that sub