New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-20
"L" MEN VOTE TO STRIKE
GIVE COMPANY rs HOURS.
First Call on Sub1oay Jobs Promised
Them, They Sag.
Destroyed by hre yesterday.
(By courtesy OF The Illustrated NaEazine)

Four thousand members OF Division No 332
of the Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees comprising the con-
ductors and guards of the elevated railroads in
Manhattan and The Bronx. which are leased
and operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company, met yesterday in Marion Hall, No
$50 East hundred and twenty fifth-st. and
voted on strike action if their demands are not
granted. vote to strike at once was practi-
cally decided on but the mems officers got them
to change their minds
An agreemen. has been broken they say be-
tween the members of the association and the
officials of the Interborough company 1t was
declared late last night from a reliable source
that nearly every cast favored strike
action.
They are to strike It is understood unless
the Interborough within forty-eght hours prom
ises to keep its alleged agreement to give the
association men the preference for jobs on the
subway
The meeting was called by President Pepper of
the association. who had issued a circular set
ting forth the grievances of the men, II saws
that about year ago the Interborough officials
made an agreement with the men whereby the
employees of the road were TO have the pref
erence 10: places in the subway when the latter
Is ready for Operation.
President Pepper says further that recentl; e
was learned that the Interborougi had disre.
garded the agreement made last year with the
men, and had begun to conside- applications for
places in the subway from men not afTiIiate,.
I'm any way with the elevated road empIoyet
So important were the grievances consfdere<
that committee. known as the executive boar,
of the Amalgamated Association Of Street and
Electric Railway Employees OF America was ap-
pointed to confer with the members of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers. Division
No 100, at a meeting held last night in Horton
Hall. No. 10 East Northumberland twenty
fitth-st.
This join. conference took up the question IF
considering strike action II the InterborouCh
Rapid Transit Company does not take cogni-
zance Of the agreement the men saw WAS on
tered into last year. A plan was proposed
whereby an ultimatum win be presented TO the
rapid transit company to-day. telling the COM
pany that unless some Indication is given thar
the elevated employees will have preference for
positions I'm the subway. the present employees
os the elevated road-motoymen guards and
conductors will strike I'm a body
1t is significant that for the first time n,
nearly two years the members of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, Division No
105. consented to meet the local division of the
Amalgamated Association OF Street and Flee
trio Railway Employees of America. The enCi-
neers refused last year to join the conductors
and guards In threatened strike and the
members of the amalgamated association bit
terly resented this.
Following the meeting In Marion Hall yester-
day. statement issued which set forth the
facts regarding the alleged agreement between
the Interborough officials and the elevated ro>i
employees. This statement says that the agree
ment with the men was set aside and applca-
tions from outside workmen considered
a committee from the Association of Street
Railway Employees called on Frank Hedley gem
eral superintendent of the Interborough. yester-
day, and called his attention TO the situation
Afterward President jerks of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers said:
All 1 say at the present time is that
things have come to such a point that the griev-
ance is the grievance of all.
This statement indicated, It was declared that
there was harmony between the conductors and
guards association. and the motormens asso-
ciatiOn.
President Pepper said:
Now don't quote me as a strike talker We
are opposed TO any strike if il can be avoided
A strike the elevated railroad would be
calamity and we will do everything we can to
avoid one. But the company must stand by its
agreement. Although 1t was verbal we con-
slider II as binding as any other agreement and
propose to live up to It, as we propose TO
see that the company does. We will insist upon
priority and seniority. We have a record TO
o
that Is not equalled by any other railroad or
ganization In the world for its safety of the
travelling public. Our record extends over six
teen years, without accident. We insist that the
men who have demonstrated their ability in
experiences varying from five to twenty-six
years switchmer, tower switchmen, conduc-
tors motormen. guards and I'm other capacities
in the employ of the company get some recog-
milton.
We have lived UP TO our agreements in every
respect and expect the company 10 do the
same. II it does not we prepared to give the
officials the hardest fight they ever have had in
their lives
Mr.. Pepper asked If this statement was
10 te construed as an utimatum. He replied:
No. not an ultinatunl. I don't believe in ulti-
matums. don't believe In trouble of any kind,
and will do what can TO avoid trouble.
But the organizations in perfect har-
mony. and determined TO uphold each
and every OF our rights, and we de-
Continued third page
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