The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-16


ssv frankly. now that the strike on that
company's subway and elevated railroad
lines has passed out Of the range Of current
L.nperings into the domain Of local history,
that the strike was already defeated before
n began. with the best Of luck the strikers
might have kept life in It for week, two
,-eels Al the very most. But there was
practically no chance Of their winning IT,
whatever they might have done.
This strike called out at an estimate most
favorable to the company, OF per cent. Of the
eOOo or 90 experienced men operating the
most complicated and difficult local rail-
road gystem In America. Among these the
uotorInsn were the most skilful, az they
vere the best paid men in electric railroad
ms. Tbe other men were, almost all Of them.
eTnerienoed In the particular work they
had 70 do.
BACKING the strikers were the two most
powerful local railroad unions In this par,
Of the country. The leaders Of the national
organizations With which these unions "ere
Enthusiastically the leaders Of one OF
the two organizations, the AmaIgamateo
Association OF Street and Electric Railway
Employees-weTe waiting TO zee "hlch
way the cat would Jump. Initial suc0eSS
on the part Of the strikers would ia We
brought them national support ana Win
il the sympathy Of that section OF the WORK
ing population which prefers 70 ride win
labor rather than with capital
sEKAKD SURE FoR THE MEN.
On the surface It really seemed as II the
strikers had everything in their favor.
The men as a rule were not OF the hand 70
mouth living class. The unions were rlch'
and the union treasures were full. Inc
strizers themselves were confident and
united.
Yet the experienced in labor troubles
we're saying an hour after the men went
ont that the etrlle was failure. Twenty
four bours after It was declared many not
40 experienced realized that 1t had lost
Bafore forty-eight hours had passed.
twas broken and dead in the sight OF every
citizen, and the national leaders OF the unions
were wing with one another as ~ which
could throw the most and the largest bricks
at the misguided persons who had called
Il into being.
There is left now only the wreck 9th
two powerful New York labor unions
Competent judges believe that IL Will be
ten years at least before these recover from
the shattering blow they have sustained
n they ever do. And It will be many years
before union men In this city forget the
Iesson they have learned In these last few
veeSs and plunge New York Into the dis
comfort Of another transportation strike.
Nov the mon who should know what was
noinR on In the corporation that broke
this strike say that all this was foreseen,
uaa provided for and duly brought 70 pass
according 10 schedule, from the moment
a STRIKE sosEnsd possible. How 1t was done
bears intimately upon the chances Of sue
cess OF any great railroad strike In the
future, here or elsewhere.
THOROUGH ORGANIZATION DID THE JOB.
Thorough organization, the most careful
preparations on the part Of the company,
killed the strike. The blindness and reck-
lsssness Of the strike leaders only fastened
the end.
When, in the latter part OF February, the
patience Of the marlborough officials be-
came exhausted by the Unsuitable demands
Of the unions upon them, and It was known
that an entirely new set OF grievances was
Ia preparation, work was begun on the
plana 10 NEST q strike. There were alto
Fsthar soma = 800 men In the company 3
employ; Of these some 5000 wero in the
unions and wors engaged directly In run
ming the railroads aside from ths power
housaA, electrical supply stations and the
o6lces.
For . week or 90, by cutting out days
o6 and doubling up on tours Of duty, some
1000 could ran the road. The company
had about three weeks before the strike
could come to q head In which TO supply
thsss and make its other preparations.
First q all. the man who has made II his
profitable bJlGiness TO deal with such emer-
Rencies was called In. A telegram sum-
moned James Farley, the strike breaker,
10 Now York from his home in Plattsburg.
He met the marlborough officials In a
quiet hotel uptown and there he was in
formed Of what was required Of him. He
mnst bring here q body Of non-union men
capable Of running every branch Of the
subway and elevated railroads. Five thou
aGnd men would surely be required, per
haps ~ many more.
Enough 30 run the trains for q day or two
must be brought secretly 10 New York
and kept hero ready TO take up their job
At a momsnt's notice. The rest must be
assembled In cities nearby, ready 10 ooms
on the minute the strike was declared
And, Meanwhile, not q whisper Of these
preparations must get out.
Farley has been taokling Jobs Just like
this for ten years or 90, and he has built
up an organization to meet the cAse. Ir
every dty Of Importance he has q recruit
Ing agent. He IL credited with having az
army Of 1000 men on his lists.
REcRUIrINa THE STRIKE BBEAEERs.
The day after his conference with thu
Interborough ofioials there appeared IL
Pittsburg, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia
and In half dozen cities in the West limo
cent looking advertisements calling foi
experienced railroad men Of every degre,
10 work at good wages, with good hours
on a new railroad. Men were 20 apply a
q certain ofice in each town. The wages
were 90 far In advance Of the current nte'
in each town that applicants came by
the hundred.
Farlsy's heutenAnts interviewed then
and then followed a wedding out process
The usual questions about experience
wages, reasons for seeking a new Job weT
asked. II they were answered satisfactorily
then the questioner would get down t
busineas.