New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-23
0VERCROWDED CARS.
INSULTS TO WOMEN.
Federation of Clubs asked to Agi-
tate for Separate Cars.

The recent strike on the subway and elevated
has intensified form Of suffering TO which women
are always more OF less exposed the street
cars and many complaints regarding both the
temporary and permanent conditions have been re-
ceived at The Tribune Office. Women suffer not
only from the results Of Overcrowdng in the street.
cars. but in ways that are even worse.
The infested" says one correspondent,
with brutes IN the shape OF men, who take ad-
vantage Of the crowded conditions 10 insult women
and girls IN a most indecent manner"
i has been suggested that the City Federation OF
Women's Clubs or IL ii viii not act. the working
women OF the city, take this matter up and agitata
for separate cars for women: but the club women
Of The city co not appear to approve OF this plan
The prevailing opinion seems TO be that the only
remedy Is cessation Of overcrowding and a little
more courage on the part OF the women who hap
pen 10 be annoyed.
No SOLUTION IN SEPARATE CARS
I don't believe in class distinctions of any kind
said Mrs Belle De Rivera. president Of the New
York City Federation OF Women's Clubs yesterday.
Men are just as much entitled TO comfort and
consideration as women and II our conditions OF
street travel are unpleasant for women they are
unpleasant for men also. II had separate cars
for women IL would be taken for granted that the
women's cars must be kept clean. while the mems
need not be so clean This is what has happened
o. the ferries and il IS wrong The public should
be cared for regardless OF sex. age or condition.
But even Il cars for women were provided,
don't see how the men could be kept out OF them
any more than out Of the women's cabins on the
ferries Women stay out OF smoking cars and seats
because they are not pleasant but the situation is
reversed when a place is reserved for women
These places were always pleasante- than Others
and men ike them as well as women"
Speaking Of the men who make themselves Cd
no1ious in the streetcars Mrs de Rivera said
thar +be,- we're usually men with good overcoats
and not workingmen.
LIT WOMEN BE COURAGEOUS
= don't want any separate for women"
said MIS- Clarence Burns. president OF the Little
Mothers Aid Association. Il much prefer 10 SIT Win
the men believe in men and women being To-
gether everywhere. and think that American men
as class are most courteous and kind to women
under most discouraging circumstances. l have
seen them tine and again give their seats 70
women without receiving even nod OF ackhowI-
e5graent OF course you can ind the great AnleEl-
car brute who is not at all peculiar. by the way.
70 America, on all our cars. but he is in small
minority and the way 10 suppress him Is not 10
put the women in separate cars, but for the women
10 speak right out whenever he makes hlIhseI
offensive. II it became known in car that man
was annoying one Of the women passengers ne
would be thrown OF time at all. and 1t would
be z good object lesson. OF course many women
CO not want 10 be conspicuous. but self-defence Is
Z duty. and # women only had the courage TO say
when necessary. This man Is annoying me, there
would soon be little occasion for complaint There
Is really 70 reason why a woman should put up
with anything Of this kind. for she can stop 1t
Whenever she likes IL she only has the courage.
= friend Of mine who was much annoyed by a
man in a crowded shave omnibus made him leave
The car al The next corner by rising and saying in
q voice distinctly audible TO all the passengers;
! beg that you viii take my seat sir.
"Of course one must be sure before speaking that
the ANNOYANCE Is intentional and in our crowded
cars Il IS sometimes hard tell. The overcrowd-
ing IS really n the root Of the matter. for that
gives the great American brute his chance"
MORE CARS NEEDED.
= can speak only from my own experience" said
Mrs. Augustine Wilson president Of the wonen's
Health Protective Association. and have never
mad any unpleasant experiences on the cars AS TO
Feservi1g cars for women I doubt whether it is
ether legal practicable. Men would not stay
o-y OF car just because Il was labelled For
sach car would get in and take them. II
~ conolnons complained OF are really as bad as
20 ate salc TO be. the best remedy would be moro
o's e-o -ess cFercrowdng."
ONE PLAN OF REFORM.
something should certainly be done 10 protect
women IN me crowded subway and elevated trains"
As-a MS Margaret Holmes Bates a well known club
~o"-4h ana author. yesterday morning but 1 do
AOl beie'e that separate cars for them at the
eioNoea hours VII prove the solution Of the diff
ee-iy- The plan seems impracticable 10 me. Think
u al Inc extra guards and policemen IL would