The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-25
THE STRIKE BREAKERS.
Some Intelligent Observations By . Free
Man In a Free Country.

To THB EDIToR OF THE Sun Sir; In re-
cent issues Of the newspapers OF New York
city there has been shown a disposition 70
crltcse very harshly the men who took the
places OF the strikers on the lnteTborough
railways Every untoward event has been
chronioled and held up to the public eye, and
attributed directly 70 the strike breakers.
their ignorance and stupidity. Never once.
70 my knowledge, has the side Of these latter
been trlthfully expressed In the daily press.
On the contrary. the newspapers have called
us green hands IN every instance 70 whose
culpable mishsndling Of the public safety all
mishaps were attributable, until the travel
ling public has become sore on us. in fact.
Now. the plain, unvarnished truth Is that
not all were green" 10 the business by any
means. and none Of the motormen. even at the
outset, were inexperienced, as those among
US who had to pass q searching eNaml-
nAtion before entering this box know. That
We we're some OF us-unacqualnted with
the InteTborough's system Of switches goes
without saying. like the union men before
US, we had 20 familiarize ourselves with their
lntrcacies the same as when the subway was
first opened 70 the public, when there were
some mishaps. also.
When IL is taken into consideration that q
most deliberate attempt was made 70 tie up
the entire traftc on the InteTboroush's system.
without the least regard for the business
Noihtu anu lltu uhlAg uuhl-
ness interests would be severely injured
by their inability TO reach their places Of en-
ployment, IL seems 70 US that little cOnsdera-
ton is due the Marlborough and those who
assisted in preventing such catastrophe.
IL Is true we worked for the dollars and
cents the strikers didn't want, bat there was
q pile Of principle thrown in for good measure
In return for the IS gold pieces, assure you.
To lots Of us motormen IL was an almost
day and night Job. at one time, and though
some Of US got a weary feeling, the majority
OF us have stuck II out on American principles
the good old fashioned stiCRtouveness
that won the fight with weary bodies and
bleeding feet, In our forefathers' time, in that
little mlsund Outstanding with England 100
years and more aRo. We chung TO the other
old American principle that the individual
has a God given right TO do as he pleases -
the right 10 earn an honest penny without
dictaton from any man except those who
pay Il.
For myself, signed with the InterborouRh
as a free man, and inasmuch as ] expect TO
hold them TO their agreement with me, just
so did keep mine with them, a free man In
a free country. God bless itl
A disposition has been manifested by the
press not only 70 bring influence to bear TO
To dispense with the strike breakers. TO whom
the public 10 so deeply indebted. but 70 re-
install all their old employees: an unErateful
public allowing themselves 20 be Influenced
b. jaundlced articles In saffron journals.
clamoring 10 influence the lnteTborOuCh in
the interest OF those. God save the mark,
now only too willing to do "scabbing' them
selves ifthey may. STRIKE BBEAKER.
NEW YORK, March -.