The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-01
NO SUBWAY STRIKE IN SIGHT.
THE MEN HAVE NOT EVEN MADE
DEMANDS YET.


INSTRUMENTATION of His Own ant
His Fellow Leaders Acknowledged
Has Merely Asked for an Interview
William L. JenclSs. local chief of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers. who
is being credited in interviews with talkinl
as If he were n continual trouble maker r
the labor affairs of the marlborough Rapic
Transit Company, declared last night with
some heat that he wasn't any such thing
and that II the public held any such view
Of him It was due to wilful misppresen-
tation.
Try as hard as can, said Mr., Jencks
II can't get the idea OF peace played up in
the newspapers. It's always strike, strike
strike, until every one is tired Everything
is distorted into being a'move for a strike
1t dies down for a while and then some
title thing sets the red paint factory work
ing overtime again.
Now, as to this latest strike talk the
situation is just this; The company agreed
some time ago that it would go to work
and prepare new schedule OF motormen +
runs and that it would try to have this
ready by Feb %. AS it stands to-day
some OF the men have no rest between
some Two Of their runs. in fact can't even
leave their trains. Every one agrees that
that il wrong and should be corrected.
The idea in this new schedule is TO cor
rect this.
This new schedule wasn't ready on the
25th. and naturally that caused little talk
among the men. We are assured how
ever that the schedule will be ready in a
few days, we believe it will be found satis-
factory and everything is going along
swimmingly. We have delivered no ulti-
matums TO any one and don't expect to
In fact. we haven't had conferences with
any one. Yet here again il this came old
talk Of strike put in our mouths 10 make
the public nervous.
The story that we had sent for Chief
Stone as a last resort IL a sample. Chief
Stone il on his way here in connection with
the New Haven railroad dispute, which
lis going to be settled peaceably. | didn't
send for him by telegram and never said
| did. but of course that story looked good
in connection with this strike talk, and |
was made TO say | had telegraphed for
him.
Il shall probably see Mr. Stone, "a I
would at any time he happened to be on
this way. Probably you'll see then that
the subway is going TO be tied up next day.
IL an interview is needed TO substantate
a story that a strike is TO be expected at
any minute, it's put in my mouth without
my even being looked up and asked to stand
for it, No wonder the public has fine
idea Of me.
Now, there's Peppers organization
which takes in the trainmen. They have
an agreement which expires tomorrow
They were given to understand that when
1t did expire, something would be done
for them and naturally they are hoping,
perhaps for little more pay here and
there and shorter hours here and there
But it wasn't until yesterday that Pepper
asked for a chance to talk with Mr.. Hedley
about IT, and he got an appointment right
away for riday. And yet the fact that the
agreement expires tomorrow X taken a
the basis for the same sort OF talk regards
ing strike on the part of his men-hefore
they have even exchanged one word with
the company's officials by word OF mouth
or by letter.
-Gf course, things would have been
ment In force on Feb. %. Then there
wouldn't have been any talk at all But
all | can say is that everything IL going
along svimmingly and we don't expect a
bit Of trouble. had five, minute talk
with Mr.. Hedley to-day on the street.
met him just by accident.
The talk had nothing TO do with this
matter, but can't be sure until Tomorrow
that I'm not down IA having had an inn
portant conference with him and that a
strike is imminent. II 1T not represented
in some such manner as that I'll lie mighty
surprised
General Manager Hedey of the Inter-
borough said last night that he was very
ignorant person to be questioned about the
possibility Of n strike, because he went on
to explain, nobody had been to see him
to make complaints.
"The situation said Mr.. Hedey. lis just
this, despite all the olamor you hear We
have agreements with our employees Of all
classes. One Of these stipulates the hours
and wages of the conductors. brakemen,
ticket agents. ticket choppers and cleaners.
This expires tomorrow
Now these men are represented as
threatening 10 come down here and do
lot Of things because they have got no
satisfaction. As a matter OF fact they
haven't presented any demands nor had
any word with TIA until yesterday, when |
got letter from Mr.. Pepper. In it he
asked for an interview with me. and
promptly wrote him back that | would
lie glad TO ace him on Friday at o'clock.
| don't even know what he wants to see
me about. az he did not say in his letter.
Neither Mr.. Pepper nor Mr.. Jencks
has been tn see me- although they have
been reported 10 be locked up with me
here many times lately. The company
hasn't rejected anything, because It has
Ind nothing presented 10 il TO reject. In
fact, from Mr.. Jencks | haven't heard even
as much az I've heard from Mr.. Pepper.
That is the situation and that II all | can
say about it, because | don't know any
t,,o