New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
POLICE STOP TENANTS
TAKE HAND IN RENT WAR.
Disperse Cro7cds at Meeting, Halt
Speaking and Make 4rrcst

East Side tenants who have engaged in an or
ganized fight the landlords for reduction in
rents found last night that the police had taken
hand against them and refused TO allow them to
hold meetings in the street without obtaining
permit. The tenants forced the arrest of Samuel
Edelstein out of which to make test
Edelstein was arraigned in the night court be-
fore Magistrate Finn and discharged without
ment by the magistrate. No formal complaint was
made against him. but Patroman Coll said that
he had orders to permit speaking. EdeIstein
was represented by the attorney for the Socialist
party. who cOntended to the magistrate that per
mission had been asked of official in the bureau
of information, at Police Headquarters. who
dressed in civilian clothes. No permit issued.
Reserves from the Madison street station broke
up large meeting of the dsaffected tenants
shortly after O'Clock. which was being harangued
by Hyman Nixon, of the Socialist party, the
Sth Assembly District. from a truck wagon in
Rutgers Park. No permit had been obtained by
the leaders. and the police said that they had
orders TO break up any street meeting held without
permit
Nixon and two of his comrades. Samuel Davidson
and Louis Wichter, offered submit themselves
to arrest, in order to make test case. but no
arrests were made then the police contenting them
selves with dispensing the crowd with their night
sticks
About fifteen hundred men and women who had
been listening to the speakers followed the truck
back to the Socialist headquarters where an in
dignation meeting was held. while of the
men sent to confer with counsel
These returned shortly with the word that Jacob
Panken. lawyer, advised them to return to Rut-
gers Park and proceed with the meeting, offer
ing themselves TO arrest ii necessary. in order to
make a test of their right to the street a
meeting place.
The truck with Nixon and his fellow speakers.
went back to Rutgers Park at o'clock Instead
OF attempting another meeting at once the crowd.
proceeding delegation Of the Sh Assembly
District Socialist party. went to the Madison street
police station The Socialists told Lieutenant John
Ivers, whom they found behind the desk that they
had been unjujstly treated, inasmuch as they
had made request for a permit TO hold the meet
ing which had been broken
We'll you seem to think you have a right to
hold a meeting whether not the Commissioner
grants your permit" said lvers.
Eve want TO have arrest made so that We
can establish test case the spokesman told the
lieutenant.
You certainly will have arrest made il you
atteupt to hold another meeting he told
Five minutes later, at about o'clock, a small
crowd gathered at Rutgers Place and East Broad
way put up a speakers stand and raised BAN
ner of the Socialist party Samuel tdestein a
cigar manufacturer. of No. 1Qo Canal street.
mounted the stand and began 10 make a speech
IN English TO the crowd. His efforts were loudly
snpIauded bv several IN the gathering. He had
been talking for a minute or two when Patrolman
William Coll stepped UP.
Got pernit?' he asked
I'VE haven't one" was the reply
"rhen stop Speaking or you VIII be arrested"
said the policeman.
Edelstein began 10 speak again. and the police
man arrested him -
At a meeting OF tenants and members OF the sth
Assembly District socialist organization which was
held on Friday night headquarters. NO. 3l3 Grand
street, a committee Of ten was appoInted aIleF
some discussion, 10 cooperate with the regular
executive committee in controlling matters pertain
ing TO the rent strike. Charles Land and Florence
Naryolies were appointed spokesmen. TO remain ar
headquarters during business hours, confer Win
landlords and tenants. and supervise the Work gem
orally The two spokesmen were found at tho
headouarters Yesterday, surrounded by group OF
i;a,tenants receiving reports and hard at work
Miss Margolies used English fuently. and avoided
any utterance which might antagonize the land
lords from whom it hoped 70 gain CONCESSIONS
1t was said by of her associates in the work
that she had completed her schoohhS fecthu3.
She did not 10 say much.
Land said that the organization had not In
formed the Board of Health OF any violations.
and had not advised any one else TO do So lie
said that the agitation for the reduction Of rents
was spreading TO Brownsville. Brooklyn where
there were many increases of late years. and that
communications in connection with the purposed
lowering of rents had been received from Browns
VILE as we'll from Chicago. In spite of this,
Brownsville agents are still canvassinS 'He Last
Side in search of tenants.
The first dispossess notices which had to do with
the January rents were served yesterday on three
tenants in the double decker at Nos ZIG and 21s
Cherry street, where David Jacobowitz Is the land
lord There are twenty-nine families in this build
ing and the notices served were to John Bassin.
Who with his family lives in the fourth floor 'front.'
John Meissel who occupies the third floor back. and
John Scheidler of the third floor front These no
tices are returnabIe tomorrow morning in The 18th
District Municipal Court, in East Broadway
At a meeting of the lie heads of families who 1.-Two
In The tenement from No. 40 to 80 Stanton
street. it was decided hold together for reduc-
tions from 81 to s. monthly. 1t was said that
some of the Stanton street landlords had agreed to
make CONCESSIONS but that the suggestions thus
far made were not satisfactory to the tenants.
Morris Hilquist, who last year was candidate
for Governor on the Socialist ticket has been added
tn the list of advisers who will support the rent
strikers.
While the police said that they were ordered not
to use their nightsticks unless it was unavoidable
If WAS said that several persons were injured by
them in dispersing the crowds last night.
Mrs Annie Goldstein. the mother OF four chill
dren who lives at No. IS Eldridge street vas re-
ported at socialist headquarters to have been seri-
ousIy injured by a blow across the right shoulder
with q nightstick. Mrs. Goldstein went to the
meeting with one of her children her side. After
the noce had dispersed the crowd she was helped
her home by friends
Solomon a member Of the Young Friends
Social Auxiliary Circle. which is junior SOCIALIST
organization bore evidence at the clubhouse, In
the shape of q bruiSe on MS Ao7e' VI nav ms '
hit with nightstick.
Joseph c. Kaplan. one of the leaders or the rent
strike said that reports from workers showeo that
the tenants in about five hundred houses hau
handed together to demand lower rents
.rbe landlords a great many cases.. he said
.'sbow a disposition to compromise Where reduc-
tions of So and 50 have been demanded, they have
agreed TO give in for 81 less. However the tenants
feel that their demands are just and that they
should be acceded TO in full.
There will be meeting of the committee or ten
at No 31S Grand street some time this morning,