The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-28

New York, Dec. 2s.- Six hundred wo-
men, the majority carrying baLies in their
arms. invaded an empty sweatshop at IL
markable Indignation meeting In protest
against the extortionate rents OF the East
Side.
Most of the women came from tenement
houses in Madison, Cherry, Monrie, Hen
~ and Eldridge streets. IL Immediately
became apparent that the strike, which
was first confined to comparatively mar
row limits, has now so widely reached
out that IL practically involves the whole
East Side below Houston street.
At midnight last night hundreds OF wo-
men stood near the Manhattan terminal
OF the Pike street bridge. now under con-
struction. making ringing speeches In
outcry against the greed of East Side
landlords.
Feeling reached such n pitch yesterday
among the rent strikers on the East Side
that a landlord was burned In effigy "A
woman presided at the incineration. she
was Mrs. Sarah Hellman. who. with her
husband and three children, occupies two
dingy rooms I'm the great double-decker
tenement house at ZIG Cherry street. the
tenants OF which have taken up arms for
lower rents.
From an upper story Mrs. Hellman was
addressing an excited crowd I'm the street
below when four boys came running up
the street with dummy constructed 70
resemble the owner. Placing the efigy
directly below the woman orator, one OF
the lads applied the match and added to
the flames by dashing a can OF kerosene
TO tho embematic landlords face.
TENANTS WINNING.
Leaders in the East Side rent strike
achieved a series OF victories yesterday,
which had the effect OF calling many
more thousands to the standard OF insur-
rection.
One landlord was forced to capituiate.
agreeing to lower the rent 81 month for
every tenant at the beginning OF the new
year. His example Will most likely be
followed by two other landlords today.
In the fight against landlords who defy
their claims the tenement dweilers decid-
ed last night TO ask for injunctions which
will prevent the collection of rents for all
houses In which the sanitary and health
laws are being violated. Such injunc-
tions, IL is said, can be obtained for a
great majority or the tenement houses or
the East Side, which. In spite of the ever
cared for that they have become the
breeding places of vermin and disease.
Woman still plays predoininating
part in the war against the extoruonaie
er of the strikers a woman, but IL was
woman yesterday that won for the strik-
ers their first victory.
This heroine was Miss Celia Arken, a
blue-eyed Jewess. who headed the little
army OF striking tenants living at Nos.
s. and 20 Stanton street. DR. j. Wasscr-
man. dentist, living In Rivington street.
the lesec landlord. who stated at tho be-
ginning OF the strike that he would not
lower the rent single cent. ~ no lost
every one of the 60 families housed un-
derncath the double-deckcrs roof, was
T. finally forced to lower the rent 81 a
month for every tenant.
AT the instigation of the strikers. DIR.
Wasserman was ordered by the health
H.. rrlsa
the plumbing OF Nos. es and 20 sstanton
street. Thb WIS followed up by "A visit
from Miss Arken. The demands OF the
tenants were presented by the girl lead
cr. whereupon the landlord replied:
II Will lower the rent 81 a month all
round II the tenants will pay for the
plumbing repairs.
After much parleying. Dr. wasserman
surrendered 10 an unconditional decrease.
When the tenants received the news
from Miss Arken 200 OF them fiocked Into
the street. and with the young Jewess at
their head. marched. singing and dancing,
around the block.
GET OUT. SAYS BINGHAM.
Three city departments have been called
on by the strikers to force recalcitrant
landlords TO terms-the health end tenc-
mcnt house officials and the police. Re
ports Of violations OF health and SANTA
ton laws are flooding the frs. two de-
parfmsnts.
In their request for aid from the police
department, however, the strikers met
with a rebuff. When a committee consist
Ing OF Joseph G. Kaplan and 4. Newman
called upon Police Commissioner Blng-
ham and asked him for n detail 10 guard
the mass meeting In Rutgers square to-
morrow he was quoted by the committee
as saying:
III sou people can't pay the high rents
Of this country. why don't YOU get out"
Organization OF the strikers continues
rapidly. OF the 10000 I'm the rebellion.
400 have pledged themselves TO stand by
each other IL threatened with eviction AS
soon as one striking family Is thrown into
the street. II will be provided with home
Hith another family. For example. Mrs.
Hyman Bleticr OF No. 1g Allen street,
who Was Gspossessed with her fre cs,i,-
6ren Thursday night. after spending sl-
most a whole night In the street. was