The sun., 1908-01-06
RENT STRIKE FLAGS LOWERED
POLICE HAUL DOWN RED BAN.
NERS FROM FIRE ESCAPES.

A Little Row That Led TO Calling Out tho
Reserves end TO no Arrcst-Pro-
test From One Landlord VINO Has
Not Raised Rents In Years. He says.
The elusive East Side rent strike received
o Rew impetus yesterday when the families
dwelling in several tenemsnts on Cherry
and Rutgers streets hung out banners to
the breeze bearing such words as Notice TO
the Public, this House is on STRIKE and
the Madison street police olambered out on
fire escapes 20 tear the red flags down. In
most cases the tenants failed TO emulate
Barbara Erietchie and hauled down their
colorS whenever a bluecoat hove In sight.
but In one or two cases the police had a
small riot on their hands.
Policemen Lang and Fahey Of the Madison
street station while travelling down Cherry
street In the afternoon noticed five red flags
adOrning the fire escapes OF the five story
tenement at 204. Each banner bore some
inscription such a. Rent Strike and This
House 10 on Strike" The two policemen.
who were in plain clothes. went TO the
station house and had a talk with Capt.
SchlOttman. The captain thought the nags 3
ought to come down.
Lang and Fahey went back to 2O4 and
ascended the stairs. When they told the
tenants to take in the hags the twenty-five
families united in vocal protest. There
upon Lang went to the upper hOors 90 pull
in the nagB himself. leaving Fahey TO tend to
the second floor. Lang gathered in few.
but when he came down TO the second floor
he found Fahey in q corner surrounded by
angry folks armed with piping, chairs and
a small gas stove. Fahey was holding them
on the best he could. though hampered by
Mrs. IsidOr PlaCke. young woman who
chung to him tightly. Lang showed his
badge and began beating the crowd back.
Incidentally he called for help. and the
reserves from the station house arriving
In a hurry pulled Mrs. Plaoke away and
dispersed some three h undred bowling
persons from in front Of the house. Lang
and FahSy locked up Mrs Placke's hus-
band for incitinR a not and for assault.
Fahey says Placke hit him on the head.
The police got q number OF flags from
the tenements at 1876 and 100 Monroe street
and 2SS and Isl Cherry street. These flags
were simply red and bore no legend.
Early last night David Forman, aged II
came breathlessly into the Madison street
station. where Lieut.. John levers was con-
templating the hags so far collected, and
informed him that there was a flag raisin 3
going on at a Rutgers street. This tene-
ment is Ave stories high and is owned by
Samuel Tischman. About twenty families
live in 1t. David explained that a lady on a
iire escape was eXClaiming "Hurrah!" in
Russian that whoever passed might he
informed of her Joy.
Meanwhile Policeman ROdman, ON post
in front OF the decorated tenement sEied
a small boy putting out big red flag with
a tiny inch square American flag in one
corner from a window on the third floor.
You'd better take that in, son, or there'll
be troubled" shouted the policeman, where
upon the banner was hastily lowered. Rod
man also noticed a similar flag floating
from the fire escape on the second floor.
He climbed the stairs and came into a room
where a lot OF men were smoking. they
said they hadn't put the flag out. RodIpan
said he'd take it in anyway, but when he
opened the window it was gone.
An elderly Hebrew mad as hops ap-
preached Rodman and said that he had been
the landlord Of IS Rutgers street for seven
teen years and hadn't raised the rent once
in ali that time.
Nov" he cried, these ungrateful folks
are striking for lower rent" Rodman oon-
doled with him as we'll as he could.
Apparently there is not enough red bunt-
| ing to 20 around in Rutgers street. for
lately some Of the tenement famili es have
been hanging out red tissue paper. which
crackles in the breeze till strong gust
tears il down.
From I7O Monroe street Policeman Hines