New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-12
TEACHERS FACE MAYOR
HIS HONOR'S TESTY MOOD.
DISKS About Strike Threat-SGLdrg
Fight Led by McCarren.

%<NN u A.
It was without much nope Of success that the
women teachers left the Council Chamber in the
city Hall yesterday morning after hearing on
their equal pay bill. Mayor Mcclellan had vetoed
xhesr bill. or similar one. once before. and his
manner yesterday morning did not indicate that he
Is any more favoraby disposed to the cause now
perhaps the rumor of a strike on the part Of the
teachers had got upon his nerves. At any rate he
was in anything hut good humor He dealt out sar-
sssrn fmpartialy to both sides, threatened TO clear
chs room IL there was any demonstration ana
seemed anxious about the strike
did you suggest that II I. iE accordance with my
esal and constitutional rights, should veto this bill
the teachers ought 10 go striker" he said to
Miss Grace Strachan president Of the Interborough
gAssociation of Women Teachers and leader of the
tnsurgent pelagogues. who opened the debate
Miss Strachan replied that she had not and would
not so advise the teachers, but that two lawyers
had
I'VE consider ourselves the mothers of the chill
sEren Entrusted TO our care she added. and We
MOULD not think Of being false TO our trust
The Mayor thought il unfortunate that such a
statement should have been made as II implied a
threat 10 the executive. and when Senator Patrick
u McCarren. who Immediately followed Miss Stra-
chan. took the floor he said:
May ask if you were one of the prominent law
ve-s who advised the teachers striker
Mr. McCsrren pleaded not guilty. but Ezra A Tut
gle another lawyer. confessed without waiting TO
be interrogated that ne was in favor OF moral
force
81 have told Miss strachan" he said, that this
1ebt with never be won. by moral suasion alone 1
think moral force Will be necessary. and am not
shaneJ TO confess that if they cannot get justice
a should like the fifteen thousand women
1xsaohers of our system. walk Strikes and boy
colts seem very despicable in the eyes Of the OPP
Az,ressor who viii grant justice if only peacefuI
szneans are used hut they are the means by "hlcn
fbe weaker element has always gained its rights
-Do YOU think the teachers will strike II 90 not
stEn the biIl?" inquired the Mayor
81 am sorry TO say do not answered MI TUT
-. But # YOU continue in this office e.
st-od Forbid interrupted the Mayor piousiE-
OF YOU or your successor continue TO refuse jus
dee TO the teachers Mr.. futile continued some
,-her way Of gaining IT viii be found
TO Rev. Alexander Irvine also dealt in dark
sorebodings-
IF the scales of justice do not act he said the
teachers must take the sword-the sword OF democE
rzcy. which is the ballot
The Council Chamber was filed TO overhowlng
fer the hearing. and the teachers were supported
nv small army of taxpayers and labor unionists
taSrvers clergymen ard presidents OF women
-l,,bs The Central Federated Union sent five dele
Gates and the Central Labor Union Of Brooklyn
sent three The City Federation Of Womens Clubs
rs represented by its president Mrs Belle de
Rivera and the State Federation by Its Vlce-pres-
s6ent Mrs William Cumming Story Mrs LaIile
blake represented the SuIAIdS4SlS anu
A>Frr Gilbert z Jones and Mrs. Julian Heath were
l,n.-. on behalf OF the anti-suragists. Assembly
man James z. Foley and Senator Reuben L. Gled-
r,sII who fathered the bill IN the Assembly and the
s.nat. were there, and Miss Strachan had list
xf seventv-tvo persons, all Of whom were ready TO
-.-4- ~ there had been time. She laid the
table the original signatures OF twenty thousand
tsxuayers who favor the bill and expressions OF
approval from associations representing 2OoOoo tax
ravers and. in addition, the Mayor received i've
him sify he
Opposed 10 the bill were the Board OF Education
the Allied Real Estate Interests, the male teachers
and associations Of taxpayers The Mayor re-
essved conmunica tons from twenty such organlza-
lions asking that he veto the bill
The Mayors sarcasm directed chiefly against
those who could not his questions about the
adequacy OF the bill accomplish its alleged Cd
sect It having been charged by the enemy that
ske bill is equal pay measure only IN NAME INC
Mayor asked nearly every speaker for Information
IN fb3s subject and finding that they stood for the
rzancple of equal pay, while leaving the details TO
others. he made cutting remarks about persons
WHO came to speak OF behalf Of a bill they hadn't
read He wanted light and leading. he said
tsr1ly TO Mr.. Irvine when the latter objected to
.'oribbng about technicalities." and later he as
serted the only information he could get on the
point at issue that Senator McCarren said So
John c Freund said he appeared on behalf Of the
teachers because they were suffering from that
same discrimination on account Of which he left
bis country. Germany forty years ago
How do you know there is discrimination in
this bill?' inquired the Mayor. Have you read tt?
cit is enough for that the Legislature of my
state has passed it by overwhelming majority"
answered Mr. Freund
'-Do you usually take your principles from the
Lesislature2' asked the Mayor
when a vote is overwhelming think there must |
be good for It," said Nj. Freund. Il have
that much faith in the Legislature"
I'm glad you have remarked the Mayor dryly. |
With the opposition the Mayor equally IN /
successful Frank Demuth. of the West Side Tax
payers Association. began by saying that he had |
read the bill. and ii didn't eQuaze salaries at all
20 was merely gigantic salary grab bill
won't you tell me- asked the Mayor, why it !
doesn't equalze salaries?''
Mr. Demuth ignored the question and INDUCED in
@ burst Of righteous wrath about the methods used
By the teachers in securing the passage bill
That subject isn't before me-" said the Mayor
sThe bill is before me-
~very we'll said Mr.. Demuth Il WIFI get down
70 the proposition
81 wish you would" said the Mayor. But he
cfdn't.
Miss strachans explanation Of the bill was that