Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-04
STRIKE MAY TIE
Up WHOLE STATE
CONTINUED from First Page,

there is a strike on SO far as their sup.
ply of gas Is concerned.
One of the labor organizers in charge
of the gasworkers' strike, telephoned
this morning to H. d. Whitcomb, gen
eral manager of the Public Service Gas
settlement of the strike by arbitration.
Mr.. Whitcomb declared he was quite
willing TO meet any committee composed
of the company's workers, but would
not listen to them If accompanied by an
organizer.
w have nothing to do with the
Industrial Workers of the World" said
Manager Whitcomb over the phone,
land I do not see why l should settle
any local difficulties with a profes.
sional organizer from New York city,
Not only will the company refuse to
deal with any I. w. w. members but 1t
will not meet a committee of It's own
workers II they act In behalf of the
l. w. w"
The labor organizers efforts to ar
range for a peace meeting owe the
telephone were futile and Manager
Whitcomb refused to discuss the details
of the labor difficulties over the wire.
At the meeting of the gas workers
last night in Karaukshti's Hall, 1853
Ferry street, II was announced that the
Industrial Workers of the World, Gas
Workers Union, Local No. 545, had been
organized to protect Its members. Pres
ent at the meeting were National Or
g~anizer Thomas Flynn and District Or
ganizers Dennis F. Breen and Bruno
wagner. They told of the conditions
which prevailed in Lawrence, Mass,
during the strike OF the textile workers
there, and declared that the men en-
ployed by the gas company here are not
properly treated.
THE men are well organized" he con-
tlnued, land are we'll equipped 10 I'M
dertake a strike They are outraseously
overworked and underpaid, and they
have been waiting until the time came
when. perfectly organized, they could
back up their demands. If the Public
Service Gas Company refuses ow de-
mands we will call out every fireman
and passer from Its plants throughout
the State"
According to the strikers they are
paid $40 to $3.50 a day for a twelve
hour day. Some of these are reputed
to earn less than 80 a week after work
ing e%ighty-four hours. Gas company
officials asserted today that no laborer
Is paid less than $3.50 a day, n while
that sum is the minimum. men earn as
much as $3.50 a day. The strikers de-
mand an eight-hour day and an increase
of twenty-five cents a day.
II is feared by those intimate with
the workings of the Industrial Workers
of the World hat the gas strike here
will assume dangerous proportions II
the company officials continue to disre-
gard the organizers efforts to settle
the difficulty amicably. The fighting
spirit of the labor organization Is rec
ognized In the mem who presided at
last nights meeting and who have APP
parently taken charge of the fight.
Mayors Aid Sought.
A delegation of members from the lis
sex Trades Council called upon Mayor
Haussling at the City Hall today and
asked the executive to do all in his
power to bring about a conference be.
tween the contractors and the labol
heads. Secretary Henry Hilfers declared
that the labor heads were willing to ar
bitrate and submit to any satisfactory
terms that could be agreed upon. He
wished that the parties could get together
SO that the present contracts that existed
could be completed.
The contractors met this afternoon at
the offices of the Newark Paving Com
pany 1t was deemed advisable to notify
them of the stand now taken by the
laborers.
The mayor explained to the committee
that he was ashamed to think that the
strike would mar the peace and name OF
the industrial city.
Secretary Hilfers denied that the In
dustrial Workers of the World had any
hand in the present situation. 81 will
not say that they will remain away" he
declared, "for 1t seems that unless some
immediate action Is taken we will have
a repetition OF the affairs at Passaic."
Dominick D'Allesandro, national presi-
dent of the H%odcarrlers and Laborers'
Union, declared that he was in favor
of an immediate settlement. He urged
the signing of a three-year contract.
Those present at the conference with the
mayo today were Henry Hilfers, chair
man; William j. Bremen. Henry Hebe-
Ter, Harry Lohse, George A. Disney and
Alessio Lacchl, the latter n representa-
tive of the striking laborers,
AS the result of the riot in Kearny
yesterday. when Chief of Police Tolen,
fighting alone, shot down two OF the
strikers, after being knocked down and
beaten by the mob, Lisunda De Vouto,
of so Jefferson street, this city, is lying
at point Of death in ST. Michael's Hos
pital. A bullet lodged In his spine. He
was also shot In the arm. Chief Toler
is reported as recovering today at the
German Hospital.
The twenty-seven strikers who were ar
rested by the police after a general riot
call he'd been sounded by the continuous
ringing of the Kearny fire bells will
probably be arraigned tomorrow night,
1t is expected that Chief Tolen's condi,
ton will be much improved by TINT time
The outcome of the chiefs injuries viii
be considered In the determination OF
the charge against the strikers.
1t was announced today by the Kearny
police that should a iail delivery be at
tempted by the strikers, the police will
be reinforced sufficiently TO repel ans
49,