New-York tribune., 1912-01-05
LAUNDRY STRIKE GROWS
AND CONFERENCES FAIL
Men Sent to Protect Drivers Re-
treat-ClubS and Restaurants
Lack Fresh Linen.
UNION RECOGNITION URGED
Wages, Work Hours for Women
and Drivers Still Matters of
Dispute-0ffer to Arbi-
trate Rejected.

trate Rejected.
Efforts were made yesterday by John j.
Bealin and Colonel Michael j. Reagan, OF
the State Board OF Arbitration, to settle
the strike Of the laundry workers. While
these negotiations were going on laundry
wagons with strikebreaking drivers were
held up, and the drivers were frightened
into giving up their jobs. There were
number OF these attacks, In which STRONG
arm men, sent to protect the strike break
ers. deemed discretion the better part OF
valor. 1t was admitted on all sides yester-
day that the strike had reached large pro-
portions
At the conference in the Fourth Avenue
Building the Steam Laundrymen's Associa-
tion was represented by Julius Langfelder,
president of NJ. Langfelder & Sons steam
laundry; Benjamin Schneider. representing
the Nonparei laundry; Julius Alexander,
representing the Howard laundry; Morris
Robnowitz. representing the Brunswick
laundry, and Louis Loewinstein, represent
ing the Central steam laundry. The con-
ference was harmonious enough until 1t
came to the question Of recognition of the
union. The union representatives insisted
that If there was TO be a settlement II
must be with the union. Employers would
not agree to this Two other points on
which they could not reach any basis OF
settlement were wages and the working
hours for women.
William Armour. president OF Laundry
Workers Union No. 126, who was the head
Of the union committee left the meeting,
saying there was a telephone call for him
from a boss who wanted to settle. This
partly broke up the conference, but sec
Ond attempt Will be made to bring about a
settlement to-day. The other members OF
the labor committee were Joseph Waters,
Thomas Might, T. Gosseen and Leo SigaL
They said the drivers were Overworked and
must have shorter workday. as they
seldom had to work less than fourteen
hours a day.
?. Gosseen. of the union committee bust
ness agent OF Laundry Workers Union No.
a. said later that the strike extended
through the day to small laundry concerns
Of the East Side. of which fifteen hundred
were tied up thirty-hve hundred workers
Joining the strike.
According to Gcsseen, the employers
weeks notice The reply was that the
union was not authorized to do so. Then
the employers wanted TO know if the strike
was authorized by the international union.
The answer was In the affirmative.
The employers wanted to have the de-
mand for a ffty-four- hour week arbitrated,
and this the union committee was willing to
agree TO. but refused to agree that the
strike be declared of pending arbitration.
The employers met yesterday at the Bern
heimer Building. 1l6th street and LenOX
avenue. but IL was said there was little
unaninimity OF sediment among them, and
that there appeared to be fear that some
Of the members might settle with the strik-
ers. According to the strikers, the Eureka
and several smaller laundries had settled.
There was a scarcity Of napkins in some
OF the hotels and large restaurants in the
upper part Of the city and in the clubs, and
the furnishing stores did a large business
IN disposing OF new collars and cuffs
Many Of the hand laundries do some pri-
vate business, besides sending work to the
steam laundries, so that those who knew
where TO go to could still have shirts and
collars laundered.
| talked Of putting in labor saving machinery
which would enable them to do ironing and
| thus become independent Of the hand laun-
dries
The proprietor Of a large restaurant,
which wanted its table linen, sent a wagon
10 the laundry of NJ. Langfelder & Son
| for it. but the wagon was held up by a
crowd Of people and the driver had TO take
II back The restaurant proprietor then
sent an automobile for the articles in
which were several strong arm men be-
sides the driver.
After the automobile had gone several
blocks It was surrounded by strikers, and
the strong arm men and the chauffeur put
UP a half hearted fight and then gave II
! up as a bad job, the driver agreeing 10 take
the automobile back to the restaurant.
The employers reported that the Elks
| club had been expecting delivery for sew
| eral days Of $4,000 laundered articles from
the Langfelder laundry and sent a wagon
for them. There were three patrolmen at
the laundry TO protect the wagon when II
| left with its load, but the driver was met
| bv a mob a block OF two from the laundry,
out Of sight Il the police, and had to turn
| back.
A wagon OF the Howard laundry was
| raided by a mob at Third avenue and 69th
! street. and the driver and helper abandoned
the load.
| Four men, who, the police said. were
| striking laundrymen, were arrested and
locked up last night In the East lOlth street
station on the complaint of Frank Fallacio
proprietor OF the Liberty Steam Laundry
! at no. 3B East l05th street, charged with
! grand larceny. They gave their names as
! Thomas Reilly. Joseph GreiCu, Thomas
! birnbaum and Manuel lIonlg.
! Henry HcrtZman, a driver employed by
| the Liberty Steam Laundry, was collect
! ing laundry I'm the afternoon. when the -four
men halted him at lO5th street and Second
! avenue he said. and he became frightened
! and Jumped off the wagon The men, ne
! said emptied the wagon, tore up many OF
! the articles, and soon the street was lit
| tered with torn sheets and shirts
| A representative Of the international
! / Iauudrv Workers Union called at the
! Headquarters Of the Women's Trade Union
! League Yesterday to ask It's officers for
! the co-operatiUn of the league i'm the strike
! Miss Helen Marot, secretary OF the league
! said the league would gladly help when its
! officers were put I'm possession OF the status
OF the strike and told what they were
| wanted to do,