New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-03
BEEF AN" STANDING PAT D0|N It NOW FOR CAUSE
Walters in DoIan'S and Hitch
cocks Won't Join Strike.

1t was bean day yesterday along Park
Row. From the Owl, the Puritan and many
another hostelry along the Bowery came
those who feared that the walters in
| Dolan's, Hitchcocks and other places
would go on strike. They wanted to get
plenty OF beans aboard before the calamity
| befell. The oldtimers shook their heads
obviously and recolected the strike of the
Magnolia Association, some fifteen years
ago, at Smith e. McNells. That was proof
enough that unrest was not confined to
Fifth avenue and Broadway. so they went
along Park Row and ate beans and beans.
Not one Of the genial hosts dreamed Of
| the reason but all wondered at the sud-
den hunger and affiuence betrayed by their
customers. 1t was whispered that at
| Dolans 40 cents worth had been eaten at
a sitting. The explanation was simple. All
day long there had been unusual activity
| among the orphans and crpples who tell
their woes to Brooklyn homegoers. lmagi-
nations had been strained to the utmost.
| Coins had dropped with a pleasant tnkle
and the wherewithal for beans was at
hand.
| Peter Meehan. "Beef-ans" brother who
shaves the shadow off pillars of beef in
| Johns absence. scoffed at the idea of a
strike. IN fact, the state Of affairs at
Dolans gave him reason to scott Hardly
q manor woman. for women there are at
Dolans-but had been there for ten years
at the least. "Bil" Steel, the veteran Of
them all, returned from a vacation spent
! in California yesterday and got to work
4, right off Bill had heard Of the strike
in far Off California, and while he shared
Peters confidence. he was taking no
chances
Henry j. Smith. Adam Brady. Emil
Greenbaum and Henry Nern. who concoct
the succulent 'off-the- griddles" have been
making them for twenty years each. The
women in the pantry-Mlss O'Donnell. Miss
Mixer. Miss Luca and Mrs. Smith-are
still older In the service. They began when
mere girls, It was tactfully explained. A
| majority Of the walters and bakers there
moved with "Beef-an' " nineteen years ago
| when he left his place at No. Park Row
Az for the union. they all belong to that
John Meehan himself made sure OF 1t. The
walters themselves were somewhat reiuct-
ant because they were getting a dollar
week more tnan the union scale, but
"Beef-an' " insisted. He paid their en-
trance fees, and didn't reduce their wages
Strike? Swell chance.
II there was to be strike il would
come from patrons who object to the ga fety
razor method of cutting the beef. This.
however, was remarked upon only by the
enemies OF Meehan. who are mostly men
any one would be proud TO have for enc
mics Meehan and his uncle we're selling
"beef-an'" long before the safety razor
was invented. Big Tim" Sullivan once re-
marked that Dolan started up in business
on the day they let the water into the East
River.
At Dement'S and at Hitchcocks too. the
marvellous consumption OF beans was in
comprehensive to either bosses or walters
strike was not 80 much feared as a
bean famine. Many OF the walters at
Hitchcocks were members of the old Mag
nolia Association. which came TO grief in
the strike at Smith q McNelrs. They said
they had had enough of striking then. Mr.
Mcneil refused to listen to their demands.
and not one OF them ever got his place
back
But in spite OF all the hopeful talk resi-
dents of the Bowery remained sunk in
dependency and all night long they ate
beans and beans.