New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-30
OPPOSE WH|TR|DGE PLAN
Divisions of Street Railway
Employees Send Petition.
RECEIVE EMPHATIC REPLY
Suspected of Humbug and
Urged to Strike or Stop
Talking About It.

The employees of the Yonkers and West
chester railway companies and members
of Divisions 40 and 1873 OF the Anal
gamated Association of Street and Rail-
way Employees of America are firmly
against the proposed plan OF Frederick
W. Whitridge, president of the Yonkers
Street Railway and the Westchester
Electric Railway Company, to establish
what is known as the Third Avenue Provi-
dent Association among the employees.
In petition signed by $50 employees a
protest is made against the formation or
such an association.
The petition, which is presented by y.
Charles Lang. chairman of the joint con-
ference board, Divisions 40 and 4sS, and
j +. Schiller, secretary. states that the
Amalgamated Association is fully capable
OF taking care of the wants and condt-
lions Of the employees, and also informs
the officials of the company that expendi-
lures OF money in the interest of the en-
ployes would be preferable in the form OF
wages.
The petition also gives several COMPARE
sons of the different benefits OF the provi-
dent association proposed by Mr.. Whit
ridge, as against those offered by the
association. Once member, the MEM
bership can be held as long as the
member desires, whether he is following
the occupation of a street railway en-
ploye or not. On the other hand the
Third Avenue Proyident Association Is
controlled and operated by officials OF
the company, and, further, the member
ship Of the individual ceases at the ter
mination OF his employment with the
company.
The petition states the association has
for the last five years paid thousands OK
dollars In sick and death benefits. Moro
than two-thirds of the membership or
Divisions 4sO and 1875 are now eligible to
an insurance Of 500 in case of death, and
in short time will be eligible to the $50
death benefit.
In letter addressed to Mr.. Lang and
the secretary OF the joint conference
board Mr.. Whitridge says:
On Thursday last | received from you
long letter purporting TO be on the be-
half Of $40 employees OF the Yonkers and
Westchester railway companies, arguing
that Divisions 400 ard 1875 of the Inter-
national Amalgamated Association or
Street and Electric Railway Employees of
America were much better and conferred
greater benefits upon its members than
the Third Avenue Benefit Association.
As far as the association Is concerned
it speaks for itself IL would cost the men
one-hdlf of the amount paid by them TO
Divisions 4so and 1873, and | believe that
your wives and children would say the
benefits derived from it were much great
err than those conferred by those diyi-
sions. ! do not, however, urge anybody
to Join the Third Avenue Association, and
| would never undertake to compel any.
much less every employe 70 join II, which
is what you have demanded l shall do
with your Divisions 400 and is8. The in
vitation 10 the Yonkers and Westchester
men was for their own benefit, they can
take II or leave 1t without preJudicing
themselves in any way.
| am frank to say TO you that, so far as
have gone in looking into Divisions 40
and 49S OF the International Amalgamated
Association OF Street and Electric Rail-
way Employees OF America, l am afraid
there is good deal OF humbug about
them. II that is an erroneous impression
II is easy for you TO remove 1t. and II you
do so l shall be the first TO apologize TO
you for my unjust suspicious. | am also
bound TO say that II find my suspicious
are justified / shall be inclined 10 think
that IL is my duty to exert the same
those divisions which you have asked me
TO exert TO compel all my present and
future employees 10 join them.
Finally, / want TO say TO you that for
the last two years l have been constantly
hearing rumors and mutterings about a
proposed strike In the City of Yonkers.
II is apparent to me that such agitation
is brought about by external pressure on
Divisions 400 and 49S OF the International
Amalgamated Association OF Street and
Electric Railway Employees OF America
The effect OF all this is 10 make discipline
lax and to make the employees discon-
tented and disloyal TO the company. This
cannot go on, and I shall be much obliged
If you do not intend to strike, If you
would stop talking about Il.
A request for conference in tho
threatened strike was sent to Mr.. Whit
ridge yesterday by Mayor Fiske OF Mount
Vernon, Mayor Lennon Of Yonkers end
Mayor Waldorf OF New Rochelle. They
acceded to the car mems request TO try to
effect peaceful settlement OF the differ
ences that have arisen over the matter
~ recoQDfzipp he