New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-03
President Whitridge Of Trolley
Co. Sees No Reason for Strike.
MEN INCREASE DEMANDS
Not a Wheel Turns and Mayor
Requests Attorney General to
Take Action on Franchise.

D'''lOplll'Uls III tue 1Oih'i NSi 81 INV
| situation yesterday consisted of the issu-
ing OF statements by strikers and by Pros
ident Whitrdge of the trolley company.
No attempt was made TO run cars and
there was no excitement Mayor Lennon
took hand by serving notice on General
Manager Leslie Sutherland that the cars
must be run in compliance with the terms
of the franchise. He also informed Attor-
ney General Carmody that no cars have
been running since Wednesday at II
o'clock, and called on him TO take such
official action as he deemed proper.
In the mean time the people OF Yonkers
used everything between canes and auto
mobiles to accelerate locomotion. Some
optimists expressed the hope that the
Hudson River might soon freeze over and
thus enable them to skate to New York.
Delivery wagons, and even hayricks, were
pressed into service. but. of course, the
railroads got the bulk OF the business.
The Putnam division of the New York
Central, which runs trains 10 10th street.
connecting with the elevated, and num-
Der Of owners OF auto trucks reaped
harvest. The auto owners ran their
charging 10 cents each way.
The strikers have established headquar-
ters in lIibernia Hall. In Palisade avenue.
Yonkers. and hold daily meetings The
situation * i'm charge OF William Fitz-
gerald, national organizer. and Charles
Lang. president of the Yonkers local
union
The men are determined. they say. that
before they return to work what have
been verbal agreements will have 10 be-
placed in writing.
President Whitridge issued statement
from the Office OF the Yonkers Railroad
Company yesterday. lie says.
ON Saturday last / was Informed that
three motormcn had refused to break in
enc man who had just been gwen "A joo
on the Yonkers Railway. | telcgraphed
Mr. Sutherland to see me on Monday
morning with the men who had refused
10 obey his orders When | saw them
was Informed MAT the man IN question
was an outsider and his appointment a
! onkcIs men were to be employed on the
road.
explained to them fully the circum-
stances OF this man employment. tod
them | had not the least idea OF repldc-
ing them or Of interfering with Mr..
Sutherland's policy OF preferrng local
people. which | thought natural and en-
trely proper. ! also told them that there
could not bee any agreement Oh the sub
ject. and as they presumed To say that
the man ia question should not be ap-
pointed took the whole responsibility
FOR his employment and pointed out that
OF course the orders to break him IN must
De ohcycd ! also told Mr.. sutherland
that I had no objection 10 the man Join
i'm. the union The conversation Was en-
trcly pleasant and | supposed the matter
had been clearly explained and settled.
Tuesday morning crew 10 "hlrh tnlS
man was assigned refused 10 work with
him because he was An outsider and did
not have union card. This crew was
thereafter discharged What else could
have been done Thereafter meeting o.
tho union Was called on Tuesday night
and on Wednesday morning without no
tice 80 me or further explanation the
cars were turned into the barn.
statement has now been issued by
tho men which / have seen in the fon-
kers Herald That statement am
bound 10 declare-in face OF my converse
tions with the men on TUESDAYS IN sun
stance deliberate falsehood. and the
authors OF IL Will. unless n is Withdrawn,
also be discharged II also appears from
this mornings papers tThursdayO that
the Nonkers men consider me pety
tyrant in having made unTeasonanle
riIles three Of which are specified: FIRST
that which prohibits men I'm uniform
from drinking IN saloons. second-that
that which provides that the conductors
should stand on the platform ana con
duct: third-that when man asks 10 oe
excused for sickness lie snonld present Il
doctors certificate.
These rules and others are made in the
interests OF the public. whose servant ]
am Experience all over the countI! mas
shown that they are necessary. ana ] IN
tend that they shall be enforced. | hope
that the good sense 81 the major part OF
the men will bring about the resumption
of traffic as there Is no sensible reason
FOR strike.
The men now demand an increase In
wages from y cents per hour. the pres
ent rate. 10 20 cents per hour. written
agreement ms to working conditions and
the reinstatement OF the discharged men
These demands were forwarded 10 Mr..
Whitrldge last night.
The two Public Service Commissions OF
the state have taken hand In the strike.
Last evening n representative OF the com
mission from the First District who said
he was sent by Chairman Wilcox. called
on General Manager Sutherland FOR list
OF the alleged grievances OF the strikers.
A telegram was received from the up
state commission asking for the same
information, and this was sent the
strikers are now waiting 10 see what ac-
ton. II any. the Public Service boards
will take.
IL Is said the men Of the Wcstchester
lines stand ready 10 go 10 the assistance
OF the strikers II the company attempts
10 IN their places with strike breakers.
HEBREW WRITERS TALK STRIKE.