New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-06

panys StenograpnerS, hedley Ieluseu
TO discuss anything but the contract
question with the committee, declining
its requests that the natter be arbi-
trated or referred to The Public ser,
vice Commission for settlement and
insisting that the only settlement pos
sible was to take each individual con-
tract 20 the courts. :,
After the short but ugly word had all
but been passed and Mr.. Hedley had
threatened to clear the room the meet
ing broke up. the union men gong 10
the Mayors office and Mr.. Hedley 10
the work of organizing new forces 70
meet any contingency that might arse.
The stenogrspher's minutes show
that the conference opened with re-
quest that the contracts now IN exist,
ence be returned for cancellation ana
a refusal by Mr.. Hedley.
Hedley Interrupts.
Tf il can be shown to YOU" sug-,
gested Fitzgerald, that these men dio
not sign these contracts Of tnelr own
free will and they did not know wnsi
they were doing and the intent ana
purpose Of
"You cannot satisfy me-" interrupted
the general manager. You W0uiu
have to 60 to the courts with that'
Couldn't we bring about Gulcker
result by letting the Public service
Commission, which has authority 70
take evidence under oath, listen 70 lne
NATTER" asked Louis B. Fridlger'
counsel for the men.
at has no jurisdiction replied
James L. Ouackenbush, general attor-
ney for the company.
In the City Hall Mr.. Fitzgerald ana
his associates met Theodore Rousseau
secretary TO the Mayor. They calleu'
they said, in keeping with promise
made Mayor Mitchell TO consult WIN
him when the situation became acute
The secretary explained that Mt,
Mitchell was difficult to reach, put ne
would try to get him.
Union Heads Statement.
Tho union officials last night issued
q statement, in which they SAID:
AT the outset, after the strike set
Element was made through the enorts
of the chairman Of the Public Service
Commission and the Mayor, we all
thought that the spirit OF the agree
ment would be carried out and NUT
ual understanding established that
would provide means Of adjusting any
further difficulties and avoid any strlHe
in the future.
Immediately the officials of the New
York Railways Company refused 10
comply with the terms OF the STRIKE
settlement and it was necessary Tor
their employees to take strike vote
and again, through the efforts OF the
chairman OF the Public Service COM
mission and the Mayor, an understand
ing was reached. However, the attl-
tude Of the company's officials did not
change in their opposition TO the prog
ress for advancement in the organiZa-
ton Of their employees.
Time and time again in our confer
ences with the officials of the New
York Railways Company their attention
has been called to the unfair methods
and tactics used by the under officials
of the properties.
Company Shows Opposition.
During the conferences on the de.
mands of the New York Railways Com
pany's employees the work of organiza-
ton was being promoted among the en-
ploves of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company. Demands were pre-
scented to the company, and lmmedl-
ately the company again showed It's
spirit of opposition and antagonlsm TO
the men and the organization that they
desired to join, by submitting to the
men a contract of employment, requlr-
ing them to sign the same without
knowing of its sweeping effect.
at the first conference between en-
ployes of the Interborough Rapid Tran
sit Company and officials OF the COM
pany, held on August 81, 1916, this
contract of employment first came to
the attention of the committee and the
true purposes and intent OF the same
were brought out in the open. The COM
mittee requested Mr.. Hedley that no
more signatures be sought until the
men could be informed what Mr.. He'd
lev and Mr.. Quackenbush, the attorney
for the company, admitted was true,
/. g.. that any employe who signed tins
contract would be precluded from JOIN
ing any organization or participating
in any movement for the betterment OF
his working conditions or for an IN
crease of wages for period OF two
years.
"The committee on being informed
what the effect OF the agreement would
be upon the employees, Immediately
called mass meeting on Friday even
ing. September !, 1916, and full re
port was made TO them, the result be-
INC that q resolution was unanimously
adopted by more than 5000 men OF the
Interborough lines, instructing their
officers and committees to demand from
the company the contracts that were
signed by the men.
Discharge Threatened.
"To further show the company's
tactics of intimidation and coercion
thev have issued bulletins stating that
any employe who will encourage the
present movement will be discharged.
AT the conference with the officials
Of the company, this morning, and the
committee. the requests and demands
of the men for the return OF the con-
tracts which had been signed were
placed before the company. II abso-
iutely refused to return them, stating
that the only procedure that the indI-
vidual man could resort to for relief
would be through the courts.
"The attitude of the company this
morning was one which shows that 1t
is attempting TO force the men into
strike. and that has been further
proved during the day. Men have been
locked out who have refused to sign
the contract of employment. They have
further placed their strikcbreakers in
among the men and they have been in
timidating the employees, insulting
them. doing everything in their power
to provoke the men to suspend work.
Let il be understood that if the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company
and its policies and intentions are to