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

seat of operations 20 the car barns
had been in contemplation for some
time. and that il had been decided
10 move as soon as the SITUATION
cleared as regarded the lnterborough'
I'VE simply want to get on the
grounds where We can work 10 better
advantage" commented Mr.. Quacken-
bush.
No Quarter on InterbOrough.
Mr.. Shonts was asked why the priv
Iege az rcnouncing the union ana
claiming their old Jobs which was eX-
tended the green car crews was not
opened 20 the striking InterborougA
operatives.
"When the Interborough men went
out" said Mr. Shonts, they. did IL
with their eyes wide open. They mad
their choice Of remaining loyal or
striking. and they elected to strike.
These other poor devils lthe green car
men) went out because they dldn
have the moral or physical courage
To stick. The striking lnterborough
men for the most part, are the young
bucks, the restless fellows. Iney nave
Mr. Sbonts and Mr.. Quackenbush
went on 10 amplify this statement.
Officials take the position that the sur
face line workers were forced out OF
their Jobs. largely by intimidation, and
many were eager to sbrogate their
agreements with the union and come
back into the fold.
Nh Shonts declared that thirty-four
veterans with stripes on their sleeves
had approached Mr.. Hedley very con-
tritely and offered to surrender their
seniority rights and work up from the
bottom if they would be taken back.
This happened before the amnesty
statement was given out
Pink Sheet Plan Posted.
This inducement, known as the pink
sheet PLAN" among the men because OF
the color Of paper II was printed on
was posted in barns about p. IN. or
twenty-five hours before the eNplra-
ton Of the period Of grace. 1t bears
the heading: Office Of the New YORK
Railways Company, l65 Broadway, and
follows:
"To employees Of the New York Rail-
ways Company:
ION September this company is
sued a notice which in part stated that
employees Of the company who either
encouraged or participated in the strike
would lose their seniority IN the ser
vice.
In view Of the long and faithful ser
vice rendered BY a large number OF TINS
company's emulOyes, together with the
fact that we are convinced that they
were driven by fear, and knowing IN
many cases they were driven BY IN
tmidation threatening their personal
safety and that OF their families, 10
join the strike movement against their
BEST judgment. il is deemed only falr
20 give TO such employees hnal op-
portunity to return to Sheir positions.
Protection Is Assured.
Assuring you that all men will be
given proper protection, We therefore
want 10 give all such employees an op-
Dortuuity 10 return 10 the company
service and restore them to their
seniority prior to the trouble, OF
course. with the understanding that
the company reserves the right TO de-
eide whether 3r not q man shall be
leinstated. q,
"All employees are therefore notified
that in order 10 avail themselves OF
the privilege of being restored to the
company's service and regain their
seniority they must make application
70 be restored at their respective
reporting places az once, as the time
under which these privileges are
granted expires at l ?. m, September
., 1916.
upon the expiration Of such time
the company will proceed TO operate
its cars with such new men as IT re-
Quires.'
Old Employees Return.
The notice brought a stream Of men
10 the downtown Offices. Application
blanks were distributed and the men
busted themselves filling out the re-
CURED questions with happy counte-
nances. Mr.. Shonts received several
Of the applications personally and re-
marked on the intelligence Of the men.
"There's lot Of human nature in
this" said the marlborough pres dent.
"A lot Of the applications came from
men who had left the service from one
cause or other and are anxious 10 get
hack. You know this is somewhat Ike
steam railroading It's bug. Il gets
into the blood. Once a traction man,
always one. some say. Men who have
been engaged in other occupations are
returning 20 the service for no other
reason than 90 be back at the old busi-
ness
Denies Reported Misunderstanding.
Early ir the day q statement was is
sued from the lntcrborough Offices, an
swering the assertion the strike was
due % a Misunderstanding. The state
ment follows:
"Mr. Shonts states that any sugges-
ton that an error or Misunderstanding
was responsible FOR the strike on the
New York railways, BE- disposed Of by
the fact that on September 2 Mr..
Fitzgerald, Of the Amalgamated Union,
was widely quoted in the newspapers
as saying:
We will tie up every car line be-
tween Yonkers and Coney Island, II
the lntcrborough does not acccde 20
our cemands'
The alleged error did not take place
until September g. whereas on the
night Of September, the union mass
meeting. giving the analgamated Off
GERS power 20 declare a strike on the
lnterborough, invited the cooperation"
% the New York railways.