New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-08
Saws 9,977 Men Signed
Contract, Only 20 of
Whom Are Out.
LITTLE EFFECT, HE
SAYS ON 81 AND TUBE
Building Up Service OF
Green Cars Without
Strikebreakers.

"The strike on the subway and ele'
waited is Of practically negligible ell
feet" President Theodore P. Shonts OF
the Interborough Rapid Transit Com
panv announced in statement issued
at Q o'clock last night from his mead
quarters at the Hotel Belmont.
"A total of 1,15O men went out But
our latest reports show that 1917 men
have signed the individual working
agreement. to upset which the strike
was called. The best evidence that
these agreements were and are salts
factory to the men is the fact that
after two months of aggressive prop
uganda by the union. and in spite OF
violent threats. practically every man
who had signed the agreements STOOD
b. his contract"
In asserting that the New York
Railways Company was building up
steadily the service of the green car
surface lines. Mr.. Shonts emphasized
the fact that at p. m. the company
operated 2i6 cars with their regular
No strkebreakers were
used on the surface lines, he said. Cp
to last night 500 employees OF the
railways company had signed the new
individual contracts. giving increased
wages for the next two years.
Only Four Motormen Strike
Mr.. Shonts made public. with urcon-
cealed qualification. figures showing
that our service is being maintained IN
towerman or swltchman
answered the call of the strike. Four
motormen on the elevated were the
only men in that class of employees to
quit. III. i..,,,,
that our sericy Is being maintained III
a large measure by our own regular
mon Mr. Shonts said when he and
lanes L. Ouackenbush. general coun-
sol for the PETERBOROUGH, received re-
porters at the headquarters last night
1.-THE police are giving our patrons, ana
EMPLOYEES excellent protection. lhefe
sre hound to be outbreaks of violence
here and there by hoodiums,. but the
police are making 1t clear that they
will not stand for disorder. WIN
continuance of adequate protection
there will be no interruption OF subway
or elevated service
Men Stand by Contracts.
"Here's the answer to this whole
strike controversy" cried Mr.. Shonts,
waving q report showing that 9,977 OF
the Interborough men had signed the
individual contracts which William b.
the union organizer, de-
manded must be abrogated. "Out OF
these 9.977 men only, approximately,
twenty were not on hand for work TINS
morning when the strike test came.
Does not this fact express clearly and
forciblv the point of view of the men
If they were dissatisfied with the
agreement. if they had signed when
thew did not understand its terms,
would they be willing to work in face
Of striker
The l15O strikers are recruited
from the following classes Of workers,
according to the Interborough: On the
elevated. four motormen, eight tower
men three switchmen, twenty-three
station agents. PIG gatemen, 442
guards and one special officer; on the
subway, three station agents, twenty
i've gatemen. 24O guards and one esca-
lator man. These figures total 976.
The balance. Mr.. Shonts said, is made
up of track hands, assistants IN the
ear shops and other unskilled laborers.
Situation Improving.
Eve have 1919 cars running on the
New York Railways Company's lines,
A little more than 25 per cent he as
serted "The situation is improving
hourly.
Here is the most significant fact
hat have TO give out he continued.
The law department informs me that
We have $50 individual contracts
signed by employees of the New York
Railways Company. II is encouraging
10 note that these were signed within
he last twelve hours. and after the
smalgamated union had called strike
intended 70 take every man from the
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