The sun., 1916-09-11
BLAME FOR STRIKE
TO Be FIXED TO-DAY
Mayor Mitchell and Oscar s.
Straus Seek Light on the
Broken Agreement.
TO CHARGE 4 PLOT
\. W. Whitridge Announces
Determination to Crush
Mems Organization.

Mayor Mitchell and Oscar 5. Straus.
chairman of the Public Service Commits
sion. a. underwriters Of tho August
peace agreement between the Third and
Second Gnu lines and the employees
Of those roads. this morning will demand
from the sisncrs Of the pact the reason
for its violation Saturday night.
Frederick W. whitridgc. president OF
the Third avenue. in n letter to Mayor
Mitchell yesterday announced the end
OF the agreement go far as his COM
any IL concerned. Entire blame rests
with the union, he said. In retaliation
for the breach he will crush unionism
on his road, he said. by refusing en-
pioyment TO and all members Of the
Amalgama.cd Association Of Street and
Electric Railway Employees.
The Amalgamated officers will en-
deavor to vindicate their action to-day
by telling to the %guarantors OF he peace
agreement the history OF a plot against
the existence of their organization.
Theodore r. Shonts. president. and
Frank Hedley. vice president and gen.
eral manager Of tho marlborough and
New York Railways. Joined with Whit
ridge or August 30. they will charge. to
nullify the contract drawn by the Mayor
and Straus. Every act and word OF
these operators since that time, the
union will allege. was designed TO bring
on the present strike.
Denial ~ President shomts.
President Shonts yesterday asserted
neither he nor his associates has had
any intention of battling with the union.
The gage Of battle was thrown down
by the union without provocation," he
said.
Officials OF the Interborough and the
New York Railways in the Public Ser
Vice hearings of the last week have beer
accused by william H.. Fitzgerald. strike
leader. and Louis Fridiger. counsel for
the .Analgamated. Of acting In bad faith
ever since August 80. the day after
Whitridge returned from Europe.
Whitridge. they added yesterday. acted
with the same ack OF sincerity las,
week when he made no acknowledgment,
or answer TO the demands made upon
bbTu ~ u uiiipH. III HlS oWn Deudl
whitridse insists he kept within the let.
ter ami spirit OF the August I aRreemen,
by appointing on Saturday Lindley NJ
Garrison. formerly Secretary Of War. Ia
net ms arbitrator in his disputes with
the men.
Through the whole day yesterday the
paper battle vas waRed furiously. GU
Of It all this one fact was made certain
The strike OF Saturday has solidi1et
company sentiment against the union
and IL IL sure now that the railroad oper,
ators Of the city will act in concert te
| out the strikers.
separate Pence Now Impossible.
Although this has not been put ir
writing. none Of the roads that has beer
struck against will make n separate
peace. Whatever terms will end ths
struggle will be terms that will he &C,
cepted by all. So. In effect. there IL Q
union Of magnates against the Anal
Eamated.
Neither Mayor Mitchell nor Chairman
Straus would discuss In advance Of thei,
inquiry to-day any part Of the situation
Both. however, are determined 10 sift Il
the bottom the causes that Terminated
the agreement they worked 80 hard I,
| put through last month. In his persona
capacity neither will endeavor to restor,
peace. Whatever steps are taken vii
be the measures that ordinarily woul,
he employed by the Mayor OF the cit,
and the chairman Of the Public s.rvic,
Commission Both are soreiy dis
couraged by the sad fate of their pre-
vious effort.
whitridGe Letter to Mayor.
Here Is the letter President Whitrids
addressed to the Mayor yesterday:
Il see by the press that you a. one o
the underwriters of the contract q
August I. which o so kindly volun
teered TO urge upon the traction com
panles upon that date. have faithful.
endeavored to induce the Third avenu
employees to keep their engagement.
"They have not suggested that ther
Is anything hut the most scrr rulous goo
faith on our part and yet. " hout an
reason or excuse whatever, except tha
Mr.. Fitzgerald says ne recognizes tn
hand OF Mr.. Shonts In my letters. the
elected 10 strike last nieht. That I
obviously n breach Of their agreemei
n they have apparently spoken an
behaved not as parties to a contract bu
M members of n secret society, bound I
obey the orders OF a master.
This being he situation. I accept IN
mems population Of the contract q
rogated and shall treat II henceforth Il
n~on-existent.
an order 10 avoid the possibility Q
future misunderstanding. I beg TO sa
that with the protection now being fur
nished by the Police Commissioner "
expect to resume the full service With
a comparatively short time.