The sun., 1916-09-06


part 10 enter into n strike will be con-
strued as u breach OF agreement ana
vii; result in their Immediate dismissal.
Should the strike become widespread
Mr.. Hedley will battle to take away
from the New work. Railways men every
concession they gained through the
Mayors agreement. lie Is determined
70 crush every element OF unionism II
- men who benefited In the last
trouble decide to act against the inter-
borough and the New York Railways
COMPANY. n the New York Railways
men keep their hands off he will offer no
interference with the terms of the agree
ment. he said yesterday.
Each side decla res the strike is being
forced by tho other. Mr.. Hedley. as
serted yesterday that the unions nave
no right to interfere with the contracts
that hayo been given TO the INTERIOR
oush by $500 Of It's employees. Their
steps In this direction simply were IN
tended 10 force an issue.
Union Leader Accuses.
On the other hand. Fitzgerald in a
b~taternent last night said: 49,.
THE attitude Of the company TINS
morning was one which showed tnat
they are attempting to force the men
into n strike and that has been proved
durIpx the day. Men have been locked
out who refused TO sign the contract or
employment. They have further placed
their strike breakers among the men
and they I've been intimidatlng otner
employees.
1--WE are absolutely convinced now,
although We suspected II all along. that
the compan ever since the settlement OF
August I has been attempting to bring
about a situation which would force the
men TO 40 something which would make
them lose the favor of the public OF TINS
great city"
The morning meeting referred to was
stormy one and resulted only In in
creasing the bitterness on both sides.
Fitzgerald. Fridieer and n
from the Intcrborough's local called on
Mr.. Hedley in his office. The union men
demanded ~ return Of the contracts
signed by 600 of the $500. They asked
for their return on the ground the men
did not know the nature Of the ohllsa-
tion to which they had committed them
eelves.
Mr.. Hedley refused natly to surrender
che contracts. He told the union men
they could demand them in court. He
refused 10 yield to the suggestion for
arbitration on tho subject. Ifcdley fur
thermore promised To- dismiss the union
representatives of his company II they
used up any more time granted them in
Y work.
Coercion Also Il CHARGED.
"All this matter OF you union men
getting out and threatening a man be-
cause he has not Joined you union Is go
ing to stop forthwith said Mr.. icdley
with heat. "The mpan is going to
take action In every one Of those eases.
Now you nigh just as well understand
It clearly. I have my instructions. II
IL up to you"
fridieer suggested the question he
left to the determination OF the Public
Service Commission. This offer was in
dignantly set aside by Nv. IIedley. He
said the commission had no right to act
in the premises. This contract, referred
to generally as the master and SER
want agreement. Is one in which the EN-
ployees who have signed Il are to work
for the PETERBOROUGH for two years. end
Ing August. 1915. for wages set forth in
general schedule, Both sides promise
not to abrogate the agreement. 1t Is APP
parent from the zeal with which the In.
tePborough defended these contracts yes
terday that they will GO before the courts
to punish each violation.
These contracts were in the nature
OF a fraud upon the men, said Fitzger.
ala IN a statement. "and. In many In.
stances. were obtained by actual fraud
practised upon them"
After the unsatisfactory meeting witt
Mr.. Hedley the union men went to thu
Mayors office with a request to Theodore
Rousseau. his secretary. to have III,
Mayor ~recslled at once. The Mayor.
plattsburg service ends on Friday. Rous
seau tried to get In touch with the Mayo
and when he finally did reach him on tn.
telephone the service was so poor moth
ing could lie accomplished. The Mayo,
promised to telephone again this morn
ing.
Chairman Straus uncOnsulted.
Oscar s. Straus. chairman OF the Pub
Tic Service Commission. returned to hi
ONCE yesterday. Apparently the unioi
leaders had no knowledge Of this, he
cause they did not consult him. Til,
chairman would make no ommen ol
the crisis. which is similar to the on,
which he and Mayor Mitchell adiuste,
. month ago. Under the law he canuo
Oner his med!atory services until ther
In an actual Interference with tram,
Then. rs he did in the Third avenu
strike. he may investigate and seek L
bring about peace.
After the union men left city Hal
they went tn a meeting with the whol
PETERBOROUGH mmit in 10 las
125th street. The session was held be
hind locked doors. However. 1t is know
that employees Of the underground an,
overhead lines were for quick retaliation
o Mr.. Hedley and the roads he repre-
sentb.
Every union local official declared 10
q strike forthwith Most OF them urge
the Mayor not he waited on. that ia
climax be brought on before outside i'm
fiuences could interfere. As men in
vested with fun authority from their OF
CARNATIONS they had powor to send ou
the quilt work order nj once,
Fitzgerald. Fridiecr and other officer
Of the Amalgamated had To- plead viii
them for time. They argued they had (,
keep faith with Mayor Mitchell. I
whom they had given the promise the
would take no drastic steps without con
eultlng him. They urged. too, that fo
the public benefit the whole matte
should be submitted to tho Interhuroug
employees who are affiliated with tn
union. Finally tho local heads agree,
although they recorded their votes for
strike.
Word u sent to Gompers.
Significance rests In the fact that in
mediately after this strik" agre.mct
word was sent IN Samuel 'iomperl
president OF the American Federation {
Labor. Fitzgerald. while d~lsavowing an
intention Of shifting responsibility q