New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-02
Union Leaders Seek to Put
Blame of Strike Spread
on Companies.
WAGE SCALE HERE
SHOWN AS LOWEST
Labor Aids Say Spy System in
Brooklyn Has Driven Crews
to Seek Change.

charge Of the car strike here call for
the continuance OF the work of organl-
ration without any further walkouts,
| if possible, until each system is fully
organized, and for throwing the burden
Of any spread of the strike upon the
managers Of the several systems.
This work of organizing they hope
TO complete in the next twenty-four
hours. When that is finished, or at
least to the extent that 10 per cent OF
the men on each system are in line,
the demands for union recognition,
! five cents an hour increase in wages
and the betterment Of working condi-
tions will be presented. 1t is not ex-
pected that these demands will be
granted and II is the belief that in the
natural course Of events a general
strike will follow.
But the labor men say that il is
quite possible the companies may pre-
cipitate strikes in the meantime. This
they declare may be done by wholesale
discharge of men known TO be in SYM
pathy with the movement or by the dis
charge of few of the leaders with a
view Of intimidating the others.
Trouble Is Expected.
ain that event" said one Of the Of
ganizers, you would probably see
trouble"
For the present the work of organiz-
| ing is confined, in the main, to the
New York Railways system, on which
! the basis of strong organization was
! laid al a series of meetings which last
ed until daybreak yesterday morning
and on the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
system, where William B. Fitzgerald
and several of his aids spent last night.
From the labor standpoint the chances
of trouble in Brooklyn are greater than
on the green cars, for while the men
on the latter system have received more
attention and at the moment are more
nearly organized than are the Brooklyn
men. there is n considerable element
in New York that is inclined to await
results on the Third Avenue line be-
fore doing anything that will Jeop
ardize their positions.
Because of this snag, extra men were
put at work on the green car employees
seeking TO restrain some of those who
are organized from bringing matters
10 a head with an immediate strike.
The presence of an unusually large
number of men being instructed on
the green cars yesterday made this
latter group nervous and inslstent Oh
doing something before the company
is in position to fill any apprecia5ia
pumber Of places that a strike may
cause.
Appeal to Employees.
To meet this situation Fitzgersl d
yesterday issued this appeal to the en-
ployes OF the green cars:
'To the Street Railway employees OF the
New York Railways Company,
known as the Cree Lines:
brothers / take this means Of call
ing your attention to the fact that on
last night number of meetings were
held and a large number Of your fellow
employees were enrolled and obligated
into our association. The conditions OF
your employment and wages were also
discussed, and il was decided that We
would proceed, so far as demands ar
concerned along the same lines that
we proceeded with the Third Avenue
Company. that is, VIC will ask: First,
for the right TO organize; second, wage
demands covering the different lines
will be prepared, carrying substan-
tial increase OF pay 10 all men in the
service; third. that the company,
through its officials, treat with the duly
credited committees and officers Of!
your association.
81 would also appeal TO you TO be pa
tient and give us time TO get your or
ganization perfected, so that We can
present your request to the company in
an intelligent manner. Our hopes are
TO avoid a strike, if possible, of your
system, and il is our intention TO make
every effort 70 reach an amicable set
Element, without having 10 recourse 20
strike. SO remain at work and at
tend your meetings when called and
await the instructions OF your commit
tee and officers"
Brooklyn Men Impatient.
In Brooklyn it is asserted that no
such conservative element is in the
way Of more rapid and complete or
ganization and that the men have been
more FESTIVE than the New York en-
ployes for a long time past, mainly be-
cause of the spy system which they as
Seft the company mas PeiS4HNou III "94hb
against them.
Though it was daybreak before Fitz-
gerald and his aids went TO bed, the
tall leader was up and receiving COM
mttees and reports at 10 o'clock. He
quit the hotel early TO make visit 70
the headquarters Of the Third Avenue
strikers and then, with Mr.. Mahon and
others, went TO City Hall 10 confer
with Mayor Mitchell and representatives
Of the Third Avenue system. Return
ing TO the hotel for a brief rest, he
told those awaiting him that the meet
ing had got US nowhere"
"The Mayor is all right, but he could
not do anything with the other side"
he said. ave are willing, as always,