New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24

tenance allowance. And, naturally, the men
on strike will be left high and dry, and II MS
tory repeats itself Mr. Fitzgerald will some
dark night quietly fold his tent and sneak
out of town, just as he did back in 1905.
Then what will happen to that part OF our
substantial ctizenry the traction employees
which he has through coercion, intimidation
and misrepresentation invc.gle& into SAD
and hopeless predicament?
Monopoly is monopoly whether it involves
capital or labor. Both are equally essential
in the production Of wealth. Both are equally
essential TO our economic existence. There
fore, if it be proper that one be Incorporated,
controlled and regulated, why not the other
In view of all these circumstances, it seems
70 me that the question, where are we the
public TO get off at? is problem worthy the
careful thought and consideration Of every
thinking man and woman of greater New
York
And what is all this strife about?
Who do these four men Fitzgerald,
O'Brien, Shea and Frayne represent? Who
invited them here?
What are they striving for? What is the
real issue?
Alien Interference.
Analysing the situation, as reported from
day to day in The Tribune, does it not sim
mer down to this:
Four men from out Of town IN no manner
interested in or identified with this city's
economic welfare and civic affairs -espous-
ing the cause of an association with head
quarters in Cleveland likewise having no IN
terest or reputation here decide among
themselves that New York City would be a
pretty easy field from which TO draw add
fund.- ., thair fbrouUh the
collection of dues from traction employees
whom these four men scheme to force into
their membership.
With this motive guiding them, Fitzgerald,
O'Brien, Shea and Frayne swoop down here,
entirely on their own initiative. Had they
been requested by the traction employees 10
come to New York and organize them, that
would be an entirely different story.
But that they were not requested 10 come
here is strikngly proven by the fact that on
the subway and elevated lines all but a
couple of hundred out of some 1000 EN-
ployes remained loyal TO the company, and
under the most trying difficulties have sue
cessfully operated a regular and efficient ser
vice; and on the surface lines men have re-
NAMED at work as long as they were ac-
corded police protection against bodily in
jury, as evidenced by the increasing number
CT cars, day by day, going back into service,
as reported by the Police Department.
Home Rule in the Subway.
According TO newspaper reports the Inter
borough employees have organized brother
hood of their own which affords them every
advantage Of collective bargaining and yet
does not embody the infection of monthly
dues. with extra assessments from time to
time TO meet the expenses of strikes called
IN distant cities by foreign aggregatons, such
as the Amalgamated and in which the local
employees directly in no manner involved
OF interested.
From statements made by the employees
themselves, as reported in The Tribune, II is
plain that the men are in every way satisfied
with present working conditions and wages.
This is further confirmed by the fact that
over 10000 out of 1000 employees have
signed up contracts of employment covering
the next two years.
Unlike the Alien Four Fitzgerald. O'Brien,
Shea and Frayne -and the following they
represent all outsiders, these 10000 en-
yloyes of the Interborough company are de-
srable. law abiding and wealth producing
citizens Of greater New York, whose interest
and welfare are identified and identical with
that of the entire cltizenry Of the greater
city.
They are all taxpayers, and as such en-
titled to protection and their nalienable
right to work under conditions satisfactory
to themselves.
Yet because these traction employees have
dared TO form their own organization, which
has been duly recognized by the traction
company and which affords them the right
Of collective bargaining and every advantage
that the Amalgamated could possibly afford
them. We have the grewsome spectacle of the