New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-07

20 the strike Then trouble spread 20
The Bronx and the Union Railway
Company's lines were crippled. On
July % the whole Third Avenue sys-
TEN became involved.
The North River & Manhattan Bridge
line, owned Jointly by the Third Ave
nue.. tie Brooklyn Rapid Transit and
the New York Railways Company, vas
next halted. and over that connecting
link the strike extended 20 the green
cars the little brothers OF the subways
and elevateds.
There were twenty-six demands in
the unions list. but when Mayor
Mitchell and NJ Straus took hand IN
the game the union was ready 20
abandon al save those dealing with
the right 20 organize and 20 bargain
collectively with the lines.
The calling Of Of the strike, after
three DAYS Of continuous violence dur
ing which suoways and elevated we're
damned IN such 4 way as 20 make or
binary rush hour crowding seem the
acme OF comfort, did not mean a ces-
sation OF union activities OrganiZa-
ton o. motormen and guards IN the
subway and on the elevated continued
and the organization on the surface
lines was materially strengthened.
Because the Interborough. operating
undergrounds and overheads. was the
Parent company % the New York Rail
ways, the union leaders professed them
selves confident that the same recog-
milton Of the union granted by one
would be granted By the other.
Mahon Was Confident
" 3. Mahon. president of the Anal
camated. said Just before ne sailed for
Europe:
II do not anticipate a repetition Of
what we have just passed through. The
Interborougn cannot consistently re
fuse 20 one set Of men what one OF its
subsidiary companies has granted 20
another As for the B. r. T., that viii
be undertaken In due time
As the work Of organization proceed
I'd the union men began 20 complain
that some Of those who mad figured &C
lively m the strike we're being dis
charged in defiance OF that section OF
the agreement which stated that all
should return 20 work without pre-
iudice The fact that NJ. Shonts and
Mr Hedley had opened a campaign 20
organize an "in the family employees
association OF their own and were per
sonaliy addressing mass meetings OF
traction men was made the basis OF
another complaint.
Another strike vote was taken BY the
New York Railways employees on
August Is, with the result that the
executive committee was empowered 20
order a waik-out 4 such step became
necessary 10 win an immediate adjust
ment OF grievances A. that time the
men displayed more OF q regard for
the joint promise 20 submit all future
troubles 20 arbitration. Before the
strike should be called. they provided,
their leaders must exhaust every peace
able means Of efecting q settlement
through the Mayor and Mr.. Straus.
Mayor Patches Up Row.
Mayor Mitchell, who was az Platts-
burg, hurried back 20 the city. The
chairman Of the Public Service Com
mission curtaileC MS vacation and
made a Aging return trip from Maine
Between them they patched up the new
difficulty. Fourteen employees whose
unemployment had been opposed by
the company because Of their convic-
ton for strike disorders we're put back
at work. Thirty-four other cases were
held over for investigation and arbitra-
ton.
Then, on September I. with all the
other mOoted points under way 20
settlement the union zed InterDorough
employees met and issued a sudden
ultimatum-an aftermath or the dis
covery that individual contracts we're
being gned by the hundreds II was
charged that the company mad won
many signatures through false repre-
sensations. and the demand was made
that all contracts be cancelled A. once
In this demand the New York Railways
employees were asked 20 cooperate
When Fitzgerald led MS union com
mittee into Mr. Hediey's Office yester-
day afternoon. although mis- intention
ostensiDly was 20 20 further into argu-
ment on the New York Railways de-
mands the contract issue vas para
mount. Actually. from the moment
Hedley announced himself a. with Mr.
Shonts IN his refusal 20 cancel the con-
tracts the big strike was on