The sun., 1918-10-29
$50 WATERS QUIT
IN 8 LARGE HOTELS
Women Rally to Rescue of
Diners in Waldorf-Astoria,
McAlpin and Claridge.
TIRE OF $40 OR $50 A WEEK
Uncle Sam to Get Strikers, for
Management Prefers Fem
mime Substitutes.

Women who consider the position Of
waiter In a full powered hotel a desir-
| able one. and his remuneration of from
$40 to $50 a week not an unfair return
for the service accorded, will fnd an
eager welcome this morning at the Of
fees OF the Hotel Association. 334 Fifth
avenue. where representatives OF the
waldorf-Astoria. McAlpin and Claridge
hotels will be on hand to engage women
substitutes for $50 walters who walked
out Of the hotels yesterday.
The strike began at noon. ADVERTISE
ments by the hotels requesting the ap-
plications OF women for the striking
walters places appeared in the after
noon newspapers within two hours. Din
ner at the hotels was attended with
some Inconvenience last night. but the
dining public expressed itself as so
pleased with the services. and above all
the cheerfulness and alacrity, of about a
score OF Mattresses hastily assembled at
each OF the three hotels that the man.
hgement said at midnight that 1t would
not feel greatly disappointed IL the men
never returned at all.
The walters who went on strike yes
terday took that action because they
considered themselves underpaid and de-
sired to be recognized as q union. They
have been receiving $40 a month and
their meals. and their tips have brought
each mans actual receipts to between
$40 and $50 week. Now they demand
a scale ranging from $50 to S72 a month
The headwaiters and captains remained
at their work in each OF the three hotels
but 800 walters left the McAlpin, 200
quit the Waldorf-Astoria and $50 walked
out OF the Claridge.
strike Timed for High Noon.
The hotels, which are controlled by the
Du Pont interests, arc all under a single
management. and the strike was timed
for high noon at all three. Three lunch
cons by clubs and societies were sched-
uled 10 be held in the McAlpin and as
many more in the Waldo.f-Astoria be-
tween noon and o'clock. and while
they ali went through their appointed
courses the service was irregular hav-
ing been improvised then and there
from among the elevator girls. parlor
maids and other women employees OF the
establishments.
At all Of the hotels last night only
persons having rooms or apartments In
them were served in the dining rooms
impossible to take care OF any patrons
except those abiding under the roofs
Signs on the dining room doors APP
rrised the general public of this situa-
ton. offered An apology, and expressed
the opinion that some inclination Of
the enemy with whom we are at war
had caused the trouble
II II Is the enemy's work, however. he
has blnndered-as usual The United
States Labor Bureau has essential work
for the walters who are out on strike
and their names and addresses will be
forwarded 10 Washington to-day. The
Government does not consider the
walters calling an essential one for the
purposes OF war, and a letter received
from Washington last week by l.. NJ
Boomer. manager OF the three hotels
stated that such waters as did not find
essential work would be used in the
military service.
Women Eager 10 Fill Places.
From the eagerness with which women
employees Of the hotels stepped into the
breach yesterday there is little doubt
that good many women will be found
anxious TO take the places of the strik-
ing men. The hotels offer the women
$40 a month and their meals. A good
hotel walters tips run all the way up
from $40 week In money tips to stock
market tips leading TO al! kinds o.;
money
Clerks sterographers bookkeepcrs and
telephone girls of duty were among the
first women employees 10 offer them
selves for tie dining rooms yesterday
and were received with heartlness BY the
diners.
This paragraph is conspicuous in the
advertisements asking for the applica-
tons OF women: q
Experienced mattresses are preferred
but inexperienced women wishing to
take up the work will be considered
Women who can fill the position OF res
taurant mattresses are urged 10 respond
TO this demand"
Mr.. Boomer IN a statement last night
said that II was extremely doubtful il
the strikers will be offered work again
I.n the hotels. lie said he had done
everything he could TO improve the ray
and conditions under which the men
worked. Last July the walters received
an advance in pay without having to ask
for 1t and a system of bonuses and extra
pay was put IN effect.
Women engaged by the hotels viii not
be required TO work after 10 o'clock ut
night