New-York tribune., 1918-11-01
Brotherhood Men Quit at
S A. M. To-day as Pro-
test for Union
Company Defes War
Labor Board, Charge
Mayor Appeals to Williams
to Prevent Gripping of
Subway and 'L"

More than 600 motormen and yard
motormen on the elevated and sub
way lines Of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit system will go on strike at 3
o'clock this morning. This decision was
reached last night at an executive ses-
sion of Locals 419 and 858 Of the
Brotherhood of LOGON olive Engineers,
OF which the motormen are members.
held in Prospect Hall, Brooklyn.
The men decided to strike as pro-
test against what they term the re-
fusal of the B. Il. T. to comply with
the rulings Of the National War Labor
Board, which undertook last summer
to adjust the long standing feud be-
tween the union and the company. L. j.
Griffing, who presided at last nights
meeting, declared that while the board
had recognized the right Of the en-
ployes to join any union they desired
and had said that most of tho twenty
nine discharged union members must
be taken back by the company, the com
pany had refused to deal with repre-
scntativcs of the union in the matter
and had failed to reinstate any of the
.wenty nine.
Mr.. Griffing was confident that the
quitting Of more than 600 union motor
overhead and underground lines of the
B. r. T. All the elevated lines in
Brooklyn will be directly affected, he
said, as we'll as the B. r. T. subway
under Broadway, New York. in addi-
tion, the strike Of the yard motormen,
he expects, will disorganize attempts
TO initiate new schedule, tracks in
some cases being blocked oy trains
taken off their runs for which there
will be no yard motormeli to run them
10 their stalls.
Mayor Takes Hand
As soon as the announcement made
by Griffing reached him Mayor Hylan
telegraphed to Timothy S. Williams,
president of the B. r. t., at his home
in Huntington, Long Island. Mr.. Will
Jams came to Brooklyn Immediately and
called conference of officials of the
company, one of them being John ].
Dempsey, weep president and superin-
tendent of the system.
1t IS to Mr.. Dempsey that many of
the motormen attribute much of the i'll
feeling that has been accommodating
for weeks. After the decision of the
National War Labor Board. Griffing
said. he and two other brotherhood
members called on Mr.. Dempsey, pur-
suant to the advice of the board that
employees and employers strive to
reach by amicable discussion the solu-
tion ratified by the board.
Mr.. Dempsey's "chief clerk" Griffing
said, consulted with his chief and then
reported that Mr.. Dempsey would not
discuss things with Gritfing. Griffinp
declared that he announced then his
readiness to withdraw, and let the other
two members of the committee speak
for the brotherhood.
Brotherhood Gives Up
70 this, Grifiing said, Mr.. Dempse ey
replied that he would deal with any en-
ploye Individually but would not talk
20 any who came as representatives OF
the brotherhood. SO all three brother
hood members walked out.
Further. Griffing said. the company
seemed determined to adjust the diff
ferenccs through the employees benefit
choice of whose officers the members
had nothing whatever to say, they
holding office ex offico as officials o1
the B. r. r. The brotherhood, HI
added, could not agree to any sucf
adjustment.
During the hearing by the Nationa
War Labor Board Mr. Williams tes
titled that the company did not view
with favor other labor organization
than its own benefit association, beinj
opposed to having its men member
OF any body whose higher officers wer
not employees of the B. r. T. system.
A mass meeting of motormen will b.
held this morning.
Says Company Obeyed
After the meeting of company off
cials last night Mr.. Williams made pub
Tic letter he had sent to the Mayo
asking for police protection at elevate,
and subway stations and on trains. H
denied that the company had ignore,
the findings of the National Var Labo
Board. and declared the responsibility
for public Inconvenience rested on tn
motormen, of whose union, he thought
Mayor Hylan still was & member.
Mr.. Williams said he thought tn
Brighton line could handle 30 per cen
OF it's normal traffic despite rhe strike
and the Ridgewood and East New Yor
lines considerable amount" Will
on the West End and Fourth Avenn
subway lines "the percentage would b
much lower" The lines affected by tn
strke carried half of the Il. r. T.
daily 100000 passengers, he said.