New-York tribune., 1918-08-25
N. Y Newsdealers Garry Fight
For Rights to Federal Board

Continued from page
stands. Before there was strike Mrs
Julia Henry, who sells papers in Cort-
landt Street, went to him and asked him
If licenses would be cancelled in the
event of strike. He said no, tha,
they could not be cancelled for that
reason, and not to worry. Personally
| am not worried, and most folks are
not, but some are very much worried
When old men and women have nothing
but their little stands they cannot be
blamed much if they are timid and
yield to the threats of these men and
the Oppressive tactics of the men in the
License Bureau
The newsdealers also made direct
appeal to the War Industries Board
This body is interested in the strike
situation in that it's orders for the con-
Servatlon of paper are being ignored
by Hearst and the American News
Company. The board ordered that
newspapers be made -returnable,
and also that the newspapers cut their
free lists to the bone. Hearst, by in
slsting that the dealers take papers
they could not SELL was making for a
violation Of the boards order, and the
action of the American News Company
since the strike began, in dumping
thousands Of "Americans" at Brooklyn
stands in defiance Of the orders of the
dealers, is resulting in the waste of a
vast amount of paper
Hugh Frayne Informed
This condition was called to the at
tcntion of a Subcommittee of the War
Industries Board last week. Yesterday
sent a telegram to Hugh Frayne, labor
member of the board. Mr.. Frayne,
who is the New York representative of
the American Federation of Labor,
and usually comes to New York on
Saturdays was detained in Washing
ton by the pressure of business yes
terday so the committee, after a call
at his hotel, decided to wire him this
appeal:
Hugh Frayne, War Industries
Board, Washington.
"Your board has decreed that
paper must be conserved, and as a
means toward that end newspapers
have been made non-returnable. In
violation of the letter and spirit of
this law, Hearst has insisted on
forcing the newsdealers to take
papers they do not wish. Against
this we have struck, and, though we
have ordered the American News
Company, which controls the deliv-
cry of all morning papers in great
er New York not to deliver Hearst
papers to US, hundreds of thousands
of them are being dumped at our
stands.
This involves an enormous waste
of tonnage. We have called the at
tention Of Mr. Donnelly to this mat
ter, but so far have not received
even the small courtesy of an ac-
acknowledgement.
1--WE therefore appeal to you as
the labor member of the War In
dustries Board for the square deal
you would give all who labor for
their livelihood, and request that
you call to the attention of the full
board this wiful and malicious vio-
laton of its decree and the conse-
quent immense wastage of paper.
"UNITED NEWSDEALERS' ASSO-
CATION OF BROOKLYN.
"By j. H. SULTAN, President"
Paper Wastage
Members of the committee were con-
tident that once the matter should
come before the War Industries Board,
an investigation will be made into the
conditions which are responsible for
the wasting of more paper daily than
would supply the wants Of many siz-
able cities. To their way of thinking,
the orders to conserve paper meant
conservation, and they do not believe
the board will permit wholesale waste
to continue indefinitely
License Commissioner Gilchrist was
not in his office in the Municipal Build
ing yesterday. There it was reporte d
that he was still "resting" at nearby
beach. He might, it was said, be at
his desk on Monday. Mr.. Gilchrist dis
covered the need Of a rest about the
time the newsdealers and newsboys re-
tanned Lemucl Ely Qugg to look out
for their interests
1T was after this decision of Mr.. Gill
christ to listen to the call of the sad
sea waves that notices addressed to
nobody in particular, and signed by no
one, but written on the stationery of
his department, threatening dealers
with cancellation of their licenses were
circulated by representatives of the
bureau and men believed to be en-
ployed by the Hearst organization.
Just who was responsible for this
the dealers have yet to determine with
SulilClclt eHaCtneSS TO meet the rlpi d
tests of the rules of evidence. 1t is
apparent that this is one reason the
anonymous form Of notice was decided
upon. This notice was in use yester-
day, but to a lesser extent than on
previous days, largely for the reason
that publicity had made it a very much
less effective weapon than it had been.
Passing the Buck"
"They thought it would be all off
with us just as soon AS Mayor Hylan
gave the word" said Mr.. Sultan. "Then
they changed their minds about it and
began passing the buck, that is, the big
fellows did, and fell back on the in
spectors CT the bureau Of licenses.
Now we can't find any of the big ones
or get a word from any of them as to
just how MANY of the sixty-four papers
printed in New York we must sell to
please Mr.. HYlan.
1--WE claim the right to sell the
papers our people want to buy In
Brooklyn, where we get our papers at
Sl.20 hundred, the price The Tribune
has fixed as fair to everybody, there
is no justice in attempting to compel
us to sell papers that cost more and
which Brooklyn people do not want.
I'VE haven't found out yet whether
Mr. Hylan intends to try to compel
those Of us who have ceased selling
German papers to resume selling them.
He had the support of the German
Ln e