The sun., 1919-08-20
NEW CAR STRIKE
IS THREATENED
Amalgamated Hopes to Tie
Up Red and Blue Cars
Next.
WILL ASK so P. G. RAISE
People Of City Sick of Walk
outs, Judge Mayer Warns
Counsel.
WILL ASK so P. c. RAISE

The Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway EN-
ployees has received some severe set
backs within the last few days. but
its leaders have not abandoned all
hope Of wishing a strike on the trac-
ton lines of New York.
Despite the fact that Interborough
and New York Railways employees
with a twenty-five per cent. wage in
crease in their hands are not apt to
favor a walkout, Amalgamated heads
let 1t be known yesterday that they
are contemplating calling one any
way when they meet tonight in Ly-
ceum Hall, Eighty-sixth street and
Third avenue.
Even If their members employed on
these lines do not respond to a walk
out plea, Amalgamated people feel that
they will be able to enlist the en-
ployees of the other Manhattan and
Bronx surface car lines. They pointed
out yesterday that the workers on the
red and blue cars would be dissatisfied
getting a wage increase. One of the
leaders OF the Amalgamated stated at
the Hotel Continental that a demand
probably would be made by the union
for so per cent increase to all
branches.
Members Must Choose.
II this union, which has been called
an outside organization. makes good
it's threat to call a general strike. its
members in the employ of the INTERIOR
ough and New York Railways will be
forced either to obey its summons or
sever connections with 1t at once. Mem
bers Of the Brotherhood of Interborough
Rapid Transit Company Employees,
which conducted the strike of Sunday
and Monday, generally express the
opinion that the Amalgamated would
not seriously AFFECT their line. but that
It might succeed with those car lines
that have not granted wage increases.
Members OF this brotherhood and of
the brotherhood Of New York Railways
Employees boast that they have driven
the Amalgamated out of their territory
by getting for their people the 25 per
cent pay increases just allowed. The
| rivalry is extremely bitter and each fac
ton has many unkind things to say
about the other. 1t was because of this
/ that both brotherhoods have demanded
of their employers that they discharge
| all persons attending meetings of the
outside union.
Perhaps as severe a setback as the
Amalgamated has received in its at
tempts to organize the car men of Man.
haitian and The Bronx came yesterday
| in the form of a letter written by Fed
eral Judge julius NJ. Mayer to Louis
Fr:diger, counsel for the association. In
response to a protest over the discharge
OF Amalgamated men.
Mr.. Fridiger had appealed to Judge
Mayer because of the fact that more
than 100 of the discharged men were
employees of the New York Railways
| Company, which is in the hands Of a re-
| oeiver and therefore in the custody OF
! the court.
Judge Refuses to Interfere.
He had protested to Job E. Hedges.
the receiver, in vain for reinstatement of
the men. Judge Mayors answer was a
fet refusal to interfere The letter was
as follows:
! 'You have requested an answer to
| your letter OF August 16.
"I am certain that the people of the
| city of New York are sick and tired OF
strikes, chickering's, MISUNDERSTANDING
and confusion. / propose to make my
meaning as clear as can.
The Brotherhood of New York Rail-
ways Company Employees has been
loyal to the public Of New York and to
| this court and its receiver. 1t has not
at any time struck or threatened to
strike. It respectfully asked for rea-
sonable wage increase and waited until
I had an opportunity to. examine into
| and consider the request and announce
| my conclusion.
''while these employees were running
! the so-called green cars during the
strike under the stress OF great DIM
| Guilty your clients were endeavoring &c
| disrupt their organization The Brother
hood of New York Railways Company
| Employees very naturally protested tc
| the receiver against such course. ano
| the receiver, under date OF August IA
answered the brotherhood in man fash
| ion. saying, among other things:
| az will direct the manager to dis
charge any employee who interferei
with any member of the brotherhood ir
the discharge OF his duties or who dis
turbs him In any manner for the purpose
OF breaking up the brotherhood. for
l 4.