The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-16

There was none on the paper, whicl
had been printed, admittedly by the In
terborough. at Consolly's request.
Connolly became lncensed nj what h
considered was a reflection by the Mayo
on his own Intelligence, and he had DIFF
ficulty in restraining his temper.
The Mayor asked his demands and h
repeated what he had previously tolt
Frank II. Hedley, vice-president OF thu
Interborough. and James l.. Quacken
bush, attorney, at a conference In thei
ofica
He explained that the first demant
was for a 80 per cent. increase for al
branches. Others. he said, were for al
eight hour day and a torty-eight houi
week; for time and a half for overtime
and for an agreement for prompt settle
mont Of any minor differences OF opinion
which may develop in the future. HI
reiterated his former announcement tina
unless this relief were granted the mer
would walk out tomorrow morning.
In vain the Mayor sought to persuade
the men to defer action until some time
next week. and pleaded that he had nc
time to take up their demands with the
Interborough officials and other parties
concerned because to-day would be q
, half holiday. Harry Post. representing
the motormen OF the line, injected him.
self into the discussion to say, Let them
DO without their half holiday. 1 donr
get any half holidays. have to work
SIS days a year" The Mayor then said
ths<rHg himself did not know what q
holiday was.
The Mayor asked what Mr.. Hedley had
told the men to do, and Mr.. Connolly
replied, HE told US that his plain duty
10 20 keep the transit lines Of the city
OF New York running"
HE didn't threaten you with discharge
or scold your asked the Mayor.
mo, SIR" said Connolly.
what did Mr.. Hedley state was the
reason he could not give you the in
crease7' Connolly was asked.
He replied: He said the financial
condition of the Interborough will not
permit him to do II and ne Is going In
n hole now" He added:
The financial condition OF the COM
pany Is not our prime concern. Our
prime concern IL how we can get living
wage"
How do you expect the city to give
you reliefi' qusried the Mayor.
We are not asking the city to give
US relief" said Connolly. but are sim
ply coming to you as elected represen-
tstives of the city to tell you that we
are going TO fight the situation, and that
Wo arc bOFfy TO say tndt VIC DeloNe lHe
travelling public will be sufferers at the
END Of the day. am not asking you to
do q thing. but don't want you &c
como to US at later date and say that
we owed you obligations and didn't give
you q chance"
Repeatedly the Mayor harped on his
query. what do you expect me to dor
As often Connolly replied that he hadn't
come to tell the Mayor what to do. but
to tell him what the men were going to
do. Finally Connolly cried. I'VE are
watching you-every move you make"
'The Interborough has been watching
me for some time" said the Mayor with
a smile
Fare Increase Plea Seen.
IF you want a brute to work you
must feed him." said Connolly. "and the
public has got to feed U.S."
Then you are here asking that the
fare be increased?" demanded the
Mayor But Connolly answed, No. sir
far be 1t from me-"
He qualified this, however. by saying:
The marlborough says that for five
cents they cannot pay us any more We
say we are going to discontinue render
ing the service and 1t is up to the public
to get an increase of fare IL they want
to-
When the Mayor again touched upon
the increased fare Issue Connolly an
swered, '1f there is no way out OF IT,
but far be ii from me to touch on that -
He explained that the men had no money
with which to employ accountants to
determine whether or not the Inter
borough Is able to meet their demands
without an increase.
n tbat ia.
6honts and the PETERBOROUGH people II
they were not making sufficient money
to properly care for their employees ia
turn the subways back to the city?
asked the Mayor.
Connolly said he had read this in the
papers
After much Of this business Connolly
declared: THE more you question me
the better I like 1t. l am absolutely
fool proof"
Mr.. Post interrupted to tell the Mayor
that he was treating them like "a con-
temptible bunch of skunks"
Asked II he would postpone the strike
Until the city had m opportunity OF
going over the Interborough books Con-
molly shouted: mo. sir. 1 am not will
ing to put it off a minute. We could
not hold our men an hour. Our men
simply won't work. Give us a promise
they are going to get their raise or they
won't turn the wheels"
Anonymous Letter shown.
The Mayor produced an anonymous
letter which he had received which read
This thing they call the brotherhood
They are only the tools of the company"
and he asked Connolly If he knew any
thing about 1t.
70 Do ,lr
with the reptiles than lie about this"
said the Brotherhood head. He told now
he had been mistreated by members of
the Amalgamated during the 1916 strike.
I'VE are hungry for money and we
mus: have 1t when the landlord comes
for his rent or he tells US to get out.
The millIman asks IS cents for his milk
and II you can't pay it. he says Let
your children die"
30 Connolly voiced his anger, and the
Mayor despairing of bringing him to
terms turned to the other delegates
present and appealed to them to overrule
him and arrange a meeting at which
they should submit hts requests to their
men, but they informed him that their
men would be apt to strike at once with
out waiting until tomorrow IL such
meeting were called.
The Mayor then offered to furnish
them with a hall which the Interborough
would have no interest in. and to address
them himself If they could get their men
together. but this suggestion was re-
ceived with scorn.
THE Brotherhood has never been a
public charge. and it never will be-" sa Id
Connolly "If we want a different hall
from what the marlborough has given
u. we will pay for II ourselves"