The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-06-23
CITY FOOD SUPPLY
TIED UP AS 5000
HANDLERS STRIKE
Vegetable and Fruit Distribu-
tors Appeal to Authorities
for Aid.

A strike called early this morning
by the men who handle New York
City's daily supply Of fruit and green
vegetables grew to such dimensions
this afternoon that a complete ue-up
was admitted to exist. The big COM
mission merchants, fearing that the
city may have to face a prolonged
shortage Of important foods, appealed
to State, Federal and municipal au-
thorites for help.
For a few hours II seemed that the
strike was to be quickly ended by
Cancellation. Some OF the firms yield
ed to the demands OF the union OF
drivers, chauffeurs, porters and help
ers. and 1000 OF the 5000 strikers re-
turned to work.
But this afternoon they all quit
again, after a meeting at which 1t
was unanimously resolved to tie up
the whole trade. The reason given
for the renewal of the strike was the
alleged fact that dealers who had
yielded proceeded to help other deal
ers who had not.
The dealers estimate that tho sup
ply Of potatoes in New York will not
last longer than three days. More
perishabie vegetables and fruits will
be exhausted In less time than that,
according to the dealers.
They have asked for police protec-
ton and announced that they will use
their clerks and other Office workers
in an effort to get the work done
that has been abandoned by the
strikers.
Dealers say that the city faces a
loss OF 500 carloads of food daily and
that they themselves lost about $780,
900 worth OF perishable food to-day.
The strike was at first directed
against the big and little dealers,
classified as receivers" and fob
bers." The iobbers. or most OF them.
acceded to the demands OF the
strikers. but the receivers, through
whose hands pass all the fruit and
vegetables. have not yielded. They
are holding a meeting to-day
James L. Lippman, Chairman OF
the Receivers' Committee which rep
resents the eighty-five big firms, said
to an Evening World reporter to-
day:
THE strike came without warning.
Our committee was called out OF bed
at o'clock this morning to meet the
union men at No. 205 Chambers
Street We had a definite promise
that no strike would be called with
out forty-elght hours notice. Blu,
this promise was not kept. We were
, told that we must sign at once or the
strike would begin Immediately. So
| II began"
The action OF the receivers in teie-
graphing orders to divert shipments
from New York constitutes, at least
for the present. an embargo on fruits
and green vegetables. The receivers
say, however, that they hope to OBJ
tain a quick settlement and start the
shipments coming in again.
The receivers say they are willing
to grant the demands OF the men
for increased wages and decreased
hours. but that the nature OF their
business makes It impracticable TO
grant the demand for the closed shop.
We deal IN perishable goods,
which must be handled Immediately
on their arrival said Lippman
That means that in emergencies VIC
must be free TO hire any help that is
available, whether H. be union or not. .
The strike is organized by a newly
formed body calling itself the "Driv.
ers, Chauffeurs, Helpers and Porters
Union" II vas said that 5000 men
had quit work this morning but that
1000 had gone back after settling
with individual jobbing firms. Mr.
Lippman said none OF the IS big re.
ceivers had yielded. The receivers are
expected 20 take joint action at theiI
meeting to-day.
The men want from $40 to Ss5 Q