The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-04
STRIKE WEDNESDAY,
ISTHREAT TO B. R. T.
Men Declare They Will Go Out
Unless Garrison Acts
Quickly.
RECEIVER ON VACATION
Union Officials to Present De-
mands T0-morr0w-Ask
Recognition.
RECEIVER ON VACATION

AhOOVfA
Unless Ldndley M. Garrison. receiver
for the b. r. T. lines. accedes to the
demands Of the employees OF that sys-
tenn by Tuesday night q strike order to
take effect at 5 o'clock Wednesday morn
ms win be issued by the executive COM
raittee OF the union.
Edward Smith, chairman Of the COM
mittee. made this announcement last
night The men are demanding in
creased wages and the guarantee OF ans
eight hour day. The strike will AFFECT
all subway, elevated and surface lines
Of the B. n. T. Company.
"The committee win meet tomorrow
morning" declared Smith. "and 90 to
Mr.. Garrison's Offices. We are informed
that he In on vacation and win not re-
turn until the end of the month. We
do not intend waiting until he returns
70 have him take up our demanda We
win ask his secretary or some of the
officials Of tho road to telegraph the
receiver to return and treat with this
committee.
ALSO we shall appeal to Federal
Judge Mayer, who appointed Mr.. Gar
rison receiver. to help us. Frankly we
don't expect much aid from either Gar
rison or Judge Mayer. but we want to
put them on record II possible. The
men are all talking strike and 1t Ia hard
70 restrain them now.
1.-THE success or failure OF this COM
mittee will be reported at the meeting Of
the men Tuesday night. Then. very
probably, a strike vote will be taken
calling for immediate action. II the men
vote to go out or II they decide to leave
the matter In the hands OF this commit
tee strike will be ordered for s O'Clock
Wednesday morning.
Men Demand Action.
'sThat seems to be the only way we
viii get anything The men all realize
this. We want the public to know that
we have made an honest effort to better
our conditions. We want the public to
know where to place the responsibility
for a strike II one Il called The B. r.
T. employees are entitled to the Same
wages and hours as men OF other large
cities, and they intend to put up a fight
to get these"
Union officials declare that their or
Ganization has q membership Of almost
$500. and that more than 400 new APP
pfications were received yesterday. The
b. r. T. officials are making heroic
preparations to meet the possible strike
condition and to keep cars running In the
event of a strike They are breaking In
hundreds of men on the various lines.
Reports that Mr.. Garrison is on an ex-
tended vacation and will not be able to
meet the committee OF employees who
are to present demands at his office this
morning were the cause Of much worry
on the part of the union officials
p. ]. Shea. vice-president of the
Amalgamated Association Of Street and
Electric Railway Employees. In charge
of the demands OF the men, said II was
imperative that some action be taken
on the mems demands when they are
submitted, as the committee will have to
report back to the employees mass meet
ings within fprty-eight hours.
n Mr. Shea talked yesterday against the
7advisability OF a strike.
z IF there Is a possible way to get what
we want without a strike We wish to
md that way" ne said.
The men at the meetings held last
week. however. proved themselves very
impatient Of long negotiations and de-
manded a strike at the first failure Of
the company officials to meet their de-
mands. 1t was considered likely that
Mr.. Shea might have difficulty In en-
forcing counsels OF moderation without
q definite promise OF consideration from
the officials Of the company this morn
ing.
In the letter which they will present
to Mr.. Garrison the men have added one
more to the demands which they drew
up at their last meeting. This Is for
the reinstatement of all men who have
been discharged for union activity. Few
II any have been SO dropped from the
service since the strike was averted last
fall. but Louis Fridiger, attorney for the
union, said he was prepared to present
the names of a large number Of these
victims Of the company's former policy.
To Act Against OmciaIs.
Mr.. Fridiger also announced that he
would move against certain petty OFF,
cials Of the company seeking their pun
ishment for contempt of court for their
action In trying to interfere with the
meetings OF the men This he con-
strues to be direct violation Of the
settlement of the trouble brought about
last spring by Judge Mayer in the Fed
eral court
''on Friday night and Saturday morn
ing when the men were meeting at Scher-
merhorn and Smith streets a group of
officials stood at the corner of Livingston
and Smith Streets" said Fridiger. These
men were Superintendent Egan. Inspec.
tors Robinson. Hunt and Mall, Des-
patehers Sheridan and Merino. q train
master known as Big Prince and the
TWO Tratnmasters Talbot, father and
son. They were directing other men In
uniform to warn our members away
from the meeting"
It is estimated that the additional
wage demands to be presented by the
men will cost the company about S2.5eO
q day. Whether this sum can be made
up from the collection OF the two cent
charge for transfers could not be esti-
mated yesterday as no officials of the
company were yet prepared to tell what
the additional return from this source
would be- They stated. however, that It
would como nowhere near meeting the
suggested increase In wages
Mr.. Shea emphasized yesterday the
correctness of the statement printed in
THE SUN to the effect that whether there
will be q strike depends wholly on the
willingness Of the company to recognize
the union.
Union Men Confident.
She union officials are confident that
n Che union IL not recognized its mem
ksrship Is now SO strong as to permit a
strike that will tie up the entire B. r. t.
4gstsm. Union officials showed yester-
eEy q proreiso of support claimed TO
have been received from the Manhattan
carmen. It consisted of telegram ex-