The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-11
B. R. 7. PEACE STARTS
GOVERNORSHIP TALK

.. fares. and when II Is settled credit for
ending the strike may not be 30 popular.
The question Of recognition of the
union has been solved in the classic form
modelled when President Roosevelt set
tied the anthracite strike in 1907. Al
that time John Mitchell and the other
leaders Of the United Mine Workers were
permitted to sign the agreement. but
they. were not permitted to attach to
their signature the slightest indication
Of their Official rank in the union. So.
too. Mr.. Garrison agrees to meet the men
selected by the Amalgamated, but they
have got to prove first that they are
chosen by a majority of the systems
employees eligible to membership, and
then win be received as representatives
of those employees. Mr.. Fridiger and
Mr.. Shea signed Saturday nights agree
ment as individuals.
Little doubt was expressed on either
side but that the union will be able to
prove that II represented more than so
per cent. Of the employees as OF Friday
midnight In fact, the agreement pro-
vides for no contrary contingency. But
the date picked was a date before which
the union had been enabled to exercise.
without lite official sanction or approval,
Of course. but through its members new
ertheless. as the police records will show.
coercion or undoubted violence. On the
other hand, little doubt is expressed but
that the company. has not been able to
get away from the traditional policy Of
many years, which made union member
ship capital crime in its employ.
This is where Mayor Hylan comes In
for his share Of the credit in settling the
strike. The Mayor is not mentioned for
his part in the proceedings before Judge
Garrison SO much as he Is praised for
the attitude popularity attributed to him
in the Brooklyn streets. Expressed In
the vernacular this runs:
well. Mike held on the bulls until the
boys got a chance"
Police Attitude Aided Strikers.
Irrespective of the Official oorrespon-
dence between Receiver Garrison and the
Mayor. In which the Mayor kept insist
ing that the police protection was ade-
quate and Mr. Garrison insisting that II
was not, while day by day the police
went a little further toward doing the
more and more Garrison demanded of
them as their plain duty, popular opin-
ion In Brooklyn Is to the effect that the
police were with the strikers and favored
them in their Interpretation of the order
for neutrality up TO the last day of the
strike
This opinion is borne out by some Of
the police records. by the testimony be-
fore the Public Service Commissioner
Saturday Of loyal employees who had
been beaten In the presence of the police
and by admissions made to a reporter for
THE SUN by a number of policemen.
Paragraph 100 OF the General Orders of
1918 prescribes police duty in strikes. It
enjoins neutrality. but compels order,
This gives a good deal of latitude"
said one policeman yesterday. In other
words, every man on the job had to use
his own bean. Certainly with things the
way they are in tn City Hall, couldn't
see myself nightsticklng union men to
protect few windows for the b. r. T."
Another source of irritation among the
police against the railroad was the fact
that all of them who went to the police
games at Sheepshead Bay during the
last two week ends were compelled to
pay their fares.
And now" said another cop, recalling
this instance, they invite us to ride free
on their cars. But II one of us gets hit
we go on the sick list at half pay, SAC a
month. maybe for a couple of months
with rents and food the way they are
now"
The records of the police, as we'll as of
the railroad company. show that II was
only after Second Deputy Commissioner
LAhey. an able policeman of the old
school. firm In the belief that whatever
may be said>against the policeman he
will not shirk trouble or danger, went to
Brooklyn and dressed down every one
from inspector to recruit, that the
police began to realize just what their
job was. 1t was only then that arrests
began TO be made in any considerable
or that cars attacked were able
to fight their way through mobs.
Gratitude to Judge Mayer.
The gratitude of the Brooklyn public |
toward Judge Mayer rests on the well
conviction that he has been fair
to the men throughout, despite his ap-
pointment Of Receiver Garrison and the |
necessity for him to stand back of that
official. At all of the hearings before |
Judge Mayer he has shown the most
care to hear everything the
union men have TO say. They, In COM |
mon with every one else who has wit !
messed the hearings. sense his fairness |
And IL a political wind ruffles the ermine |
those who set the wind q blowing arc
hose who set the wind a-blowlng are
ready to assure him that they mean Il
we'll.
Those in whose hands will rest the
anal settlement OF the strike took Sunday
on after their strenuous times Just past
Receiver Garrison went TO his offices for
l few moments early In the afternoon to
get the reports OF the operating heads
md ma that service was normal once
more. He denied with some heat an un-
explained .rumor that he would resign
he receivership.
p, J. Shea rested most OF the day nj
he Continental Hotel.
THE strike is over" he said. when
'aught In the lobby by a reporter, "and
what's more It's Sunday. Tomorrow is
mother day"
TITS substantial victory put in
>ouis Fridiger. the mems attorney.
n H-a