New-York tribune., 1919-08-16

II want you to feel that If there are
we want to face the music this after
noon, as We always have"
There IS absolutely nothing that
we want to talk about" replied Con.
molly. There is only one thing to do
We represent body of workers who
have for the last year been living on
a starvation wage, simply for the sake
OF peace and quiet. Conditions in Eu-
rope and at home prompted us to do
so. The time has come when we will
not continue to exist under starvation
wages.
I'VE have made up our minds that
we will not continue to work on the
transit lines of the City of New York
and watch our families at home want
I'VE want to be fair. We appreciate
the fact that we have been able to do
business with the marlborough. We
appreciate the fact that we have been
able to show to the public that we were
giving transit service second to none
IN the world, and we believe that the
travelling public realize that if they
want transit the men that work on the
transit service have got to be fed.
Not Going to Do 1t
They do not want lot of underfed
individuals hauling them all over the
road. We are not going to continue
to do it.
eve appreciate the fact that the In.
terborough officials are prepared at all
times to cut loose the records and
show us their financial condition. Now
| want to say that the financial posi-
tion of the 1nterborough is not our
prime concern. Our prime concern is
only one thing-how can we get liv-
ing wage for ourselves and the men
that we representa-"
The visiting delegates, each repre-
senting a different department, went
right down the roster Of their number
the entire thirteen of them speaking
IN turn. Their discourses were similar
Mr.. Hedley maintained his stand in
the face of these recitals, and after
all had spoken Mr. Quackenbush intro
duced the subject of conspiracy in a
plea for time, which precipitated a
lively colloquoy.
Asks Men to Delay Strike
Mr.. Quackenbush, according to the
report, said:
"You know from what you have seen
IN the newspapers that it Is asserted
that your action of the last few days,
your action Of to-day ind any action
be brought about by some conspiracy,
from scheming on She part of the man
agement.
"Now, you know and l know that
that is not true; but in order that
you and all the men whom you repre-
sent may continue to have the respect
and esteem of the public Of this city,
and particularly that portion of it
which patronizes the lines of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Company,
which you now have and which you are
entitled to have, my advice to you and
my suggestion is that before you
undertake to take any action looking
toward the stopping of the work of the
men whom you represent, that you
should allow sufficient period Of time
to elapse to enable the management
to transmit to the Mayor of the city,
to the chairman Of the Public Service
Commission, to the Transit Construc-
ton Commissioner, transcripts of the
remarks made here in order that they
may consult with the management Of
OF such consultation and conferences
any way can be found so that there
Will not be any stoppage of the service
OF the lnterborough Rapid Transit
Company.
"The thought has been that there is
conspiracy between your men, you
here and Mr.. Hedley, and the manage
ment and what l want to make clear is
that if you should leave this room and
forthwith take the action that has
been suggested here might be taken
it would be said that you had done it
at the instigation of Mr.. Hedey. So,
before you take any action Whatever in
fairness to Mr. Hedley and to every
body, you should give him IN oppor-
tunlty to report your position to the
representatives of the city and the
state, and then let them determine
whether you mean what you say or
whether it is a put-up iop.'
About 1000 men, presumably I. R. T.
employees, attended the organization
meeting of the Amalgamated Associa
Employees in Labor Lyceum, sS6 Third
Avenue, last night. Five hundred more
stood in the street outside until police
men and the downpour of rain forced
them to move on.
Louis Fridiger, counsel for the Anal
gamated; P J. Shea, of it's interna-
tonal executive board, and William
Collins, A. F. of L. organizer, de-
clared those in the street were being
threatened by company superintend-
ents with loss of their jobs if they
| SHIclSu lic nail. W oiu VI lHiS WAS
sent to Police Captain O'Connor, at
the East Eighty-eighth Street station,
and he dispatched six patrolmen, who
informed the men they would either
have to enter the hall or disperse.
The meeting was held for the pur-
pose, it's sponsors said, OF enrolling
members and was called despite the
warning sent out earlier in the day by
officials of the Brotherhood of l. R. T.
Employees that attendance would mean
discharge from the cornpany's employ.
At 8 p. m. Mr.. Shea called for enroll
ment and about 100 formed in line at
once to join the union.
Says Mayor Is Right
Referring to Mayor Hylan's charge
of conspiracy against the brotherhood,
Hedges and the l. r. T., Mr. Fridiger
! declared the Mayor had "the right
dope and knows what he is talking
about" He termed the threatened
brotherhood strike bunk"
ways now" he continued, "that any
further intimidation or violence will
not be countenanced, and l will not
be responsible for what happens to
those who resort to the methods en-
ployed on the sidewalk here tonight. "
P. j. Shea also approved Mayor Hy-
lan's attitude.
1t was estimated GOO were enrolled
in the Amalgamated.
Bigamist Gets AZ Months