New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
Editors and Reporters Go
Out When Demand for
Increased alaries Is
Ignored by Publishers
Start Their Own Paper
Four Daily Publications
Are Issued as Usual
With Makeshift Staffs
;Stnrf Co,responietle

STAFF Correspondence
NEW HAVEN, Conn, Sept. 16.-Virt-
ually every newspaper reporter and
editor in New Havcn quit work to-day
in strike for Increased wages The
city did not miss its news. however.
All four local papers we're published,
with makeshift stalls. In addition. the
page Afternoon paper. "The Reporter
thousands Of copies of which were sold
as soon as they could be got from the
presses.
The demands Of the men and women
are for IS q day minimum for trained
reporters, and $6 day for editors and
desk men. They ask an sight-hour day,
with So extra for each additional as
signment and $3.50 a day for Cubs" "
or men with less than a years expert
ence.
Although up to tonight the publish
ers have made no reply to the demands,
it is known tha they refuse fatty to
treat with the men as members of an
organization.
A representative of the publishers
said:
This is just part OF a general move
ment on the part of labor to control
and color the columns of the press of
this country. 1t means ultimate affilie-
ton with the American Federation of
Labor, just as in the case of Boston.
Organization along these lines is TAX
ing place, | am informed. in Spring
field, Waterbury. New London, Lynn.
Hartford and other New England
cities"
The strike WAS called by the execu-
tive committee of the News Writer'S
Equity Association, and became ef-
fective at 8 o'clock this morning. At
that hour. neither the city editor nor
q single reporter appeared at the Of
fees Of the three afternoon papers,
The Register The Leader and "The
Union"
The strikers instead opened Offices
III the Poll Theatre building and I'M
mediatcly set to work TO get out their
own ..ewspaper. They had virtually
monopoly OF local news. The publish
ers and managing editors countcred as
best they could.
The wife of one editor, the father
of another and the advertising sclici-
tors Of all newspapers were rushed
into the breach BY Swapping" news
among each other and by use of tele-
graph and cable reports they were able
to put up a fair front.
John 7. Flynn, president of the
writer's association and former city
editor of The Register" said the strike
was preciptatcd by the dismissal on
Saturday night by the publisher of
The Register" John Day Jackson. Of
the members of the association en-
ploycd on that paper.
The employees said this action was
arbitrary and uncalcd for. Frank +.
Smith, managing editor and represent
atiVe of the publishe.', declared his
strongest objection Wa against out
SIDE interference III tie affairs Of his
paper. Norty-two men are members
Of the association. Flynn, its president.
said he men received an average of
s.hout S2l week. ranging from Sl7 to
$50, for the highest. 0ne man. cn-
ployed fer thirty years on one OF the
papers, was paid @17. \ Representatives
of the publishers admitted this Was
the lowest salary scale for similar
work IL the state, and if the matter
had been taken .up by a committee for
each paper separately there would
have been no objection to collective
bargaining.
The writer's met q week ago to-day
and sent q letter embodying their de
mands to the publishers, who called
conference at once. Saturday night
was sat as the time limit for an an
swcr. No written reply was made, but
the dismissal in a body Of The Reg
Ister statH was quickly tatken up as
challenge.
The strikers say they are prepared