New-York tribune., 1920-04-13
IL and Subway Guards
Reported Restless, Ac-
cusing Shea Of Neglect
ing the Mems Interests
Receiver Garrison
Issues Wars1i1lg
W ~ sA,
Conference Said to Have
Discussed Some Conces-
sions Sought by Union

An "outlaw" strike by employees oil
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit, which
would tie up Brooklyn's "L,' subway
and surface car systems, loomed as
possibility yesterday.
Following Receiver Lindley NJ. Gar
rison's warning, that any employee
"who gives aid or comfort to the revo-
lutionary movement will be i'm
mediately suspended, it was announced
that the employees will hold a specia
meeting tonight in Brooklyn Labor
Lyceum, Willoughby and Myrtle ave
nCes.
Consensus of opinion among those
who listened to the expressions Of dis
content by men in the company's vari-
Gus barns was that it would require
but little agitation to impel members
of the union to defy the authority OF
their officers, scrap their agreemeni
with the company, which runs till Au-
gust 1, 1921. and walk out.
Receiver Garrison, William S. Men
den. superintendent of transportation
and George D. Yeomans, Brooklyn
Rapid Transit counsel conferred fo,
several hours yesterday with P. J. Shea
and other members of the executive
committee of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation Of Street and Electric Railway
Employees, with which the Brooklyn
union is affiliated. Garrison refused
to disclose what had been discussed
Union officials said they had talked
about abolishing the demerit system
and the one-man cars and establishing
a new work schedule.
May Offset Radical Appeals
1t was reported, however, that these
matters were broached merely in the
light of concessions which, if granted
might counteract the urgings Of radi-
cal agitators for strike.
1t is expected Shea will tell the
union men tonight what the receiver 8
attitude is on these questions. Louis
Fridiger, counsel for the amalgamated
and Hugh Frayne, A. F. of L. official,
also are scheduled to speak.
The meeting was called by amalga-
they did so under pressure OF the fear
that the men might otherwise meet
of their own accord and call strike
out of hand.
Many of the "L," subway and surface
car employees, as we'll as the shop
men, especially the younger men, were
outspoken yesterday not only in their
criticism of the B. R. T. management,
but of the course of Shea and their
other officers. A common complaint
was that Shea had ridden roughshod
over the wishes Of the rank and file
in reaching agreements with the COM
pany.
Many subway and "L' guards accuse
Shea of partialty in favor of the sur
face car men, based on racial prejudice
Some of them declared point blank
last night that they stood ready to
join in move to overthrow him at
the meeting
"L' Mctormen's Attitude Puzzle
There is considerable conjecture as
to the attitude the "L" motormen on
the B. R. T. will assume They are
members of the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers and have steadfastly
refused to affiliate with the amalga-
mated. or to take part in any of that
organizations dealings with the com
pany. With engineers on the steam
roads walking out, there was appre-
hension that the 81" motormen in
Brooklyn and the Interborough motor
ment. also members Of the brother
hood, in New York. might quit inde-
pendently Of any action the amalga-
mated may take.
Yesterday Receiver Garrison had
CONTINUED on paua thrcel