New-York tribune., 1920-09-05
Gang Of 200
Van Strikers
MaulsDrivers
Union Men Defy the Order
of Leaders to Refrain
From Violence; Assault
Two and Threaten Others
Pickets ON Seventh Ave.
Truck Is Driven OH Wrong
Side of Street: 1900
Reported in the Walk Out

Defying the orders of their own lead
200 striking van drivers, members Of
the Van Drivers, Helpers and Packers
Union, attacked non-striking drivers in
Manhattan yesterday. Pickets who
lined the streets at Seventh Avenue
and Fifty-cighth Street shortly after 4
o'clock in the afternoon stopped all
trucks and inquired where the drivers
were going. Upon receiving what they
regarded as unsatisfactory replies the
pickets dragged the drivers out Of their
seats.
A truck owned by A. Schultz, Of Is
Hackensack Avenue, East Rutherford,
N. j., and loaded with household goods.
was stopped by pickets, who pulled the
driver and his two helpers off the vehi-
Gle. The driver declined to give his
name, but pleaded with the strikers not
to hurt him. He received beating and
was permitted to return to his truck
with his two helpers.
Just as he took hold Of the steering
wheel, however, he was pushed to one
side by striker, who seized the wheel
and started the truck off on the wrong
side of the street on Seventh Avenue
driving it into a mass of moving
vehicles and street cars. Traffic be-
tween Fifty y-seventh ard Fifty eighth
streets on Seventh Avenue was halted
as result until the driver of the truck
regained possession of the wheel and
steered his vehicle back to the right
side of the street He turned east
into Fifty-seventh Street, with strikers
pursuing him.
Ordered to Stay Out of City
Another case occurred at 142d Street
and Amsterdam Avenue, where two
trucks loaded with household goods
consigned from Yonkers to Newark, N.
hauled off their seats. The drivers
gave their names as James E. Denny,
of Newark, and George L. Berg, also
of Newark. They said they were en-
ployees of the Union Trucking Com
pany Of that city. They were per-
mitted to resume their seats on the
trucks, but were informed they would
be escorted to the ferry by pickets. At
the ferry the pickets informed them
that they must not drive their trucks
into New York City again az long as
the strike lasts. The drivers prom
ised they would not return until the
| strike was over.
At Fifty-fourth Street and Seventh
| Avenue driver was hauled off small
truck loaded with trunks. He was bad
ly beaten by group Of pickets. The
| victim succeeded in wrenching himself
free from his assailants by pulling his
arms out of his coat sleeves. Leaving
! the coat in the hands of the pickets
he ran up Fifty-fourth Street toward
Sixth Avenue. Twenty minutes later
two men who said they had instruc-
tions to drive the truck to garage
appeared. They were permitted by the
strikers to take it away. No names OF
could be obtained.
John J. McKenna, secretary-treas
urer Of the striking van drivers, an
nounced yesterday at Beethoven Hall
strike headquarters, that 500 non
union drivers and helpers joined tn,
ranks of the strikers during the day
bringing the total number of striker!
up to 1900. McKenna said that tht
strikers have made overtures for q
settlement to the Van Owners Asso
citation, but that these were repulsed
the employers refusing to meet repre-
sentatives of the union.
Painters and Plumbers Returning
Additional settlements in the strike
of the $4,000 members of the Brother
hood of Painters, Paper Hangers anc
Decorators in this city were reported
yesterday by Philip Zausner, secretary
OF the organization. Zausner said thai
more than 80 per cent. of the striking
painters have returned to work as 6
result of the granting of their de-
mands by employers. He expects the
strike to be settled by the middle OF
this week.
Similar progress toward settlement
was reported yesterday for the strik.
ing plumbers by Walter j. Kelly. ma.
tlonal secretary of the Amalgamat ted
Metal Workers of America, with which
the, striking plumbers are afiliated
Kelly said that not more than 5oo
plumbers are still on strike. The rest
having had their demands granted. are
back at their posts. Most Of those still
out are employed by members Of the
Master Plumbers Association. who
have refused to recognize the union
although. strike leaders saw. manv
members of the association have uc.
ceeded to the unions demands.