New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-01
All Efforts to
Settle b. II. 7.
Strike Futile

(Continucd from page ons)
at the Brooklyn Labor Lyceum at IL
| o'clock tomorrow morning. We shall
have an important announcement tt
make to them"
Mr.. Fridigers message provoked
loud cheers and cries when delivered
to the men.
1--WE have won, we have won!" was
the cry resounding through the hall
The few leaders present, however
cautioned them against spreading the
news that the strike may be settled.
Mr.. Fridiger, who sent his message
by telephone, would not say what 1.-The
important announcement" was to be
The strikers assembled at the Lyceum
discussed the probable nature of the
announcement, expressing many prob
abilities, among them the one that the
company had 'backed down." Some
| were willing to go back to work while
arbitration was in progress. Others
! insisted on "sticking it out" None of
the strikers seemed to be aware that
neither Judge Mayer nor the B. r. T.
had receded from their position not
TO accept unlimited arbitration.
Closed Shop IL ue Raised
Great commotion WIS excited when
one of the strikers shouted:
otis too late now to arbitrate. We
will fight now for the closed shop.
Garrison and Mayer had their chance
to compromise and they would not do
it. Now we won't, either. It's the
closed shop or nothing"
Part of the strikers assembled
cheercd this uttcrance, but many
shouted to the speaker to "sit down."
For a moment it seemed that the OPP
posing camps would fly at each other
General confusion ensucd The situa-
ton was saved by the action of few
cooler heads, who succeeded in adjourn
ing the meeting.
The dramatic element in the b. r. T.
strike situation was. for moment,
transferred yesterday from the city
streets to the hearing room of the Pub
lie Service Commi SION, where the COM
mission continued its inquiry into the
causes Of the strike and possible ways
and means of reaching an accommoda-
ton between the B. K. T. and it's en-
ployees.
Several times the debate dcgeneratcd
into squabblc between Louis u.
Fridiger. counsel for the strikers, and
members of the Public Service Com
mission. Once an actual FIGHT was
just averted.
Attorneys in Sharp Clash
While Mr.. Fridiger was address,
ing the commission, Mortimer B. Hotr-
man. attorney for the Il. L. T., rose
and interjected:
ut is damned shame that this COM
mission be allowed to listen to a loafer
like that!"
Here Mr.. Hoffman pointed at Mr..
Fridiger.
Instantly Mr.. Frdieer few at Mr..
Hoffman. He was restrained by Mr..
Shea and group Of union leaders and
spectators. Commissioner Alfred M.
Barrett raped vigorously for order,
but the hammcring Of his gavel failed
to subdue the belligerency of Mr.. Fri
digger. 1t was only after Police Lieu
tenant McGinty and bomb squad de-
tective rushed into the excited crowd
that the disorder subsded
Charles f. Buckner, MIR. Fridiger's
law partner, walked over to Mr.. Hoff-
man and, shaking lis finger vigorously
at him, shouted:
you ought to be ashamed of your
self"
MI. Buckncr was secretary to Oscar
Straus when Mr.. Straus was Public
Service Commissioner Of this district.
Mr.. Hoffman offered to withdraw his
remark and apologized TO Mr. Fridiger.
Preferred to Punch His Nose
II won't accept any apology from
you, cried Fridiger. Il would rather
punch your nose"
you're a coward" added Mr.. Fri
digger, as he resumed his seat, FOR no
man would remain quiet after his
apology had been declined as | have
declined yours"
The foregoing alteration was pro-
voked when, after Mr.. Barrett had adj
journcd the hearing, Mr. Fridiger re-
quested to be permitted to make a
statement and Terence Farley, counsel
Tor the commission, arose and sug-
gested that Mr.. Fridigers remarks be
cut short.
When the hearing was opened
MIR. Fridiger demanded to know WHY
nc and other representatives of the
men were not permitted to go on the
stand and tell their side of the story,
as LlndIey M. Garrison had told the
company's side. He said he had been