The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-25
TRUCK OWNERS
KILL PAY PLEA;
TO DEMAND CUT
Time Labor Helped Capital
to Bring Costs Down,
They Declare.
PREPARED FOR FIGHT
Committee Named to Urge
Men to Accept Reduc-
tion in Wages.
COUNTER TO UNION MOVE
Request for Increase Rejected
$4,000 Workers Are At
fected by Action.
PREPARED FOR FIGHT
COUNTER TO UNION MOVE

More than 600 representatives of
trucking corporations and merchants
associations. at a meeting yesterday
at the Waloorf-Astoria, not only re-
jected the demands of almost $4,000
union truckmen for shorter working
days and an Increase in wages of 81 a
week but made a counter demand upon
the union that the workers voluntarily
submit to a cut in wages In order ito
make possible a lower cost for truck
ing Despite the obvious fact that ii
meant open warfare against the truck
mems union the meeting unanimously
adopted a resolution covering the de-
mand for a CUT in wages, and named
a committee to submit the resolution
to the labor union.
1T is fight to the finish now" said
James J. Riordan, president Of the
United States Trucking Corporation.
Labor must open It's eyes. We don't
care whether it means open shop with
US or not. 1t is n question of the sur
vival of the fittest.'
The present rate of wages for a driver
Of truck drawn by team of horses
Is S31 a week Drivers of single horse
drawn trucks receive $29 a week.
Representatives of the trucking cor
porations asserted that to grant the
demands Of the union men for an in
crease in wages would mean they would
have to retire from business. They have
made virtually no profits during the last
year. they declared, and It would be
necessary for labor to make substantial
concessions In order to prevent disaster
TO the trucking business. The resolution
demanding the cut in wages was offered
by Arthur G. McKeever. president OF the
Ajax Trucking Company. 1t Is as fol-
lows:
Whereas, wages now paid in truck
ing throughout this city are higher than
those paid in other cities. which fact
handicaps local merchants when in COM
petition and further is a detrinicnt to
the trucking industry because OF the
diversion OF business to other cities
and
whereas. in combating the high cost
of living merchants have already made
generous contributions through material
price reductions. but no corresponding
wage decrease has been contributed by
labor; therefore, be it
Resolved. That labor should share
with capital the burden of restoring a
normal adjustment OF prices, and that
it is the sense OF this meeting that sub
stantiaI concessions should be obtained
L a
lower cost for trucking In the city of
New York
Mr.. Riordan was authorized by the
meeting TO appoint n committee 10 act
as n wage committee, and to meet with
labor representatives to see IL the threat
ened strike could not be averted. The
committee will meet with union leaders
at the City Club some time tomorrow
afternoon. In view of the stand taken
yesterday by the meeting in demanding
a reduction IN wages instead of granting
the increase asked by the unions. II Is
not expected this meeting will DO at
tended with much success
The COMMITTEES Is composed OF Arthur
G.. McKoever, chairman: X. e Lincoln.
II. L. Crawford. John A. G. Jansen, III. l..
Kuhst Il. r. Baker. S. A. Margon. l..
Goldberg. T. r. Murphy. Matt Lowden.
I. Seemcn. Charles Ward, c. Willis. j.
J. Riordan. W. J. Mccormick. A. J. Nc.
Donald, u. X. Lowe and II. J. Tarof.
Mr.. Tarof. as the representative Of
the New York Board of Trade. discussed
the problem OF transportation as II at
fected the merchant, and declared that
an increase at the present time would
prove disastrous. He declared tho ner-
chants In this city were beginning 20
transfer their business 70 other cities be-
cause OF the present high trucking
nricea