New-York tribune., 1920-02-02
Engineers Defer Walk
Out Till Wednesday on
Copeland's Promise of
an Advance i'm Wages
Murderous to Quit
Now, They Are Told
New Gases, 1901; Pneu-
monia Also Recedes:
Decrease in Mortality

Heatless homes and apartments,
allies of the influenza epidemic, have
been averted, for two days at
least. Engineers, flremen and other
workers who man the heating plants
in the apartment houses, hotels and
office buildings will not strike before
Wednesday morning. if they walk
out even then. Two thousand men
so voted yesterday afternoon at
meeting held at the Central Opera
House, Sixty-seventh Street and
Third Avenue, after a stirring ap-
peal by Health Commissioner Cope
land. In the meantime DR.. Copeland
will act as mediator between the
unions involved and the associations
representing hotel men, real estate
owners and landlords.
There seemed to be little doubt that
the men who packed the auditorium
were at the meeting with but one pur-
pose 20 vote to put into effect their
resolution adopted week ago to 20 on
strike at s o'clock this morning. Their
decision to accept DR.. Copeland as
mediator and to defer their strike for
forty-eight hours was due to an appeal
made to them based on the influenza
epidemic and the advisability of Civ
ing their employers every possible op-
rortunity to grant their demands for
higher wages and better working con-
ditions
Copeland Announces Concessions
Commissioner Copeland was greeted
warmly when he arose. He told the
gathering that he had seen a group
representing the employers in his office
IN tie morning, and that he was pre-
pared to otfer the minimum wage de-
maads 20 the men. acting on the part
OF the employers involved, and would
see to 1t that these increases were car
red out. He said he was speaking for
Frank A. K. Boland, Mark A. Caldwell,
both Of the Hotel Mems Association;
William 7. Ropes, Of the Building Own
ers' and Building Managers Associa-
ton; William De Bost, of the Chamber
OF Commerce. and Douglas NJ Cruik-
shank, representing real estate in
terests which control many Of the
largest apartment houses in the city,
the men with whom he had conferred.
Il summoned these men to my office
this morning, and am justified in say
ing Dr.. Copeland added, that the
wage demands-a minimum of $39 for
watch engineers, S33 for firemen and
$50 for coal passers-if they have not
already been put into execution, will be
given immediate effect. From the in
formation have obtained, as a re-
suit OF -he interviews with these men,
learn that they have been on the job
continuously with view to bringing
unprogressive members to the adop-
ton OF this scale"
Applause greeted this announcement,
ana as the Health Commissioner con-
tlhued there were frequent comments
from the meeting, all favorable
cannot permit you to go on
strike DR.. Copeland said 1T would
be the most wicked, murderous thing
possible. You must not do it. | beg
Of you not TO let the fires go out.
What you do after the epidemic is
vldual householder. But at this mo-
ment to go on strike, when the weather
Is very cold. is to ally yourselves with
disease which IS responsible for So
oVO eases OF illness at the present time
and many hundreds of deaths If an
agreement Is made and the employers
40 not live up to it | can conceive
that the fires may get so low that
the landlords will be hailed into court
with me as their accuser, and if SO, they
Will regret they broke their word to
you"
Timothy Healy, international presi-
tlremen and Oilers, urged the men to
accept the Health Commissioner as
mediator and counseled delay in the
strike action for forty eight hours.
want something in writing, how
ever" Healy said. 'I'm not going to
take any chances with these ducks
any longer. They have delayed mat
'ers consistently, broken their word
ana their solemn promises to US. We
cont trust them"
Leaders Counsel Delay
James P. Holland, president of the
State Federation of Labor and former
y stationary engineer; Michael Muir
phy, Thomas Bagley and William ke-
noe, business agents Of the local unions
involved and members of the unions
JOINT wage board, also favored delay
until the influenza crisis is past and
until the employers have a last oppor-
VtaAity 20 meet the demands. Joseph
honterfering, chairman of the joint
wage board, voiced the same sugges-
tlons, and said that strike now would
influence public sentiment against the
men and hamper their chances to have
'heir demands granted.
:, After DR.. Copeland had assented to
she Plan to have him as arbitrator the
meeting decided to present to him
sheir demands in writing this morning.
ia was also decided to have another
meeting at the same hall tomorrow
night, at which time DR.. Copeland's
oIecision will be made known, and if
!e .ne employers finally refuse to grant
.ne demands OF the men they voted
mat they will strike on Wednesday
morning at s o'clock.
Alter the meeting DR.. Copeland said
ne was hopeful that the dispute
would be adjudicated satisfactorily to
al al concerned. He said ne had no doubt
mat ne would be suitable to the en-
p'oyer group as an arbitrator.
according to Timothy Healy, the
notela which have not granted the
mems dopoopJo ;prl,,do cnyno Of tho