New-York tribune., 1920-08-30
Wage Increase
Is Main Issue.
Says Fridiger
Counsel for Union Declares
BRIT. Officials Resort TO
Falsehood inRepresenting
Closed Shop as Demand
Walk-Out Unsanctioned
But Attorney for Strikers
Says International Body
Will Approve Their Action

ger, counsel for the union, declared
last night. He added that B. r. T. off
cials were "malciously lying" to win
public support, In giving the impres.
sion that their employees stuck be-
cause the company would not arbitrate
closed shop proposition.
"A month ago the union did mention
closed shop in the agreement submit
ted" Fridiger explained, "but just for
| trading purposes. The union did not
expect to get it, but added that to
other things for which the men are
striking now in order to have more
basis for negotiations. The closed
shop proposal was withdrawn three
weeks ago, although the B. r. r. heads
pretend That 1T is main issue now.
A wage increase is the main issue"
This is not an outlaw strike, Fridi-
ger said, although official sanction had
not been received as yet from W. D.
Mahon, international president of the
Amalgamated. Counsel for the union
said he expected the international or
ganization to back the strike. Union
men said that the Amagamated had
worked hard in the past to organize
the Brooklyn electric railway en-
ployees and probably would not risk
de1ectlon In their ranks now.
Standing Vote Rejected
Fridiger denied the accuracy Of Va
rlous early reports on the big Satur-
day night meeting. He said that the
seeming reluctance of P j. Shea, chair
man of the international organization.
to permit strike vote to 20 through
was really an attempt to learn the
meetings. true sentiment
When rising strike vote was pro-
posed, Shea objected on the ground
that 1000 men had no seats and could
not sit down, because the hall was
crowded, and therefore standing vote
could not be accurate. When "hands-
up vote was called Shea saw MANY
holding up both hands, according to
Frldiger, so that method failed.
Contrary to report, Shea did not
speak at the second meeting after mid
nlght, when, according to Fridiger, Ahe
men voted unanimously to strike. Fri
diger urged Shea not to speak, warning
MN that certain young radicals might
attempt to shoot him if he opened his
mouth, and that in speaking he would
certainly expose himself to some sort
OF violence. Fridiger asserted that the
air seemed pretty warm to him at the
c!ose OF the first meeting, when dozens
shook their fists at Shea as he left the
hall
Counsel for the union said the vote
was a fair expression of the unions
wishes, although only from $500 to
o'o0o men were present out of an en-
roilment of 10000 to $4,000.
Ihe unions position, as Fridiger
puts 1T, is desire that every differ
ence be arbitrated, and an objection to
Judge Mayors attitude that even after
arbitration has determined what pay
IS correct he has the right to reduce
tnat II 1t appears to him that the COM
pany finances cannot stand it, Such
procedure would bring arbitration to
naught, Fridiger held, so that it would
not be arbitration at allj
Officials Backing Men
The lawyer would not comment on
statement, credited to Mayor Hylan,
that the strike actually is not against
the wishes of the B. R. r. officials. but
is subtle move to obtain a higher
tare In other words, Mayor Hylan
held the B. R. T. partly responsible for
the strike, according to rumor.
Fridiger insisted that he and Shea
and other union officials are backing
their men to the limit, and are out to
win the strike.
According to James NJ Sheridan
chairman of the joint executive board
of the union, 1900 members of the
union are on strike. Many of these, he
said, were new members, who had been
hired by the R. T. to serve as strike
breakers, but had decided to join the
union forces. He declared that there
would be no violence.
II have warned all the delegates"
he said, "to be diplomatic at all times.
| will not tolerate violence in any form.
Well win if we behave ourselves"
There was a crowd Of strikers about
union headquarters at Brooklyn Labor
Lyceum, Willoughby and Myrtle ave-
nues, all day, but none seemed to be in
a belligerent mood. Inside the build
ing the leaders were making their
plans to keep interest in the strike in
tense.
They have engaged halls in various
parts of the borough, each Of which
will be a center for the strikers living
in that district, and at each of which
there will be daily rally, with
speeches by the strike leaders. These
meetings will start to-day.
At 10 a. M. there will be a meeting
at Brooklyn Labor Lyceum; at IL a. m,
one in hall on Manhattan Avenue
near Greenpoint Avenue; at 1890 p m,
on- at the Parkway Assembly Rooms,
Fifty-frst Street and Fourth Avenue
at . p. M, one at the Brownsvill La
Dor Lyceum, and at s p M, another at
Brooklyn Labor Lyceum.
P. J. Shea, international chairman of
the Amalgamated said last night that
he had not received official sanction
from international headquarters, and
that it was. not necessary, because he
had authority to call the strike and
secure support for it. Shea slept al
most all Sunday, after the strenuous
and trying meetings in Brooklyn.
He is staying at the Continental
Hotel.
Shea Forecasts Victory
"We wanted an amicable adjustment
of our differences" he said "But
word leaked into the meeting that the
B. r. T. was taking a strike for
granted and proceeding to lock out
union men around the power houses.
1--WE merely insist that the companies
live up to their agreement Of last year,
specifying that all differences be
arbitrated. That agreement said, now
or hereafter What the devil does
hereafter mean, anyhow?
THE public will soon see that the COM
pany can't operate car lines by strike
breakers. For one thing, they never
turn in any money. It's against their
creed. l can't make any definite fore
casts now, except to say that we're in
position to see the strike through to
a successful finish"
Asked what he thought of Mayor
II ~ 20