New-York tribune., 1920-05-20
Insurgents in War on
Union Threaten to Tie
Up Deliveries With
Walkout of 5000 Men
Organization Nav
Keep Wagons Going
Companies Will Open
Cash and Garry Sta
tions in Manhattan

Two thousand milk wagon drivers who
went on strike suddenly yesterday morn
ing in protest against the acts of Of
fcials cf their own union met last
night in Sokol Hall, 525 East Seventy
second Street, and issued call for
a city-wide walk-out, If their plans
carry little milk can be delivered in
the city to-day.
The strikers decided upon this action
when the New York Milk Conference
Board refused to recognize them. The
boards committee on trade relations
held that the strike was unauthorized
by the regular union officials and it
could not deal with the men until they
were in the majority
Hospitals to Get Milk
Agreement has been made bv the
drivers to supply hospitals, baby health
stations, orphan asylums and similar
Institutions. to-day. They even pro-
pose TO deliver canned milk to the
poorer sections.
Frederick j. Sterbinsky, president of
Local 584 Of the International Team
sters' Union. announced last night after
a meeting of the executive committee
at the union headquarters, 316 West
Forty second Street, that he was conf
dent that the city's milk supply would
he delivered this morning without the
strikers, provided the companies aided.
He SAID mat the strikers places woult.
be filed by members from other
branches of the international.
Man J. Scharf, former secretary
treasurer of Local $50, to which all the
milk workers belong. who is leading
the strike, said that at least 5000 mem
berS Of the union would quit
He explained that the men are not
striking against the milk companies
but against union officials charged with
misUsing funds. He said the strike was
precipitated b. the discharge of ter
members by the various companies al
the request Of the union officials.
Strike Action Denounced
Sterbinsky declared the strike to be
unauthorized and likened it to the re-
cent railroad action. He said it had
been engineered by a few "disturbers
who had been requested to resign be
cause Of their hurtful radicalism,"
Scharf, the strike leader, according
to Sterbinsky was voted out of office
April q because he urged direct ac-
ton This was denied by Scharf, who
said ne was ousted because he had the
goods on the union officials who had
been charged with misrepresentation of
funds.
No wage demands have been made bv
the strikers, according to officials of
the milk companies affected They said
their contract with the union required
them to discharge men expelled from
the organization.
Lotion Horton, president of the Shelf
teld Farms Company, announced yes
,erday afternoon that his concern will
have plenty of milk for the trade to-day
at three stations in Manhattan and one
In Long Island City.
Manhattan Supply Station
~. The Manhattan stations will be 535
west Iwenty-eighth Street, Thirty
SlHth SKI Street and Tenth Avenue and 5i5
west Flfty-siXth Street, the one in
LoEg island City at Webster and Sev-
eeInth avenues. It viii be necessary for
,ne customer to go TO the station with
the contalner. however. Both whole
sa,ers and retailers will be served.
pr. Frank j. Monaghan, acting Health
tommlsSIoner. said he was ready TO
GO all IN his power to see that there is
10 milk shortage. He offered also to
ac' as arbitrator Of the strife. if nee
essary.
-, William V. Kehoe, vice-president of
'he distrlct council of the lnterna-
uphal brotherhood OF Transfers with
noich Local 5Si is affiliated, declared
Ie i;e strike to be Illegal, and said that
n.s ofe&nlzatlon would do all in its
power to break it.
. The strike took the companies by
ssrtIiiSe' ssnIl with the result that thou
rnn1 n"nus went without milk yesterday
n;rang ri;U.mnlhg. Inc sections that were prin-
epally affected were lower Manhattan
ana Long Island City.
Companies Affected
sbiss ne companies affected were the
prnenleld Farms Company. the Borden
M.ml Iim PRODUCTS Company. the Glover
! CnnN Cl,'rN company, the Standard Dairy
company. Wv 'e'' Vi "oo Dairy
,voo " men men the meeting of the strikers
'T"s f called to order at Sokol Hall by
49, tlbo|'S htIer, the temporary chairman.
nIei rIe reasons for the strike were ex-
p'aned a,T,d by Scharf.
Seine hane trouble in the unon," said
sga;n, a%,t, began when made charges
cow. cow. certain business agents. A
tb' tb,"'nlllee nte was named to investigate
sn,ro m onarges, which included the mis-
nmr;P.t,opriatlon m;.t of funds. The COM
t'Ie nnt round the charges sustained,
'eioFe they could report to the
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