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"Since your representatives first
called me at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon and said you
intended to strike at 4 o'clock this Sunday morning, I have
been endeavoring to get them to call you together so I could
address you. Your representative has persistently refused to do
this, so I am addressing you this way because I want
every individual man among you to know exactly what it is
I want to say to you and what your representative apparently
doesn't care to have you hear.
"I came from the ranks myself, was
elected to office by men like you and understand the lives of
men like you far better than most public officials possibly
could.
Favors Higher Wages
"Whatever your representative may
tell you, I want you to know that I have no objection to your
getting a better wage scale. In fact, I think you should have
better wages, and if you will only take counsel from me you
will find me making a persistent fight to get you a good wage
scale. I would be untrue to my own life convictions if I took
any other attitude.
"What is more, I am also
interested in getting for you decent working hours and decent
working conditions. I am against all kinds of industrial
slavery. The kind of men who create industrial slavery are the
kind of men that some of your leaders are now approving...
* * *
Leaders of the strike were served with
copies of an injunction signed by Supreme
Court Justice Lydon, at 7 o'clock
yesterday morning - three hours after the strike started. A
clause in the injunction forbids officers of the Brotherhood
from supporting the strike or addressing strike meetings. The
order is returnable to-morrow.
______________
Mayor Appeals to I. R. T.
Strikers to Arbitrate
______________
Strikers to Arbitrate
______________
Pleads for Hearing and Says He Can Prove They Are Being Misled
-- Declares Hedley Refused 50 Per Cent Raise Even if Given
8-Cent Fare
_________________
_________________
Mayor Hylan issued a personal appeal
yesterday to the striking Inter- borough car men. He made it in
writing after futile efforts to get the consent of officers of
the Brotherhood of Interborough Employes to address the men.
The Mayor again charged that the
Interborough was using men only for the purpose of obtaining
eight-cent fares. He charged that if higher fare was allowed
the men would not get the 50 per cent increase in wages they
are demanding
He asked that the 15,000 Interborough
employes meet him at Madison
Square Garden and discuss the strike
situation. "Any hour of the day or night" is
suggested by the Mayor for the meeting.
His appeal to the men follows:
"Friends and Fellow Citizens:
The IRT didn’t enjoy the best public image. Artist W.A. Rogers
expressed the public’s feelings in this 1905 cartoon from
the New York Herald. The inscription on the car door says
“Trains run at the co’s convenience.” The
angry gentleman in colonial dress is Father Knickerbocker, a
popular allegorical representative of the city citizenry. Library of Congress.
©2003 The Composing Stack Inc.
©2003 Gregory J. Christiano
Updated January 20 , 2003