The evening world. Newspaper, August 2, 1916, Page 10

ao A eee ee 8 THE BVERING WORLD, WEDEBSVAT, AVOUST 8, 103 Shall New York Street Railways Be Run for the People of New York? To the People of New York City:--- The threat to tle up the street ra!lroads of this City {s your problem. ‘A definite expression of public opinion will be overwhelming. We believe we are profoundly right, and we want the public of this City te know why. e eo @ a Bee what fs threatened’ ‘An organization from another city, In order to bolster up {ts side of & dispute {n a nelghboring community, seeks to stop the very life-blood of the City of New York. There are no differences between our men and ourselves, It is not even claimed that there are. But this alien organization proposes to call a strike anyway! e e e e We are not fighting labor unions or the principles of organization, Our problem is a simple one—but very practical, Itisthis: We are responsible to the people of New York for provid- {ng safe, prompt and continuous transportation service. For that responsfbility we are held \igorously to account by publica opinion re-inforced by a Public Service Commission with drastic powers. . The very life of the City depends upon the continuity of our opera- tions. Disrupt it, and New York is prostrate, Our men are being threatened and intimidated by the Amalga- mated Association of Electric Street and Railway employes, an or ganization with interests in various parts of the United States, , Itsmain offices are in another city. Ite interests are not primarily the interests of the people of New York, of the transportation companies within its borders, or of the men they employ. ) »eo ee ee @ Y To actept the regime of this organization would immediately make the operation of the street railroads of New York a prey to the orders, the prejudices and the disputes of the officers of an alien organization with alien interests, working for alien purposes, and with no responal- bility whatever to this community. Our men want to stay by their Jobs. A careful canvass makes that clear. _ There {s no question, however, of the purpose of this organfzati without consultation with, or authority from, our own employes, to cal a strike on the lines of the New York Railways, with a hope that through threats and {ntimidation our men may be induced to stay away, from their work, We are ready, and have always been ready, to meet with our own men to discuss our mutual interests. The management of these lines has worked harmoniously with {ts men for many years. We have recognized the {mpossibility of providing the service the people demand unless men and officers co-operated heartily, - Our men themselves know that we want to share with them the in creased prosperity of the Company. We have increased wages twice this year. During the past several years we have made other increases, as well as constantly adjusted working conditions so as to make them more favorable. But this alien organization, to serve its own ends, now proposes to throttle the daily lifo of this Great City in spite of all that. It would be impossible for us to recognize or to deal with this or ganization without stultifying ourselves in the performance of ovr su- preme duty to the people of this City. We wish to make it clear, therefore, that we cannot and will not have any dealings whatsoever with this alien organization, although our willingness to meet with our own men stands—and will stand. The public interest in this situation far transcends that of any cor- poration or its employes. Weare gravely conscious of our duty to leave no step untaken that will avoid an interruption of transportation service. Weare relying upon the loyalty of the uniformed employes of this Company to co-operate with us in maintaining the service we are obli- gated to give to the people of New York. The men may, on their part, rely upon us to do everything in our power to see to it that their interests and safety are protected to the full extent of the law. e e e The City authorities of New York have assured us of their determi- nation to preserve order and give ample police protection to our pas- eengers and employes. . With such protection, there will be no doubt of our ability to main- tain our servico—and maintain it with our loyal, uniformed employes. e ° e e If every man {n New York makes up his mind that insofar as his in- fluence {s concerned he wil! not tolerate an interruption of traffic on the street railways of this City, there won't be any question as to what will happen, New York Railways Company President