The New York Times/1918/11/11/Patrons Offer to Help
PATRONS OFFER TO HELP.
Plaza Hotel Reports 23 Willing to Serve in Strike Emergency.
The Plaza and Vanderbilt Hotels, where 500 employes—waiters, cooks, and storeroom girls—went on strike Saturday in continuation of the strike of the International Federation of Hotel Employés, which began in the Waldorf-Astoria, McAlpin, and Claridge Hotels two weeks ago, suffered very little inconvenience yesterday. H. F. Shaul, Secretary to Fred Sterry, manager of the Plaza, said many of the patrons had congratulated the management on the service that had been given, and twenty-five of them had volunteered their personal services in any capacity should it be necessary. Women are employed in the dining room, but in the kitchen on each floor negro men are employed.
W. H. Marshall, manager of the Vanderbilt Hotel, said that the service at his hotel was impaired but very little, and the patrons were co-operating. Negro waiters and cooks have taken the places of the strikers.
Prominent hotel and restaurant managers said they would give ready compliance to the reuqest made on Saturday by the Federal Food Administration for continued conservation of foodstuffs. The Food Administration has asked that the people give up afternoon teas, theatre suppers, and all "fourth meals," and make the banquet, club luncheon, or church supper a simple substitute for one of the three regular daily meals.
Paul Bourget, a member of the Strike Committe, denied yesterday that waiters at the Plaze and Vanderbilt Hotels earned $200 a month, as asserted by the management. "If the waiters received $200 a month," he said, "they would not be asking for $15 a week. The wage at the two hotels has been $40 a month—less than $10 a week. War regulations restricting the serving of bread and sugar have causes a reduction of tips amounting to as much as 80 per cent. in many hotels. Men and women who pose as patriots demand that waiters violate the rules of the Food Administration by serving additional portions of sugar and bread. When the waiter explains the portions are limited the diners become enraged and leave no tips."
Striking waiters from the six hotels affected will meet this afternoon in the New Amsterdam Opera House to arrange for permanent picketing of the hotels. The pickets will be stationed at all entrances to urge men and women cooks, waiters, and storeroom employes to join them.