Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-15
Associated Press.]

Bridgeport, May 15.-The conductors
 nd motormen employed by the Con- lecticOt Railway and Lighting Go here S-eNk on strike this morning, tying up all the lines in the city. This action followed a two hours session of the trolleymen,s union held during the early morning, at which the proposition made by the company in response to the demands of the men was rejected The company offered a slight increase fin wages, but refused recognition or the union. About 225 men are out.
 The tie-up came so unexpectedly as to seriously inconvenience the workers in the factories and stores, school chll- dren and regular patrons of the lines in general. It is estimated that 1,OOO workmen living on the east side lost oneIhalf days pay through the strike. They relied on the trolley cars to take them to their work, and not knowing a strike was coming to-day, waited for the cars as usual. They were forced to walk and when they reached the factories they found the gates closed against them until Hoon.
 With the exception of the mail car and an express car, not single other car ran over the lines in the city during
 
 parent effort to start any cars. As soon as the strike was declared the officials asked for protection for their property. Twenty-Five policemen were detailed to guard the car barns. Those officers remained on duty all morning, but later, as everything was entirely quiet, and as there appeared to be no necessity for so large force, most of the men were withdrawn and only two were assigned to take care of the car barns and power house.
 There are no signs of disturbances anywhere and it was announced that the strikers had passed resolution calling on their friends to refrain from injuring their cause by any resort to violence.
 One of the officers of the union said that the strikers were confident of win ming eventually, although they realized that the battle. might be prolonged. The officials of the company declined during the morning to make any state ment of what they intend to do, but it was announced that something off cial might be given out before the day was over.
 Sewell in Charge.
 IGIHIdl oGW6ll WdS III LOWn early to-day and took general charge Sf the company's affairs. The mail car which runs between the east side post office and the railroad station has made its usual trips today, as has also the cars of the electric express company going to New Haven and other places. The strikers voted at a meeting held early to-day that these cars should not l ! 4la so4,. were tolled off to act as crews.
 When strike was contemplated sew eral weeks ago. POO or more men ap- peared in the cityand were put to work on the cars as apprentices to learn the business. All of them, however, did }not have the appearance of green men and the union men thought they were intended as substitutes in case of a strike. Afterwards the men left here as suddenly as they appeared.
 Mulvihill Looks For No Trouble.
 Although the company had made no trip with the cars up to noon, there was some indecision as to when they would run or attempt to run cars. The general opinion is that strike-breakerS will be brought here, following out the policy pursued in Waterbury. The strikers had pickets at the railroad sta tions and the steamboat wharves early in the day, but no new men came in. Mayor Mulvihill- said that he antici- pated no violence from the strikers. 2 Thefe is feeling, however, that there twill be trouble and that it will take yplace on Sunday when there are many people around the streets idle. General Manager Sewell this after noon said that he had nothing to say about the situation or about his plans for meeting it. It is understood and the police movements seem to bear out the report that the company will start at least two cars about o'clock this af- ternoon.