The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-11
Employees of Northern Railway
of France on Strike.
The Track Is Torn Up and En-
gines Are Wrecked.
DEMAND HIGHERWAGE
And One Day OF in Seven for
All Employees.
Trouble Threatens to Extend to
the Government Roads.

- NSN' IL lC SiIlpHOyGeS OIL InS
Northern railway went on strike today
and by IL O'Clock this morning the tie
up OF the system was practically com
plete. At that hour trains only for
Calais and Cologne were moving.
Military engineers have been called
to replace the strikers but the number
is inadequate to restore the running
schedule.
Several acts of violence occurred be-
fore daybreak
AT St Quentin. the tracks were torn
up The locomotives collided at TergI-
ner and obstructed the main track
Military forces have taken possession
of seven stations and have been posted
alor the road to protect the railroad
property.
The strike developed over night and
took the company and the public by
surprise.
There has been ill-feeling on the part
of the employees for some time, owing
to the refusal of the Northern railroad
to increase the wages of the men to i
minimum of 81 a day and to grant 9th
er concessions.
There have been rumors of an i'm
pending strike but the men conducted
| their plans with great secrecy and not
until last evening was it realized that
the fight probably would be on today.
The Demands.
| he u6IIldHuS Oh the employees are.
IA ~eneral increase in wages to
meet the higher cost of living.
PA retroactive application of the
! employees pension law.
! 3-A more equitable division of work
| 4-The granting of one day off in
| seven for all employees.
5Distinct employment by the month
I instead of by the day.
| 1t is understood the plan of the men
| was to have the strike begin in Paris
/ a last Ta1idniohf in
| at o'clock this morning. As soon IS
| the company and the authorities learn
| ed the situation the Paris terminus Of
| the road was occupied by the military
municipal guards and police The de-
| mands originated with the under train
| men, the baggage handlers and ticket
| takers, but they were supported by the
| complete personnel. as every branch
| of the service has some grievance.
! The strikers threaten to draw to
| their support the employees of the
state railroad lines.
| Work ceased first on the freight
trains and none left the city last night
Early in the night telegraphic and
road was interrupted and thus the
! management was in ignorance of
what trains were moving.
Mail, by Automobile.
The postal department hurriedIy
prepared an automobile service to car
No trains left this city between mid
night and 5 o'clock.
At daybreak this city was severely
affected, only a few suburban trains
arriving from the outlying northern
districts
Several mail trains for Germany
suspended operation. Others proceed
ed for Brussels after long delay. It
was learned that at st. Denis $50 en-
gineers out of a total of 500 refused
TO their engines AT Ia Chan
pelle, go per cent of the men struck.
At some of the other depots so per
cent of the employees failed to report
for duty.
Inquiries on lines other than the
Northern, both state and private. de-
veloped a decided strike sentiment.
! These men declare that they only
await orders to cease work.
In the forenoon all stations on the
/ Northern road were taken possession
of by the troops and the police. No
disturbances were reported. Most of
the men who continued working this
| forenoon hail from the provinces and
simply took the opportunity to return
home on their trains before Joining
| the strike.
Cabinet Takes Action
The cabinet met in special session
and voted to place the railroad on Il
military basis. A decree will be issued
! tomorrow and it is understood the
| law which permits it to muster the
railway employees into 20 days service
! as reservists, thereby subjecting them
/ to military discipline. 1t is believed
| the decree will apply this rule to ali
| railway employees with the view to
! preventing an extension of the strike.
/ There is much dissatisfaction on the
| western railway where the service has
| been disorganized in the nature of a
passive strike. Should the men on the
western system, the great artery for
| commuters go out, business in Paris.
| already seriously affected, might be
| para1yzed.
Should the government call out the
! strikers as reservists the situation win
be serious as the strikers have voted
not to respond.
/ Up to this afternoon comparatively
! little violence had been reported.
! Troops occupy the terminus and the
! important points along the railroad
lines and are. patrolling the road itself.