The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-19
Men Quit Work Because De- mand for Standard Wage Scale In Effect on East
 ern Railroads Was
 Refused About 4,500 Conductors, Trainmen, Yardmen and Baggagemen on Strike 5000 Shopmen Affected Men Have Defense Fund of $1, ,OOO, ,0O0
fspecial from United Press.)

Especial from United Press.)
 System affected - Grand Trunk
 Railway Company of Canada. home
 office London. England.
 Total milea age-6. 745.50 Exclusive of the Grand Trunk Pacifc.)
 Yardmen, trainmen. baggagemen
 and conductors on strike-About
 4,500
 Shopmen affected-About 5000.
 Men demand standard wage scale
 now in effect on Eastern railroads
 in United States known as the B.
 & O. scale.
 Company offered flat increase of
 IS per cent and standard scale
 about 1913 when grain traffic Of
 Grand Trunk Western is expected
 to begin.
 Mems defense fund totals s1,-
 900, ,000.
 Promised by unions-$35O.O a
 month.
 In addition the Central Vermont
 system, operating 536 miles of road,
 is affected, the Grand Trunk con-
 trolling it through ownership of
 majority of the stock.
 Toronto, July 19.-Both freight and passenger traffice on the Grand Trunk
 
 standstill today. Following last nights walk out of the conductors and trainmen of the system only a few mail trains were being moved early today. There has been no violence so far The Union officials insisted this morning that the company would be compelled to give in within a short time This is denied by the railroad officials who declare experienced non- union men are being brought to the terminals and that traffic will soon be resumed.
 4. The Grand Trunk aAne, with it's con- nections, extends from Chicago through Canada to Portland, Me. In all about 4,500 conductors, brakemen. baggagemen and yardmep abandoned their posts when the strike order ar rived. Under orders from union headuuarters trains were taken to ter minals and yards and cleared before the men stopped. It had been hoped that at the very last minute trouble would be averted. However, the com pany last evening positively refused to pay the wage scale demanded.
 Besides the trainmen affected the strike has temporarily closed all of the shops on the system. This in- wolves 5000 men additionally and it was announced today that the com pany will give preference to these shop men in filling the places of the striking trainmen. In this way it is asserted that the company will get men with considerable experience in railroading to take the places of the strikers and trains can be operated without confusion.
 Detroit, July 19-With it's freight business between Detroit and Chicago practically paralyzed today by the strike of conductors, trainmen and switchmen, the Grand Trunk line is exerting every effort to move mail and fast passenger trains with loyal men and strike-breakers. A. B. At water, an official of the road, admit ted today that the service would be tied up for three days at least.
 The striking trainmen have as yet in no instance interfered with the new men who were put to work after the walkout. The union officials are do- ing their utmost to discourage any in clination towards violence. The possi- bility of a general strike throughout the yards of all the railroads enter ing Detroit loomed up big today. 1t has been suggested that the Grand Trunk will make attempts to handle its freight through the yards or other roads If this is done the union off cials say a sympathetic strike of all the local switchmen would be called. Buffalo, July 19.-The strike of the conductors and trainmen on the Grand Trunk system has tied up the Cana dian connection of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. No trains are running to- day over the Grand Trunk from this city, the last passenger train having pulled out at $50 last night and the last freight having crossed the inter national railway bridge at 9:30.
 Only about 200 men are involved in this vicinity. There has been no trou- ble of any kind so far.
 
 St. Albans, Vt, July 19.-Forced out by the strike of copductors, brakemen and switchmen On the Central Ver- mont here in sympathy with the Grand Trunk troubles, $50 workmen in the car and machine shops in this city were thrown out of employment today and the shops closed down. Traffic on the whole Central Vermont system is paralyzed.
 Thus far no violence has been re- ported. the men leaving their places quietly and in good order. In order to be prepared for any possible out break. a large number of men will be sworn in as deputy Sheriffs tomor- row morning. It is possible that the men who will be thrown out of em- ployment by the closing of the car shops here may be utilized in the ca pacity by the road
 New London, July 19-The tie-up on the Central Vermont railway and Grand Trunk, due to the strike of the conductors and trainmen was com pIete today. One train with a crew of a loyal engineer, fireman and spe- ciaI agent pulled out of the local sta- tion but never reached its destination and was withdrawn at Palmer
 Serious consequences to marine freight shipping between New London and New York and through these channels to entire New England are expected to follow the strike here
 The Grand Trunk and Central Yer mont boats carrying freight from New York will find no trains to take the goods to New England points and the marine traffic will have to be stopped awaiting a settlement of the labor troubles
 There were well founded rumors to-