Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-11
TRACK: IS TORN UP
Acts of Violence Follow Rail-
way Strike in France.
SOLDIERS GUARD ROAD
Employees Are Demanding General
Increase in Wages.
MAILS FROM PARIS DELAYED
Men on Lines Other Than the North
ern Awaiting Orders to
Cease Work.
SOLDIERS GUARD ROAD
MAILS FROM PARIS DELAYED

PARIS. October 1.-THE employees of
the Northern railroad went on strike early
today and by IL o'clock this forenoon the
tie-up of the system was practically COM
plete At that hour only trains for
Calais and Cologne were moving.
Military engineers have been called to
replace the strikers, but the number Is
inadequate to restore the running
schedules.
Several acts of violence occurred before
daybreak. AT st. Quentin the tracks
were torn up. Two locomotives collided
at Tergnier and obstructed the main
track. Military forces have taken pos
session of several stations and have been
posted along the road to protect the rail-
road property.
The strike developed over night and
took the company and the public by sur
prise.
There has been ill-feeling on the part
of the employees for some time owing to
the refusal Of the Northern railroad to in
crease the wages of the men to a mini
mum of 81 a day and to grant other con-
cessicns. There have been rumors of
impending 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.
What the Men Demand.
The demands of the employees are as fol-
lows:
I. a general increase in wages to meet
the higher cost of living.
2. retroactive application of the en-
ployes' pension law.
3. A more equitable division of work.
I. The granting of one day off in seven
for all employees.
i. Distinct employment by the month
instead of by the day.
As soon as the company and the author
tiles learned tie situation the Paris ter
minus of the road was occupied by the
military, municipal guards and police. The
government. 1t appears, was not unpre-
pared for today developments and had
taken steps to preserve order. During
the night troops were assembled in this
city and along the lines of the roads in
the provinces. where they were held in
readiness to guard the stations. the roll
ing stock and the tracks.
In the face of these preparations the
trainmen declared that they would not
be inundated. and that II they were
called upon as reservists to man the
trains they would refuse on the ground
that such commands would be illegal.
They claimed that the law provided only
for the mobilization of railroad men for
the purpose of transporting troops.
Origin of the Trouble.
The demands originated with the un-
der trainmen, the baggage handlers and
ticket takers. but they were supported
by the complete personnel, as every
branch of the service has some griev-
ance. The strikers threaten to draw to
their support the employees Of the state
railroad lines.
Work ceased first on the freight trains,
and none of these left the city last night.
Early in the night telegraphic and tele-,
phonic communication along the road
was interrupted. and thus the manage
ment was in ignorance of what trains
were moving.
The postal department hurriedly pre-
pared an automobile service to carry the
malls in the north.
No trains left this city between midnight
and o'clock. At daybreak this city
was severely affected. Only few sub
northern districts. Several mail trains for
Germany suspended operation. Others
proceeded for Brussels after long delay.
May Become General.
1t was learned that at ST. Denis $50
engineers out of a total of GOO refused to
man their engines At Lachappelle %
per cent of the men struck. At some of
the depots 20 per cent Of the employees
tailed to report for duty.
Inquiries on lines other than the North
ern. both state and private, developed a
decided strike sentiment. These men de-
clare that they only await orders to i'm
mediately cease work.