The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-02
ARMS co. WANTS
 MORE POLICE AT MAMMOTH PLANT
Labor Agitators At Work Among Foreign Speak
 ing Men.

With labor agitators and organiz- CTS, not all of them affiliated with the local trade unions, at work among 25O0 foreigners and dissatisfaction gradually creeping into the ranks of those unable to speak the English language, +because of prosperity talk heads of the new Bridgeport Arms company fear serious disturbances at their plant and have asked the police commissioners of this city to add largely to the patrolmen now assign ed for duty at the second precinct station.
 It is known that besides Organizer Vincent DeFa1co, fifth vice president of the International Hod Carriers union, who arrived in this city from Indianapolis yesterday and is now en- deavoring to get an agreement with James Stewart & Go, contractors. men affiliated with the trade unions are agitating independently and with out the sanction of the local unions for increase in wages.
 In letter to the police board, Major Walter A. Penf1e1d, head of the Arms Company in this city, asked yesterday for much larger detail of policemen, demanding this protec- tfon because of the vast amounts in voIved in the present building oper-
 
 eventually bring to the east side. No action has been taken by the | police commissioners, and President George S. Hill, who is in New Y ork 1 city, could not be reached today to make a statement on what the city proposes to do upon this demand. The letter of Major Penfe1d fol- I lows:
 We are now employing in con r-fr~1 %Soyo n 0n hands, most of whom are foreigners, and as you know we are having our 1 labor troubles. When our plant is 1 completed, it, with it's associate, the 1 U. M. Company, will probably be the largest taxpayers in the City of l Bridgeport, and we believe that we should be given ample police protec- l ton for this end of the city, which l we do not feel that we are getting at the present time.
 1 Captain Redgate, in command of | the second precinct has rendered us | every assistance possible and has 1 been most kind in furnishing police men when necessary to take care of l the situation here. It should be not 1 ed, however, that the number of men 1 at Captain Redgate's disposal is de- 1 cidedly inadequate to afford proper police protection if we should have 1 any serious labor troubles which we anticipate.
 ''I would be most glad to make an | appointment with you at any place or time convenient to you to talk over l this situation, as I believe that our company should be given more con- federation from the City of Bridge l port, especially consid ering. the taxes, etc, which we are to bring into this 1 city, which should increase the pros l perity of this city in every direction. l ''I believe that the present situation | is most serious and should be given early consideration by your honor able board"
 | In a supplementary statement by the same official to The Farmer to- 1 is now employing about 2,50O, for | eigners, and while it was believed that the troubles brought about by the hod-carriers had been settled it had been noted from past experience that when prosperity strikes a city. | those who have preViouSlyV starved are | the very ones to start a strike
 While people were starving here l last winter, there was no kick, saiC 1 that official today, .tbut as soon as prosperity came, then came the de mands which have occasioned the | Vate sources that many of the labor organizers and agitators from al l over the state are in Bridgeport, and 1 we know that they are not trying to | organize for peaceful purposes.
 "I am also credibly informed that there are but few more than 20Npo- ncemen available at the second pre- cinct station, and I would like to ask what these 20 men can do to protec our plant valued at between five anC six millions of dollars and that of the U. M. c. Company valued at abou three millions of dollars in the even of sudden disturbance among the g., I 500 foreigners we are now employing !, on contraction work alone.
 When it is considered that we ex pect to bring about 1900 families tC this city within three months, or neal 25 per cent. of the present population believe that we are but acting with
 in our rights in asking for real protec ton.
 I've can at least ask for this pro tection," Major Penfe1d concluded and if we do not get it befote troubl
 comes then it cannot be said that w e1iH ''