The Washington times., 1915-07-15
GOMPERS WILL TRY
TO END STRIKE At
BIG ARMS FACTORY
Four Companies Of Artillery in
Bridgeport Await Call to,
QuelI Riots.

BRIDGEPORT. Conn. July 15.-sam-
uel Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor. was expected to
reach Bridgeport today in an effort to
avert a general strike among the en-
ployes Of the Remington Arms Company.
which, II called. would tie up manufac-
ture of war munitions for European bel
neerents
Four companies Of the Connecticut
Coast Artillery, with headquarters here
awaited the call today to take charge of
the situation.
About 300 men were on strike today,
mostly millwrights and hod carriers,
working on the new additions to the
Remington plant.
At secret meeting of the Central
Labor Union the advisability of calling
out the eighteen branches of the allied
metal trades was considered.
While the strike ostensibly arose over
the supervision of the millwrights by
the carpenters and structural iron
workers. Remington officials today de-
clared they had evidence that German
influences were at work, trying to COM
plicate the situation.
Fierce Riot Ensucs.
One hundred workmen. twenty guards,
and the Bridgeport police reserve took
part in a riot last night
The riot brought to fever heat the
labor excitement of the last week
The 5000 workmon,. since April evil
IDENTIFY satisfied with conditions, have
been stirred into a great unrest in the
last week by some unseen influence.
Major Walter w. Penfield, head of the
arms plant. saws Germany Is back of
the turmoil following the strike of the
ironworkers and the millwrights on such
a technical basis that the employers are
poWerlesS to settle.
hundred Portuguese laborers were
on their wav ont of the great 102-acre
construction plot just after o'clock,
when fellow guards heard F. 7. Lewis
call for help. Running up they found
him surrounded by workmen, two Of
whom were trying to throw him into an
eight-foot ditch.
men. under the direction OF the Burns
Detective Agency, rushed into the
melee swinging their heavy oak sticks.
The workmen went into the fight,
and a hurry call was sent for the
police. Sergeants James Ramsay and
samuel Gregory rushed all available
men to the scene, and arrived to fnd
that the guards had routed the work
men. Men were lying where they had
fallen. Most Of them managed to
scramble away when the police came
m sight
Frank Monte, eighteen years of age.
laborer. was unconscious. He was
taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where
It was found a guards stick had prob
ably fractured his skull. He Is also
suffering from decorations of the scalp
and body bruises. The guards could
give no reason for the sudden attack
except for the spirit of general ex-
element.
Officials Are Silent.
Officials of the Remington Company
had nothing to say in the case. A
hurry call was sent to Superintendent
Gr!est, of the Stewart Construction
Company. who went to New York and
he is expected back in the morning.
Mystery Is added to the sudden out
break by the fact that the laborers
are In no way connected with the iron
workers and millwrtghts who have
struck.
The belief OF Remington officials that
outside influences are at work to para
lyze the completion of the new factory
Is growing. They intend to start an
investigation by detectives to find out
the real reason of the strong and un-
paralleled condition in labor circles
among the thousands of employees, none
OF whom has made a single complaint
as to pay or hours.
Without. seeming grievance the
workmen have suddenly developed COM
plex demands. which are framed In
such a way that 1t is impossible for
either the Stewart Company or the REM
ington Company to comply without an
tagonizing another branch of the Fede-
ration of Labor. The situation grows
more complex and charged with serious
possibilities every hour.