New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-16
ARMS MEN FEAR
GENERAL STRIKE
In BRIDGEPORT
Union Leaders to Demand
Eight-HOur Day and Min
imum Wage for All.
SEE GERMAN HAND
IN LABOR TROUBLE
Huge War Contracts Threatened
by Men Who Say It's Psyche
logical Moment for Them.

From STAT Correspondent O, The Tfi6une.l
Bridgeport, Conn, July l5.-The fact
that the labor unions will submit posi-
tive demands to Bridgeport employers
including the Remington Arms and Am
nup;tion Company and the Stewart
Contracting Company, on SATURDAY
morning shows the mental attitude OF
tho labor leaders here. They stor,Iy
.sser+ thew are in for determined
cob+ that may shut down not ohly
s,'arv mandatory in Bridgeport but
Mill s,reod countrywide. The conces-
.;o,s demanded are not alone that 'he
mnIwriqbts shall be unionized with the
;ror-workers. but that every factory IN
pr;5r.nort shall operate on an eight
bour dav and minimum wage basis
Failure to Immediately comply VIII"
these demands, it is said, Will force "
general strike on Monday morning
Although no strike has been ofhc'aI'y
declared. the Remington Arms and Am
.
munition Company has put almost Two
miles Of electric light poles on the
west side Of the plant. Even at mid
night the zone will be as bright as
noon. and the 100 or more guards Will
he able to see an intruder yards away.
The labor leaders gathered here say
the employers must come across an"
that there shall be no more 'shiIly-
sballying' despite the fact that inc
Remington and Stewart companies sun.
insist on their contention that me
whole affair is a quarrel within the
unions. -. -
The machinists have the support OF
the sheet metal workers, tooimakers
and the structural iron-workers. Inc
are said to be the only union
the iron-workers cannot influence 20
strike. ho
situation with alarm can be gathered
from the fact that the Manufacturers
Association met to-day behind closed
doors. No news Of the action taken
was given out. James g. Ludlam, nead
of the association. was asked TO make
q statement, but he refused.
1t is generally believed that me
manufacturers, while not wishing 10 be
nut in the position of trucking TO the
Unions. will grant any concessions tney
can without sacrificing their pride ne
hinge war contracts on which the tac-
tories depend are being carried OUT
under rush orders, and speed IS con
stantlv demanded. The announcement
bv the Remington company Yesterday
that an eight-hour day would be ell
foctivc in its factories IS taken as an
Indication that the employers are ready
90 make concessions.
George +. Greist, general superln-
tendent of the Stewart company, MADE
"a significant evasion of question TO-
day. A..
aDo YOU place any reliance in the
story that German influence engineered
this strike. Mr. GreIst,' he was asked
lie looked the reporter squarely IN the
eve and said, firmly:
That's a question I'd rather not an
swer'
For Major Penfeld, general superiin-
terdent Of the Remington factory, John
N. French, his publicity man, SAID tnaI
$50 far as the majors original state
n9ert about German influence and the
strike was concerned. the former army
officer would stick by his statement
until it was disproved. The idea seems
to be that while Major Penheld cannot
offer any absolute proof, he has an eN-
tremcly strong suspicion.
The hosting engineers and hodcar-
ricrs had meetings to-day, but 1t was
said nothing definite as TO striking
...r..., ,.f sr. Yq7peffvpa
Bridgeport was interested in the
stories i'm some Of the New York news,
papers to-day that in time the United
States government intended to place
an arsenal mere and, in addition, either
purchase or completely control the out