New Britain herald., 1915-06-14
l4,OOO GAR MEN IN
 CHICAGO ON STRIKE
i,StO Miles Of Elevated and Sur
 face Traffic Tied Up
NO DISORDER REPORTED
Rupture Over Hours of Service and Wages Occurs When Mediation -strikcbreakers Said to Have Arrived from Cincinnati.

Arrlved from Cincinnati.
 Chicago, June 14.-what Is said to be the greatest street car strike the United States has known began here at o'clock this morning. Fourteen thousand persons were thrown out of employment, 1,31o miles of single ele- vated and surface track rendered idle and burden thrown on steam roads, automobiles vans and other vehicles which they were able to meet only in small part.
 For four hours not a car moved. Thensa South Side elevated train car ryirg few passengers made round trip as test. As result it was an- nounced that an attempt would be made to run trains with strikebreak- CTS and guards every fifteen minutes The surface lines made no attempt to work.
 No Disorder Reported.
 Policemen and private guards were stationed over all company property, but no disorder was reported early.
 Business was not paralyzed, but it was benumbed. The tie up in one way or another affected every branch of the city's activities.
 < The steam railroads put on extra trains and extra coaches but were swamped with business Lines of per- sons waiting to get through the turn stiles stretched for blocks away from the stations and tens of thousands walked to their work.
 Mediation Attempt Failure.
 The rupture over hours of service and wages came last night when Mayor Thompson admitted that his attempt at mediation was a failure.
 At o'clock the last car had been quietly retired and the struggle was on, with no sign of peace in sight. The men posted pickets, the employ CTS advertised for strikebreakers and W. D, Mahon, national president of the street car employees. returned to Detroit. his headquarters. the better to direct the financial phase of the strike.
 .f..., Strfkcbrcakers Arrive. t A carload of strikebreakers was re- ported to have arrived secretly, from Cincinnati, It was stated that no at tempt would be made to run surface cars for several days
 Orders to strike were issued after N union Headers transportation. .com- pany ofacials and Mayor Thompson In ia vain attempt to bring about ar- bitration, Neither side would yield. The strikers had demanded guaran. tee of d wage increase. Of1cials of the companies refused this demand To meet it company officials said would mean an increase of S1,40O- 900 annually.
 w. D. Mahon, international presi. dent of the Street Garments Union, attended the conferences.
 No Attempt to Run Cars.
 Officials said that no attempt would be made to operate cars today. Ap- 3,000,000 fares are col lected on the two electric systems daily. The surface lines collect D. 100000 and the elevated 600,00o. | There are 3,125 cars operated daily | by the surface lines and 1.5lS on the elevated which operates 21e miles of trackage. The surface lines oper- ates 1,095 miles.
 Hurried preparations were made 1 over night by officials of steam roads | to bring to work today the great l army of clerks in stores. office work | CTS and others in business in the | down town district. Hundreds of | trains are added to the schedules.
 "Jitney' Buses Rushed.
 Taxicabs did a rushing business, and he '.jitney" buses, which heretofors nave failed to make much progress n the transportation problem, wee oaded with passengers. Hundreds ,f big motor moving trucks also were pressed into service. Roller skates ! llso were brought into use, and thou ,ands pedalled to their work on bi- ;ycles. Delivery of the United States nails puzzled the post-of11ce officials Reorganization of the street car de. livery systeni will have to be under aken, 1t was announced. and in many ,f the suburban districts there will oe but one delivery a day until an- other system is, perfected.
 It was understood that the dozen ,r more street cars carrying the mail rom the main post office to the sub- stations in various parts of the city | would be operated as usual.
 Problem for Schools.
 Mrs, Ella Flagg Young. superln-1 endent of public schoo,- asserted hat attempts would be made to con- lnue the schools without tnterr,ip-i lon, although the problem of trans. ,ortation of seven thousand teachers rave grave concern.
 Arrangements to furnish five thou- and strike-breakers to operate cars md, guard property were rut into op.. ,ration today. Agents of the tw,lk ,lectric lines had arranged, 1t wa Iaid, to provide food and siecpiny In several large toteis. Em- ,loyment agencies did recora- tContlnued on Eleventh Page.)