South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-07
Traction Officials Assert
Strike Called Last Night
Will Speedily Collapse.
MOt0rmen Working.
| WIRE CAGES PROTECT
WORKERS FROM MISSELS
Company Able to Carry Out
Regular Schedule With
Few ExCeptiOnS-LOng-
Shoremen May Quit.
International News service:

luteTnd tlOual News s'erNfce
ERIE. Pa. Sept. James A.
Wadden. noted in labor circles as
the king OF stTike-breakers, IS
breaking all records between Chi
cago and New York in his endeavor
20 get TO the latter place and take
command of the employers forces
i'm the Interborough strike there.
The special Lake shore train that
WaddeH chartered in Chicago late
last night at a cost of $4,000. has
averaged well over 90 miles an hour
so far on the trip.
NEW YORK, Sept. Traction
officials asserted today that the
strike called last night on the sub
way and elevated lines of the In
terborough Rapid Transit Co, and
on the surface lines of the New
York Surface Railways Co. would
speedily collapse. They based this
claim on the fact that the motor
men and signalmen on the under
ground and IL lines had remained
loyal TO the employers.
practically none of the motor
men on either the subway or Il
lines left his work" it was stated
at traction headquarters. If these
skilled men stick. this fact in itself
constitutes a victory for the COM
pany."
The strike leaders. headed by
Gen. Organizer William b. Fitzger-
aid. professed confidence in their
fnal victory, but there was an alb
sence of enthusiasm at the Cont
mental hotel headquarters when re-
ports came in from all quarters that
the companies involved were run
ming their trains and cars almost
on schedule time
Train il Bombarded.
Some disorder marked the early
hours of the strike. y few ticket
sellers we're dragged from their
posts and an elevated train was
bombarded with bricks at 151st st.
and Eighth av. The missiles were
hurled from tenement building
that parallels the tracks at that
point.
To protect the loyal mOtormen
wire cages so constructed as To ward
off all missiles but bullets, were
placed in each motor car. Behind
their barriers the motormen pro-
ceeded with their work
Reporters for the International
News Service investigated the stu
alton on the various lines and found
these conditions prevailing:
1-On the subway all trains were
running virtually on schedule time
during the early morning rush
hours.
On the L" lines conditions
were practically the same. In some
instances the crews consisted in part
Of strike breakers. but all were in
uniform.
3-No attempt was made TO run
surface cars OF the New York Rail-
ways Co. between midnight and s
a m. At the latter hour, however.
cars were sent out from the barns
and Gen. Mgr. Hedley claimed that
practically normal service could be
furnished during the day.
- Five thousand policemen.
practically half of the city's force.
were detailed 10 strike duty. Ar
officer was stationed on every plat
form of the subway and elevated
lines.
Before the strike was - hours old
the carmens' leaders declared that
a sympathetic strike would be call
ed, If necessary. among the long
shOremen who handle the fuel for
the marlborough power houses
such action would prove serious 70
the company, but Pres't Theodore
=. ShOnts asserted he was prepa red
for any such emergency.
Estimates OF the number of men
on strike differed widely The union
leaders claimed that half Of the In
terbOrough employees were members
OF the Amalgamated association of
Street and Electric Railway En-
ployes. would obey the strike order.
but the traction officials asserted
that not more than 1000 OF the
1900 employees had Joined the
union.
Gen. Mgr Hedley declared that
70 per cent OF the men would abide
by the individual contracts which
they signed and which the COM
pany refused 10 abrogate this action
resulting IN the strike call