The Detroit times., 1916-11-16
Street CAR
STRIKENEAR.
- BELIEF
ID. u. II. viii Oppose
Mems Demand For
Higher Wages

With n sWiftncss that mas come
like. shock upon the city, retroit
Is again facing the possibility Of a
street car strike
Confronted by a cost OF living
which they say is far beyond the
wages they receive. the moiormen
and conductors eriployed by the -.
L. Il. have determined to pTesent
thru their urion demand for an
increase in pay.
Altho Frank w Brooks. president
and general manager OF the y. L r.
would not discuss the situation in
the absence OF any formal demands
from the union. an attn osphcre OF
intense restraint rer,adcd the t&rcu.
we ofices Of 'he H. T. Il Wednes-
dsy
o U, r. To Stand Pat
II is known that the y l. r. Is
confronted by q set OF circumstances
that will make submission L. The de
mands 81 the union betonl tho
scope OF probability Tn, railway
has had much difcllty III chlaininE
and retaining car crews, bccause OF
ihe heavy demaad for labor thluout
the CITY Prices of material have IN
creased and a shortage of some ma
terials has retarded Improvements
that were planned
Since he Nork.n- agreement was
made as a settlement ~ the laat
strike. Il s. said that the COMPANY
has had 90 submit 20 tWO more
changes in It's contract with he Gu-
ipn The demand that IS to- be made
this week VIII bc the third that ha
gone 20 tho COMPANY from its work
ers since the now general aetcemen'
was fixed in settlement of The strike
The rate ~ wages. thc price N
almost every material used has in
creased tut tho rate Of fare remains
The same rhs is 'br general
sentiment Of 'te = L. r oTcials
housing cGudi' ous. which have
boosted rent F." the highest marks
IN the history Of rctroi, have had
rluch to do with lhc u g. Rs
labor troubles STORES OF men ar"
leaving The company's omployc bo
tacse they are undole 30 hnd homes
thst car be rented a. rate con-
Incnsuratn with their wages
STANLEY Ander-on. prcsiden, ri the
local division 81 the street car mems
union. IS of the opinion hat tho dc
u snds of tNe union W.l be me.
without jimcully Tie declared h
was ccrhdent that any differences
could be settled without a sirike
SAYS Demands Are Just.
There is no. question about the
justice m our q, man1t he said
Everyone know ma, The cost CT
every necessity ~ life has increased
tremendously in rotroit Our mcr
can't face the pu-rnt rcu' rates.
for instance. on 'tc wages they or
getting 1hirtyayc cents an hour
!, the uavimur., wage, hut that is
rot sufficient
Mr. Anderson decline 90 state
how much az IN increase Wonld be
demanded one rumor rs that
maximum of s. cents an hour viii
be asked for
Politics Involved.
The RAILWAY mcu'r Organization "a
on the eve OF alt election \ report
Indignantly denied by the union ON
Gals is that there are twc factions
whose differences are based oi. the
policies involved in the demands for
changes In the working agreement.
One faction. represented by the
men who have lived Ia Detroit FOR
many wears, IS said TO be so con
servative that IL looks with disfavor
on any movement that may involve
The possibility of a strike The 9th.
or one. composed 81 TIE younger
element II said 10 BE- more
belligerent. Premises that de
nand for higher wages would he
made are said 10 represent ihc plat
form" OF tho candidates for Office
Of tho more radical faction
u. q Il officials long have main
tanned that the rate Of wages paid
by the company. when judged IN
connection with the rate ~ fare re-
ceived and other conditions, ~ the
highest paid by any street railway
company In the United States. The
union lesders contend that. even II
this were true. the conditions in De
troit arc such that a higher wage
fhould be paid here 10 meet Tho dir
fercnccs In the cost OF living In De
troit
n w1g lnthnntei in the y L. II
cTces this morning that President
Brooks would issue a formal state
mcnt during the Jay.