New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-08
With 5,400 Men on Strike
Duty Woods Easily
Controls Situation.
PATROLMEN RIDE
ON ALL THE CARS
Executives of Department
Get Little Sleep. in
4S-Hour Vigil.

1--WE knew what 10 90. We acted
promptly. We anticipated everything.
Our men were on the job at strategic
centres in advance of the news of the
strike"
Thus Police Commissioner Arthur
Woods epitomized la; night the hand
ling of the traction walkout, which so
far is the most orderly strike of like
proportions New York hae experienced
Union leaders and Interborough chiefs
alike complmented the department on
the way it met the exigency.
With 5,4OO of New Yoik's 900 avail
able policemen on strike detail and
more than 5000 of this number on ac-
tive duty at all times, Commissioners
Woods and his aids continue their pol
icy of anticipation. Reports that
longshoremen who handle the coal
supply, and power house workers are
getting fretful have presented the Po-
rec Department with a new and vexa-
tious problem. These workers are be-
irg importuned by labor leaders to
strike in sympathy.
Police Executives Work Hard.
Commissioner Woods, Chief lnspec-
tel Max Schmittberger and Inspector
Cohen, detail expert and statisticlan OF
the force. are forming plans TO extend
their strike operations TO include any
new contingency The department IS
taxed to two-thirds rs capacity with
matters as they stand.
1--WE can handle any situation short
Of general pitched rioting,' said Com
missioner Woods, "anI will need no
outside help. We have planned for all
developments which may be foreseen
and are ready to hit trouble in the eye
when it comes
The entire situation. in surprisingly
minute detail, is handled from Head
quarters. where the police executives
have been on watch almost contlnu-
cusly since Wednesday. They have
had little rest or sleep in forty-eight
hours. Additional telephones have
been installed in the twenty-three car
harms, nine power stations and two sub
stations, which are under guard, and
Headquarters is kept in constant
touch with conditions.
The strike is in its second phase
with reference to the prearranged
police plan. This means that disturb
ances have been sufficient to require
policemen on surface lines, while in
operation, as well as at each of the
400 elevated and subway stations. the
barns and power stations. In most
cases but one uniformed man rode
each trolley and two men made trips
on each of the elevated and subway
trains. The third phase Of the strike,
including serious disorders. would call
for general manning OF all cars and
trains with policemen. I'm addition to
the uniformed men. 1000 plain
clothes operatives have been given
various commissions. Many Of them
mingle among crowds of strikers and
strike sympathizers. with instructions
70 nip any incipient manifestation of
disorder.
The policemen, like their superiors, !
work hard. The three platoon system
has been shot to pieces. The men are |
six hours on active duty and six hours f.
on reserve. which calls for a practically
performance. Men who /
rode cars all day were permitted 10
90 home at y. H., with orders to re-
port at the barns at $3.50 in the morn
q.
slept -or tried ton the barns.
Police Called from Vacations.
Six hundred and sixty-three men
have been called in from theif vaca
tions. 373 dispatched from the tram /
ing camp at Fort Wadsworth, and 1000 T.
more shifted to Manhattan from the .
more serene regions OF Brooklyn and .
Queens. Two hundred and sxty-fve /
men were recruited from the Ira ic /
Squad. and as a result traffic was in
a lam in Fifth Avenue and in lower
Manhattan. Commissioner Woods was
stalled while coming to his office, and
as a result. he ordered a sufficient num-
Der of traffic men restored to their old .
POSTS to insure more orderly condl-
tons.