Fergus County Democrat., 1916-09-28
SITUATION CONFUSED
Labor Leaders Insist the
Strike Will Involve
Half Million Men.
MAY WALK OUT TODAY

While Union Leaders Claimed 125,oo0
Workers in Various Trades in New
York City Already Had Joined the
Movement, With Twice as Many
More Ready to Quit Today, the Po.
lice Say They Had Received No Re-
ports TO Substantiate Such Estimate.
Observance Of Jewish Holiday, in
Which 100000 Workers Participate.
NEW YORK, Sept 27.-Although la
Dor leaders insisted tonight that the
general strike of trade unionists in
the greater city in aid of the car men
who quit their places September 6,
eventually would involve at least a
half million workers, there was no
surface indications Of tieup OF the
citys industries as threatened, after
announcement today that the strike
had begun.
While union leaders claimed that
125,0OO workers in various trades al
ready had Joined the movement, with
twice as many more ready to walk
OUT tomorrow, the police said they
had received no reports to substan
tiate such estimates. The actual sit
uation, it was said, was confused be-
cause OF Jewish holidays, which are
being celebrated here by more than
100000 union workers.
Leaders of the. Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Street and Electric Railway
Employees were encouraged tonight,
they asserted, over the possibility of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers coming to their aid. Officials
of that organization notified the pub
Tic service commission during the day
that Theodore p. Shonts, president
of the Interborough Rapid Transit
company. had refused to see them and
discuss alleged grievances of motor
men in the employ OF the Interborough
who are members of that brotherhood
Mr.. Shonts declared tonight, however,
that there were no differences between
the motormen and the company
Two hundred and five representa-.
tives of various unions at meeting
tonight ratified the sympathetic strike
order. it was announced, and agreed
to call out the members of their or
ganizations tomorrow. The grand jury
returned indictments against fifteen
persons accused Of violence during the
car strike.
There were fewer attempts at vic.
lence today, according to the police,
than for weeks past.
A. L. Gridley, organizer of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
tonight characterized the methods en-
ployed by William B. Fitzgerald, or
ganizer of the car men now on strike,
as of "a brass band" character He
declared that his organization and the
Amalgamated Association of Street
and Electric Railway employees had
been at odds because the latter in.
sisted upon enrolling motor men
"men who require skill and training"
lin its membership.
Mr.. Gridley asserted that the meth.
ods of the brotherhood in dealing with
the Interborough Rapid Transit com.
pany. will be entirely different from
those OF the Amalgamated associa-
tion."
1--WE have important business to
transact with the Interborough," he
said. "and the sooner they realize we
mean business the sooner we will
come to an understanding"
There will be no threatening or
useless talking" Mr.. Gridley added,
when the brotherhood proposition is
presented, whenever that is, to the
Interborough."
Late tonight Third avenue and
Ninety.seventh street strikers and
their sympathizers. after hurting mis-
siles at cars, attacked the police, who
were compelled to draw their revol
vers before the crowd was dispersed.
One policeman fired several shots over
the heads of the rioters. Several per.
sons were hurt during the melee, but
not seriously.