South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-17
CITY IS READY
TO FACE STRIKE
Better Prepared Than Major
ity of TownS-Inter-
urbanS to Help.

try. If the mem DeTS OF the TOUR
great railway brotherhoods walk
out today. This city, the center of a
good farming community, tapped by
interuban systems. and with one OF
its trunk line railroads unaffected
by the strike, Will escape the most
serious effect of a general strike
a food shortage. on the other hand
the continuance of the embargoes
placed Friday on freight shipments
by all railroads entering the city,
except the Grand Trunk, will, if
continued a week, cause the shut
down of practically every factory in
the city.
Sweeping en- bargoes on all class
es of freight have already been put
into effect here by the New York
Central. the Michigan Central. the
Nandalia and the L. L. & W. rail-
roads with the result that by Mon
day south Bends daily freight traf-
fic of 5000 cars will be at stand
still. The Grand Trunk * Western
being a Canadian line will not be
SO seriously effected by the strike.
for the members of the brother
hoods working for this line are eX-
empt from the strike order. No
embargo has been declared by the
Grand Trunk and local officials do
not expect one TO be declared, but
say that the roads service will be
considerably crippled by the fact
that it can no longer receive freight
for transfer 10 other lines.
Involves Local Men.
Between 70 and 100 local engi-
neers. conductors, firemen and
trainmen will be effected by the
strike order Just what percentage
of these men will walk out is, of
course, not yet known. Local Van
dalia officials are inclined TO believe
that the majority of the men en-
plOyed by that line in and about
South Bend who will be effected by
the order will not strike, due TO the
good working conditions and the
fact that many of the men who are
veterans in the service would, by
striking. lose the opportunity of
profiting by the companys pension
system. None of the district chair
men of the brotherhoods is known
TO live in South Bend and cOnse-
quently no estimate from the mems
point Of view can be made as to the
number who will go out. Between
50 and 60 local employees of the
New York Central will be effected
by the strike order and a majority
are expected to quit work.
The strike order for New York
Central trainmen goes into effect at
o'clock tonight. Vandalia train
men do not go out until Monday
night. Conductors and engineers on
all roads are expected to walk out
early next week.
Prepare for Strike.
Local railroad officials are unable
TO do much to prepare for the strike,
but word has been received in
South Bend that higher officials Of
the road will make every effort TO
protect railroad property and in
augurate some kind of freight serv-
ice as soon as possible. Michael
Kelly, local detective of the Wanda
liza. has received an order from the
Il
Logansport directing him 10 ask for
20 deputy sheriffs TO protect the
company's property here. A. G..
era ham. local attorney for the New
York Central. wants the same num-
Der of men TO send to Walkerton 10
protect that roads property. 1t is
understood that the New York Cen
trail will send special detectives to
this city to look after its interests
here and will ask local officials TO
furnish help early next week. The
deputies will be given So a day. it is
said. 1t is expected that Deputy
Sheriff Ray c.. Barley, who has
been given charge of the work of
securing the men, will have them
ready 10 begin their work tonight.
On the average of 5000 carloads
Of freight are handled every day in
local freight yards and the contin-
uance of the embargoes now in eff
feet will mean the shutting down Of
practically every factory in the city
in less than a week On account
of the freight congestion and car
shortage none of the local indus
tries have any large amount of raw
material on hand.
Coal supply short.
The supply of coal, both for in
dustrial and private use, now in the
city, hardly would last over a week
and If the strike is carried out fully
much suffering will follow here on
account of a lack Of coal The New
York Central has not yet declared
an embargo on coal and if il is able
to bring the usual amount into the
city this serious situation may be
prevented. The Grand Trunk will
be able to handle coal as we'll as
other shipments, but il is doubtful
whether this service will be of much
avail as that road does not enter
any nearby coal field.
There will be no immediate sus-
pension of passenger service on any
Of the roads entering South Bend.
but railroad officials are unable TO
say how long the passenger service
will continue.
In some lines Of food supplies
South Bend could hold oft for six
weeks. local wholesale grocers re-
port, but in the staples. -four and