New Britain herald., 1926-07-08

New York, July 8. LR-The strike of subway motormen and switch men of the Interborough Rapid Transit company entered its third day today with company officials taking war time precautions against sabotage.
 Agents At Meeting
 Trusted agents of the company were sent last night to attend a meeting of the strikers. James L. Quackenbush, general counsel of the I. R. T., explained that the company wanted to know if any of It's men occupying "key" positions were at- ending these meetings. So it could prevent them from returning to work where they might cripple the subway system.
 Just before tbe United States entered the World war" he added, I've wouldn't let q key man go to work if we knew he had attended q German meeting. We won't let one of these key men work if he attends a strikers meeting"
 Plan For Emergency
 He also said the I. R. T. wants to know Immediately should any con- siderable number of elevated men join the strike so the company could engage substitutes with as little loss Of time as possible.
 Interborough officials claimed that service yesterday showed great improvement, but there was no question in The minds Of any resi- dent of the metropolis but that strike was on. That could be told without reading the papers; it was reflected in automobile traffic to very marked degree.
 Heavy Auto Traffic
 Tt seemed to me that every auto mobile in the world was in Manhat- tan," remarked Deputy Chief Police Inspector Coleman
 The strikers claimed still further gains in their numbers last night, but Interborough officials denied re- ports that there had been any con- dissatisfaction among em- ployes on elevated lines. It had been reported that eight elevated motormcn had walked out.
 Only a few instances of iolting trains by applying emergency brakes were reported yesterday The most dangerous incident of violent re- ported was that of a workman short power line by driving his drill into il. For a time the tubes in the vicinity filled with smoke. The short circuit was traced from a dis tant point and corrected.
 Socialist Speaker
 Norman Thomas, socialist leader, addressed the strikers last night, urging them 10 affiliate with the Federation of labor. If the Interborough is bankrupt, he said it should notify the public of the fact so that steps could be taken ! 10 pay it's employees their due. The | and sWitchmen, he assert | ed, should receive higher wages be- cause of the high cost of living. the | responsibility imposed on these men and the experience required of | hem.
 Strike Very Orderly
 The strike so far has been most l orderly, the police report. The lead | ITS of the strikers have urged ob ;ervance of the law and while trains md stations are under strong guard 1f police there has been little for he guards 10 do. The company had made a few complaints of minor dis orders. the most serious being the llleged stoning of a trai nat 2t5th .treet and Broadway. As an addi- ional precaution the company or tered the cab windows on all trains creened with heavy wire netting There was one report of sabotage, he cutting of an airbrake switch on . train in Brooklyn. No other com- ,laints of disturbance on subway or levated lines were reported to the police.
 Service Improves
 President Hcdley of the Interbor- ugh said that service has become ' per cent of normal, compared with 6S per cent yesterday. Ele- ated service, he asserted, was nor nal, and he denied that any large lumber of elevated employees had oined the strike.
 JAnes l.. Quickenbush, general ouoIeal of the Interborough, said -este avs receipts were s39,415.50 ess thas the same date a year ago. subway passengers yesterday num- ,ered 862,32S, compared with l. .52,172 9 year ago.
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