The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-05

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ugh the wire mesh fence that
.ea of % communities, con-
tanning nearly half a million
persons, there came reports
of failing current. Wheels of
industry already have begun
to halt, to date throwing into
idleness more than 5000 persons who
yesterday worked. Street car serv-
ice probably will be halted today.
Even the bridge lamp in the front
room may go out and the vacuum
sweeper may stop.
-Four huge plants, employing 49,
500 in Toledo are operated on cleo
tricity alone and face enforced idle
ness. The operation Of the large
properties Of the Edison company IS
too much for the handful of en-
ployes who had cast their lot with
the company, as the strike was an
nOunCed.
Two hundred picketers hOOted and
jeered at the Front-st plant today
when a foreman tried in vain to
operate a crane that is used to carry
coal to the huge furnaces that turn
the dynamos.
Fires in Boilers DINNER
Unfamiliar with the machine, the
foreman could not control the tru-
ant arm of the crane and gave up
after a short battle The fires in the
boiler thereafter got DINNER and
DINNER.
The strike was called at this
morning when stole, curley-headed
Oliver Myers, business agent of the
local unit Of the International
Brotherhood Of Electric Workers,
walked from a smoky conference
room in the labor temple and an
nounced negotiations had collapsed.
They would not even give l per
cent of the 20 we asked" he said.
The strike is without ju5tifica-
ton" said c. L. Proctor. company
president.
The shift of workers, who we're on
duty walked out, and the shift that
was to take their place this morn
ing, failed to appear.
Hopes to Furnish Power
The company said it will furnish
electric power to the best of its
ability It was drawing current
from unaffected systems on three
sides and it was felt certain that
hospitals. newspapers and the
waterWorks would have a sufficient
supply.
There is no way Of cutting out"
others on the lines Of newspaper,
hospital or the WaterWorks lines, so
that all customers between such
plants and the generating plant also
would have current.
At least one large department
store, LaSalle & KOch's has its
own electric power plant and is un-
affected.
After the strike had started, $50
office employees Of the company also
walked out in sympathy and quickly
formulated demands for restoration
of two 10 per cent cuts which have
been in effect for two years, and a
On r1o,- ooy1f sr7ovao co horfripc
Stock RumOrs Denied.
1t was strongly rumored, and
denied by the company. that con-
tracts the company has with en-
ployes for the purchase Of Cities
Service stock contributed greatly TO
the discomfort Of the workers.
The company has held employees
70 contracts for purchase Of this
stock when the market price was
high. and the Iong-range purchase
plans continued into the depth Of
the depression, when the value Of
the stock was a mere shadow Of its
former self. The contracts, Of course.
call for peak prices.
Complete cessation Of power would
be nearly as bad as general
strike All manufacturing plants
in the area-auto parts. steel, glass,
flour, oil, aper-wOuld stop and all
their employees would be out Of work.
Sabotage Is Feared
Company officials confidently pre-
dicted that this eventuality would
not occur. They would not say so,
but they were relying on the power
plants could sell them
viii keep a skeleton industry going
If there is no sabotage on the
part Of striking employees.
One man with rife could ruin
a transformer and Just a few such
acts Of vandalism would completely
cripple the outside plant Of the
Officers Of Local 9. International
Brotherhood OF Electrical Workers,
today stated that there appears to
De no possibility Of strike in In
similar TO that now par
alyzing industry in Toledo.