The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-17

N0ou&9u0S ok CA40eAAS BVe uP uA aware that anything had happened Co eheir lights during the night.
 The strike was called without warning. It eliminated a long dis pute between the Kansas City Power and Light company and tht union over an independent unior Co which some of the comparlyi employees belong and which th' AFL afflliate maintains is company dominated. The national defense mediation board, to which the dis pute was referred several weeks ago Withdrew last night because the dis pute was still before the federal cir cult court of appeals and the Ma Eional Labor Relations Board. The Strike followed.
 When the night shift of 15o work. ers left the company's two plants al li D, m., approximately l5 strike leaders remained behind. A few minutes before midnight they pulled khe master switches, darkening the Sity, and guarded the switches tC prevent other workers from restor- lng power. Police evicted them fhey Joined picketing comrades out aide the plant.
 Governor Acted at Once
 As the city went black, Governor Gonnell was notified by telephone ln Jefferson City. He at once tele- phoned Brig. Gen. Clifford Gaylord An St. Louis and gave him his or @ers.
 T am not familiar with the cir. cumstances that brought about the strike but you may be assured the full power of the sttae will be used to bring about resumption Of op' erations," he said,
 Gaylord was mobilizing battalion of home guards in Kansas City anc ordering another to stand by.
 The chief loser seemed to be the Shefiield Steel company whose electrically heated kilns brimminG with molten steel went cold. The plant will be shut down until the cold steel can be clipped out ano the kilns relocated.
 But Mrs. Frank Houser and two year old Harold Schneider could have lost their lives. Surgeons were pre- pairing to perform an emergency Caesarian section upon Mrs, Housel when the lights of the hospital went out. The fire department rushed its emergency generator, the operation was performed, and she and hei baby were reported in good condl' ton. Harold was in a reSptratoi suffering from encephalitis. The power failed and the respiratol stopped. Attendants kept 1t going for almost four hours by hand.
 At the municipal airport where biz coast -to-coast transport planes shuttle in and out all night, gaso- line flares guided pilots along dark ened runways. Ships landed ane took of by these lights.
 Traffic was thrown into confusion Crowds going home from theateri hitch-hiked past stalled trolley cars. Police said some miracle prevanted any major traffic acci' dent. They said there were a few reports of robbery and footing.
 Predicts Full Service
 A company official predicted full service within e few hours" if the company did not have line trouble.
 we can patrol the plants ir which loyal employees are working but we can't patrol all our lines, the official said.
 The labor dispute was involved The National Labor Relations board complained that the company lad failed to comply with board or- der to cease dominating or inter- ferin6 with administration of the independent union, which strikers asserted was a company union. The NLR1 order was appealed to the circuit court of appeals, which Up. held the labor board.
 On Aug. 2S the appeals court or dered company officials to appear Oct. il to show cause why they should not be adjudged in con- tempt for alleged failure to com. ply with the courts decision,
 But meanwhile the 1BEW's con- tract with the company expired anc the union threatened to strike. The dispute was turned over to tho National Defense Mediation board which yesterday decided in Wash ington that 1t was without power to act since the controversy stil was in the jurisdiction of the cir cult court of appeals and the Ma tional Labor Relations board.
 Soon after police surrounded th' plant and Donnell ordered thu home guard mobilized, c. T. Shoe maker, vice president and genera of the company, announced:
 The ones who are not going tt work have been elected. Those whC are going to work are going to bt protected. We have made arrange ments to throw the switches short ly for domestic use"
 All Lights Went Out
 Ssrees lights, home 4sghts, fac tory lights went out. Trolley car stopped dead to disgorge thei startled passengers. Street inter sections were blocked by them ant traffic had to be rerouted. h th' first half hour, a hospital fran Gicaliy appealed to the fire depart