The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-10-15
State Takes Over Street Cors In Hub
BY STANTON BERENS United Press Staff COrresponder

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 Boston, Oct. l6- UP) = Striking transit workers met today to de- eide whether they would challenge Gov. Maurice J. Tohins unprece- dented seizure of the Eastern Mas 'sachusettS Street Railway Co, or return to work for the state which took over the vast system ct 12:0l Q. m.
 Even if the 1875 strikes voted to end their three-day-old wildcat walkout pending 6 decision on their wage controversy, 1t appeared un- likely that bus and trolley service would be restored to the 660,000 riders in the crippled areas before late afternoon. A total of 04 cities and towns from the New Hampshire border to Rhode Island are affect- ed.
 Balloting on the back-to-work question opened at'lo c. m. in many of the 10 principal strike centers, but officials of the Amalsamated Association of Street, Electric Rail- way and Motor Coach Employees of AneGica (AFL) said tabulating
 might not be completed until 8 p. m.
 State seizure of the transit lines came last night after nine hours of futile wrangling at the state house. Union leaders remained adamant in their demand for Q pay rise from % cents an hour to SIPS, and Q 4O!hour work.week. Management representatives steadfastly refused to arbitrate the dispute while the employees stayed away from their jobs.
 When the strikers representatives flatly rejected his ultimatum, Gov. Tobin invoked his war emergency power aS a final resort in breaking the states worst transportation tie. up in 8 years. Tn his order, the governor declared that the strike threatened "the orderly reconver. sion of Massachusetts industry to peacettn1e production" and en- dai1gered "the safety and welfare of the people.
 The governors drastic action was reminiscent of that taken by Gov. Calvin Coolidge in 1919 when he called out the state guard to restore order during the Boston police strike. However, Gov. Tohin said he was confident the strikers would not force him to 90 to that extreme.
 Frank J. Murray, former Boston corporation counsel was designated by the governor to be administrator of the railway and to operate 1t for the state. Murray, a former George. town university football star, was directed to see that wage negotia- tions between union and manage ment were reopened as soon @ the lines were running on regular sched- ules.
 Uder the seizure order, striking drivers and mechanics would be working for the state and would be paid at the current scale. How ever, Gov. Tobin made 1t clear that any possible pay increases would be retroactive.
 Heavy Absenteeism
 The 1ulI Impact o1 the strike was not felt until today when several major industries which were closed over the holiday weekend resumed Shoe factories in Haver- hill and Brockton, textile mills in Lawrence and an electric plant in Lynn anticipated heavy absentee ism.
 Other plants obtained private buses to transport their workers. Shoppers and school children who travel on the line also felt thA afHecks n4 tha walknlit. i7th on the Eastern Massachusetts network during the past three years.
 Only in the Salem area were buss- es operating as usual. There, lner1- bees of the local union refused to join the walkout. claiming that they had received no support from other locals during their recent and abortive attempt to force pay boost.