The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-31
As.sher strike Threatened.

The fact was noted 10 The Ameri-
cdn'at the time th II movement had
been made looking to a concerted
strike on Saturday. June Is. Me. Il.
L. White. the Washington CORES
ponder, IT Tho New York Tribune,
who will NE recognized ~ a cautious
and Competent observer. is now in
the coal regions ot Pennsylvania.
aud he reports that i movement is
on foot f,r a general s.rik,. August
Is. Amoog uther lh nss Ice g;v--
the following report uf n %cpuycr>s
ton with a manufacturer:
"The chances are," said be, that
we will have much more serious
trouble within the next two months
than that which came upon US SO ua-
%expectedly last summer. Prepare
lions are being made for u simulta-
neous strike all over the country-on
the railroads, a. the mines, in many
of the largest manufacturing estab-
lishments-and nothing but the ut
most vigilance on the part Of the
State authorities, and such prepars-
tons as will make it possible 10 crush
out such o movement Instantly, will
prevent one of the worst calami,ies
that has ever betallen this country"
''lf anything of the kind is contem-
plated, why has it not already taken
place p | asked. The 18th Of June
was said to have been fixed for u
general outbreak, but that day came
and went with no disturbance, and
the alarm turned cut to be a false
one. The experience of last summer,
of course, auses apprehension, but 10
there anything definitely known
about the plans of the workiDgmen
on which To base such an opinion as
you have just given Z"
There is," he replied. THE talk
in regard to q strike on the 18th OF
June had more ia it than most peo-
pie imagined. That day was actu-
ally fixed, and the outbreak would
certainly have taken place then, or
soon after, but for the preparations
made to preserve The peace by Gov
ernor Hirtranft, of this State. When
he called out the militia and made
arrangements TO obtain uniforms and
equipments for them at the Frank,
fort Arsenal, those who were to have
managed the strike called b commit
tee meeting in Philadelphia, and Of
ter discussing the matter voted 10
postpone the attack to the 18th Of
August, when it was hoped that the
country might be taken by surprise.
That meeting was held in May,
believe, and, although several other
important meetings have since been
called, | do not think the day for be
ginning the strike has been changed.
| know that there has been much
more activity among the working
men in preparing for it since than be,
fore in Philadelphia meeting"
"What has been done at the sub.
segment meetings of which you
speak :"
IL have been unable 10 learn very
much about them. One held 10
New York was attended by one Of
my employees. At that meeting il
was voted that the workingmen al
important points must be armed, and
a committee was appointed TO col
leet money, procure arms aud dis.
tribute them. The idea was 10 pur
chase second hand guns and muskets
and to have those which needed re
pair put in order. Then they were
to be shipped to designated points on
the canals. lakes and rivers, by wa
ter, whence they were t, be disirib
u,ed in wagons. This a to avoiC
suspicion, which would certainly be
aroused if they were shipped by
rail. | have not learned that any
arms have yet been distributed, bu'
| know that a committee for tina
purpose was appointed in New
York"
MI. White, writing from Wilkes
barre, says:
Since | came here | have beer
told that Bishop 0'liara has recent
ly expressed the greatest anxiety il
regard to the possible occurrences o
the next two or three months, ant
that be il doias everything ia hi
power, both publicly and privately
TO prevent those over whom be ha'
influence from taking any part il th'
conte mplated outbreak.