Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-05
A DESTRUCTIVE RIOT.
Cars Ditched and Tools Destroyed by
600 Railroad Men ON the
Manitoba Road.
A SCENE OF GREAT CONFUSION.
Dissatisfied Construction Men, Headed
by Few Desperate Communists
CLAIM THEY HAVEBEEN STARVED.
A Platoon Of Police Restores Order.

A Platoon or Police Restores Order.
Since the strike of the dissatisfied en-
ployes of the Minneapolis & st. Louis
railroad, then largely owned by w. D
Washburn, last June, there has been little
or no manifestation by railroad men of
disorderiy or riotous nature until yester-
day. The strike of that time was by the
yardmen, and consequently directly under
police jurisdiction, being as it was in the
very heart of the city, consequently no
particular destruction of property oc-
Cured.
Yesterday morning, however, a disturb
ance occurred several miles from the city
border, in which some 800
or 600 construction men
took hand. These men, as was learned
by GLOBE reporter, who hurried to the
scene of confusion, took advantage
of a concession made by the con
tractors in whose employ they
were. They had been engaged several
months ago for the entire season to prose-
cute the construction of the Air line road
connecting Minneapolis and Lake Mime
toka, via the north bank of Cedar lake.
These laborers are divided into three
separate sections. One of them
are under the charge of Geo. A. Bracket.
In this there are about 200 men, who are
stationed just the other side of Cedar Lake.
The Manitoba railway company had
another crew stationed near the
city limits, and little farther
out was stationed crew under
the charge of Contractor O'Brien.
Mr.. Bracket states that,recently he call
ed upon Contractor O'Brien in the intere-
est of the laborers, and asked an increase
in their wages, on the ground that $1.25
per day was not sufficient. AS a result of
the conference which ensued the wages
were raised to $3.50 per day.
On the last payday the laborers were
officially informed of The measure which
was entirely voluntary on the part of the
employers. The men were apparently
satisfied, and in fact had never entered
protest against the $I.25 scale of wages,
so giving their silent approval of that
standard.
They yesterday, however, gave the usual
expression of their gratitude by precipi-
tating
GENERAL STRIKE.
Headed by few communists, the dis
satisfied movement demanding a further
increase to $1.75 per day, soon as
sumed a formidable and threaten
ing aspect. The incipient movement
developed in the very camp of their bene-
factor, Geo. A. Bracket.
In body the mob marched down the
track toward Minneapolis until they ar
rived at the camp of Contractor OBrien's
crew. After indulging in number of in
cendiary OR sand lot" speeches, O'Brien's
men we're induced to unite with the others.
They
THREATENED DIRE VIOLENCE
upon anyone who should do a stroke of
work for less than their stipulated SI.75
per day.
The reporter was informed that here
THE CARS WERE DITCHED
and tools used in the construction de-
stroyed. (Later reports, however, con-
tradict this report.)
Chief Munger being called upon, forth
with detailed platoon of police to pro-
tect the crew, under the immediate super
vision of the railway company at the city
limits, and so being assured of safety, these
men at once resumed work.
At o'clock
ALL WAS QUIET
end the men had returned to their labor,
apparently satisfied with the primal con-
ditions.
GLOBE reporter interviewed a number
of the laborers who had participated in
in the strike, and was informed that the
reports above recorded on the authority of
the contractors was not true. They claim
that the demand
WAS NOT FOB INCREASED WAGES
but for food. They assert that their bill
of fare furnished by the contractors was
not sufficient to sustain life. On Thursday
night they we're compelled to make sup
per off poor potatoes and nothing else, and
as result they were
HALF STARVED
and totally unfit for the performance of
the heavy labor aske of them. Had
they been provided with nourishing rod
no demonstration would have occurred.
Subsequent developments go to prove the
correctness of the allegations of the work
men. The police who were sent to the
scene claim that no property was destroy
ed, and the closest scrutiny of the report
er failed to find any damage which had
been done.