Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-01-21
MurderOus Strikers.

SOUTH bend, Ind, Jan l3.-1ss-
terday a number of employees at the
Oliver Chilled Plow Works strusk
for higher wages and compelled all
the men to quit. At an early hour
this morning two hundred OF the
strikers congregated in front of the
gate and would not allow any one to
enter. Those who tried to pass
through ths gate we're severely beat
en-. Officer Kelly while trying to
quiet the mob Was shot through tho
scalp and badly pounded. Captain
E. Nioar attempted to go into the
Office and was attacked with clnbt.
He ras badly hurt about the head,
but finally succeeded in getting in
and locking the door. He is now a
prisoner in the Office, his only COM
municstion being by telephone to the
city. The Veteran Guards of the G.
A. r, mustered out about seventy
mon to rescue Captain Nicar, who il
q member of the Guards. The sher-
iff empowered them to act as State
militia to preserve the peace and to
disperse the strikers. On hearing
this some of the strikers left the vi
entity of the works. The following
persons we're wounded: Captain Nj
car. Dane Hoffman. Mr. Card, officer
Kelly, and Jacob Barnhardt, the fore
man in the paint shop. An immense
crowd followed the Guards to the
factory. Great exitement prevails
in the city. Further investigation
shows that last evening, between four
and five o'clock, about 200 grinders
in the Oliver Chilled Plow Works
struck, and arming themselves with
iron rods and clubs, marched to the
other departments of the factory and
forced the other employees to quit
work. Where the men refused to do
so they were attacked and brutally
beaten. The belts were cut and the
rioters finally went to the engine
room and forced Roberts, the sngi-
neer, to shut down.
Previous to this demonstration the
superintendent of the works told
these grinders, who are principally
Poles with few Hungarians, that
if they had any grievances to plaes
them in writing and appoint com
miStse to present them, and thcy
would be considered. They refus-
ed to do this.
The causes which led to the riot
ing to day arc stated to be these !:
Previous to the annual meeting Of
the branch managers the divers
found that owing to the depression
ia trade their goods were rapidly ac-
cumulating. At this meeting it was
decided that they must restrict pro-
duction. They first tried RAINING
on half time at the old rate of wages.
This was done for about fortnight
but it proved unsatisfactory to the
men. The divers then proposed =
reduction of twelve and a half per
cent. on the average wages through
out the entire fastory and run full
time The Poles would not agree
TO this, and went out, and wore out
about three weeks. They then
greed to accept the reduction. and
went to work December s, with the
exception of the ringleaders in the
previous strike, whom the divers re-
fused to take. These ringleaders in
cited this riot, and had the men who
were at work make such an unress
snable demand that they knew the
divers could not accept it. This
demand was not only for a restora-
ton of the old wages, previous to
the 121 per cent, but a considerable
advance. Before this cut the men
were earning an average of from
81 so to So day. The strike was
made without knowing whether the
divers would or would not accsde
to their demands, the strikers rsfus-
ing to send a committee to them to
consider their grievances.
The sheriff of the county was pow
erless, and be telegrsphed to the
Governor of the State to send him
aid. A company of troops was sent
from Eikhart The riot came to an