St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-13
EQUIPPED FOR WAR.
State Troops Ordered to Clo-
uuet to Prevent a Threat
ened Riot.
Strikers Storm Big Mills and
Drive Non-Union Men
From Work.
Gov. Merriam Sends Company
K, of Duluth, to the Scene
of Trouble.
Il Is Feared That There Will
Be a Serious Outbreak
To-Day.

Gov. Merriam last evening ordered
Company K, Second regiment, of Du-
luth. to at once proceed to Cloquet,
where a strike among the employees OF
the Nelson Lumber company has as
sumed an ominouS character. Col.
Bobleter was also ordered to command
the state troops. The governor did not
take this action until mature conSidera-
tion, and then only under the
belief that the presence of the
militia would be instrumental in
at once nipping in the bud any lawless-
ness which an angry mob might be led
into. A week ago request was made
that state troops be sent, but Gov. Mer-
RAM refused to entertain the PROPOSE
ton, very properly believing that the
local authorities could adequately cope
with the threatened disturbance.
This they certainly could have
done had not the tone OF
the strikers become more ugly
and their threats more violent. Yester-
day the GLOBE published special tele-
gram from Cloquet, in which 1t was
stated that the strikers had attempted
to stop men from going to work. The
lawless spirit of the mob must have in
tensitied yesterday, for during the after
noon the following telegram was re-
ceived at the executive department:
Gov. William R. Merriam: There is strike
of the mill hands at Cloquet. The strikers
are armed with clubs and revoyers, and
threaten violence. Special police and deputy
sheriffs have been sworn In, but are out
numbered by the strikers. A conflict be-
tween the police and strikers is imminent.
If it takes place it will result in many on
either side being bruised wounded and pos
sibly killed. To prevent this presence CT the
militia is necessary Wire communications
to Cloquet. A. F. MURRAY, Sheriff.
II. OIDENBERG, County Attorney.
Gov. Merriam was in Chicago yeSter-
day aud the telegram was received by
his private secretary, R. c. Elliott. Mr..
Elliott wired Sheriff Gutenberg for ad-
ditioDal particulars. His reply was:
The mob is armed with clubs and revol-
vers and makes most violent threats against
officers and citizens alike. These threats are
made aloud. open and in the face of officers.
The rioters have taken possession OF the
principal streets. The conflict Will PROBABLY
lake place in the morning at about o'clock.
This telegram was also backed up by
one from the G. & n. Nelson Lumber
company:
The condition is becoming serious. Mob
armed, and civil authorities inadequate to
preserve life and property. We need troops
at once.
Secretary Elliott communicated these
facts to Gov. Merriam. and he, by tele-
graph, Immediately ordered Company K,
with Col. Bobleter in command, to pro-
ceed to Cloquet. These instructions
Secretary Elliott promptly dispatched
to the proper quarters.
Company K, of Duluth, is officered as
follows: Henri De Witt, captain;
Charles A. Tier, first lieutenant; Eu-
gene Poirier, second lieutenant. They
are all well-trained officers, and their
commissions date 1886 for the captain
and second lieutenant, and 1887 for the
first lieutenant. The company will
have the advantage of State Treasurer
Bobleter's presence, he, as colonel of
the Second regiment, having full com:
mand of the troops. The ability and
military acumen Of Col. Bobleter are e
we'll known. There is, perhaps, no man
better able to handle an angry mob or
q riOtously inclined set of men. His
discretionary counsel will no doubt
have marked effect upon the strikers,
and it is extremely doubtful whether
there will be any conflict. The pres
ence of the troops will-the governor
hopes-lead to an amicable settlement
of the trouble that has arisen be-
tween employer and employe. w Nat
that trouble is, nothing is known
at the executive department. 1t
is understood from outside sources that
the strike has arisen out of the eight
hour day agitation. Company K left
Duluth at o'clock this morning, and
Col. Bobleter left St. Paul at 1880 last
night over the Duluth road. The colonel
would meet the troops at Northern Pa
cifc Junction at o'clock, and they
would reach Cloquet shortly before
O'Clock. Cloquet is situated at the
northeast corner of Carlton county
about fifty miles southwest of Duluth
Sheriff Murray in his telegram fears
a conflict this morning at O'Clock
This is the time the men at work will be
going to the mills to commence theil
daily duties, and the programme of the
strikers appears to be an attempt tt
frighten them away. There are 200 mel
reported to be on strike.