Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-24
THE COKE STRIKERS
Endeavor to Compel the Rainey Men
to Join Their Forces.
EXCITING TIME AROUND DAWSON.
The Leaders Say They Will Yet Succeed in
Their Purpose.
THE COLUMBUS CONVENTION ENDORSED
.,,u., rr1KenAM no rur spA

rrEc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.i
SCoTTDALE, Feb. ga bowling mob Of
4, 1000 or 5000 picked coke strikers swept
down on Dawson to-day like a cyclone.
There were in the crowd Hungarians, Slavs,
Italians, Germans and Americans. The
aim of the meeting was to induce the men
at the Ft. Hill, PAUL and Rainey plants to
join in their strike. The immense mass
meeting was held at a point bordering on
the PAUL plant of w. j. Rainey. A crowd
of over 2, 900 strikers from the Trotter, Leis-
enring, Davidson and other works marched
directly by the PAUL plant where the men
were at work.
Nearly every striker was armed with a
revolver and a big club. When the PAUL.
employees saw the men coming they dropped
their tools Immediately and the greatest
confusion followed. In their effort to escape
they tumbled over each other and nearly
every man left his scraper in the ovens in
their mad rush for safety. Worthy Fore
man McSloy had charge OF the gang, and it
was due to his efforts that blOodshed was
averted. Meanwhile a crowd of over / 500
other strikers came In by the way of the
FIT. Hill plant, where the men have also
refused TO strike.
Charged by the Strikers
When they came within sight of the works
the wrathy Hungarians raised their war
whoop, and made a dash forthe plant. The
employees dropped their tools and fled down
the Pemlckey railroad, and over the opposite
hills. The strikers however were imme-
dlately checked by their leaders, and did
not offer to commit any depredations.
Rainey's special officers, Pinkerton detec-
tives and deputy sheriffs, did not interfere,
as the strikers did not intrude on their
property, though the guards were well armed
and equipped for a fight.
The strikers, after doing some coercing,
succeeded in getting a lew of the Rainey
employees to join them in their march to the
mass meeting. Many of the foreigners were
fred up with whisky, and had the word
been given a savage assault would have
been committed. The workmen then
marched to the ground where the meeting
was to be held. McSloy led off in a pointed
address, in which he advised the strikers to
act coolly and make no attack on the Rainey
men and resort to no riotous demonstration,
as he believed they would join in the strike.
The Rainey Men Must strike.
He was followed by Secretary Parker, who
made the formal announcement that the
Rainey men must strike, as they were re-
tarding the struggle, and that the strikers
would stay right with them until they did
come out. It was finally brought out in the
address that the men were fighting against
the threatened 10 per cent reduction. Des-
man then spoke to the foreign element, and
the Hungarians cheered, waved their hats
and clubs, and made so much noise the
speaker was obliged frequently to stop until
their yells had subsidized. He was followed
by Mcbride and Baynestrayer, each making
a stirring address.
At the conclusion a resolution was adopted
that they locate tents and stay at the Rainey
works until the men formally agreed to
strike. A committee was appointed to pur-
chase or lease lands on which the tents were
to be pitched, and temporary buildings con-
structed. Another meeting will be held at
PAUL Wednesday morning at 6 o'clock.
The idea is to catch the Rainey men when
they are going to work, The officials of the
Rainey works sneer at the efforts to bring
out their men. There is no further doubt
that the coke strike will spread this week.
Secretary Parker will call out the miners in
the Latrobe district, numbering over 1000
men, tomorrow. II is said the Clearfield
miners will also be called out.
Want an Eight-Hour Day.
A dispatch from West Newton says that
the miners at SCOTS mines held a convention
at Scott Haven this afternoon to hear a re-
port from delegates Edward Mckay and
Henry Walker, who attended the Columbus
convention. Resolutions were adopted in
dorsing the delegates, also indorsing the acts
of the Columbus convention in full. The
discussions was confined mainly to the eight
hour movement. Judging from the speeches
made it will be the main topic the operators
will be asked to consider on May 1.
1t is thought go cents a ton will be asked
for mining the ensuing year. About 1,500
miners we're represented at to-day's meeting.
Another convention has been called for
Monday, March 2. at Scott Haven, to take
action in the scale and further discuss the
eight-hour movement. A local assembly of
K. OF L. was organized at Scott Haven last
month and will take a prominent part in
the coming struggle. From present indi-
cations it is thought the LIST of May will
open a fierce strike at the Yough river
mines,