The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-09


J. W., and Mr.. w. j. Brennan, counsel Of
the workmef. arrived here during the
morning They were strongly In favor OF
the men giving the deputies freedom Of ad-
mission, and SO was the advisory com-
mittee. Mr. Weihe declined TO talk to
porters. Word was passed around that
there would be a meeting. and, soon after.
ward. about two hundred men had assem-
blrd in the rink. This Is q hall about q
block away from the building. and Is q
frame structure capable of holding u con-
siderable number. 1t 10 here that the
Pinkert0n men were taken when they ran
the gauatlet of infuriated men and women.
President Weihe presided over the meet
ing. He had previously urged number OF
the men to respect all leGally-constituted
authority and 10 endeavor To so conduct
themselves as to retain the sympathy of
the public. which was now with them and
must be retained If the men wanted TO win.
He represented to them that the State wns
compelled to enforce observance 20 the law,
and could not stand by and see q govern
ment here unrecoe n zed by law. The hrm
must be given possession of the works. Ii
the sheriff's men were not allowed TO come
In and peacefully take possession, resort
must then be had 10 the next means, which
was the sending of troops by the Governor.
Mr.. Weihe-made no public address, how
ever, simply introducing attorney Bren-
nan.
ATTORNEY BREisNAN'S WARNING.
No reporters known TO be reporters were
admitted to the building. but what Mr..
Brennan said was substantially this: If
the shcriff's officers are not admitted to the
works aud the property turned over to the
tirm the militia must be summoned and st
is their duty TO obey orders regardless Of
their sympathies or of the results. The
present condition of affairs cannot be al
lowed to co ntinue. When the militia
comes they Will be here in force and well
armed. They will surround the works.
New men will be put TO work under mill
tar v guard, and If any one attempts to in
ter fere with them he will be shot,
duty. Bloodshed and a conflict with
troops must be averted. If any man I'M
agnes that the State troops will be brought
here to stand around like posts or TO be on
will be brought here to act, and the men
will act as they are directed TO do. They
will shoot You down. The history of the
riots in the coke regions shows this TO be
true The owners know that whatever
may be the moral position of the men, they
have the law on their side. and that the
sheriff must put them in possession of their
property. The people are against the
Pinkertons, but they will not be with you
in resistance to the sheriff. He and his
posse are the legal representatives of the
peace. and are not like the Pinkertons-a
hired band. who are to act as their en-
ployer directs"
One of the lockeJ-out men followed Mr..
Brennan In a speech of the same tone. He
told them that the people of the country
were In sympathy with them because OF
their conservative, orderly course since the
battle with the Pinkcrtons. But they
would not be in sympathy with them *
they violated the law and refused to recog-
nize its proper officers. The sheriff Is
bound to respect the appeal OF the late
their works. He will not bring here men
who will fire on rs and take the side of the
firm and act in hostile spirit to US. He
will have too much sense for that. He
must act. but he wall act fairy and square.
ly toward u.s. and will be better of
with his deputies than with the soldiers
here.
ARBITRATION ADVOCATED.
The third man, who made formal
speech. said: Our lawyer has told us
what we may expect if the militia comes.
and he has said that il will come. II he
can't be trusted. who can bef The Anal.
gamated Association knows that 1t won't
amount to a row of pins if it loses this
fight. and our officers would not ask US to
take this action if they did not believe it
wonld be best. We cannot win by vio-
lence." The speaker advocated arbitra-
tion. I'VE have either to let the sheriff
take possession OF the mill in q friendly,
peaceable spirit resist him." he said,
'and then the troops Will be called out,
and who will gainf Only the mih-owners.
Bloodshed may follow. BY giving way to
the sheriff we will save sacrifice of life.
think We will really be in a better POSI-
tion to win. We will gain friends by show
ing that We are not Anarchists. but
law-abiding citizens. fighting for our
rights as workingmen. We cannot afford
to tight the civil authorities"
There were some others among the men
who were not of the same mind as the
speakers quoted. The slim attendance at
the meeting was probably due, in part. to
there WAS opposition to the proposition.
The opposition of some of the men TO the
sheriff cropped ont in what they said, and
they showed that they distrusted him.
They must come unarmed.u was the sig
Dihcant remark of one of them after the
meeting. They wanted the sheriff TO as
sure them that nothing would be done that
would injure their proposition of complete
control of the situation, and that the depu-
ties would not be used as a means of intro
ducing on-union workmen. OF course it
is evident that ii the posse comes il must
see that the men are not interfered with in
their lawful right to labor for whom they
see fit. and the sheriff could give no such
assurance.
There were too few of the men present to
act as representative body of the work
men, and so an adjournment was taken
with the understanding that a number of
the leading officers, including Weihe Car
land, OD0nnell. Brennan and others.
would visit Pittsburg and confer with
Sheriff McCleary and learn his purposes. if
control were given to him, and also to see
the Adjutsnt t. general of the State. 1t was
understood by some of the men that an
other meeting would be held later In the
day, but none has taken place and none
will probably be called until the committee
desires to report.
FAVOR THE sHERIFF'S PLAN.
Talks with o number of the men show
that the conservative element and the lead
ers In the Amalgamated Association are de-
cidedly in favor of giving way to the sheriff.
and good sense would, indicate that they
must control, though q great number of the
Younger and hotter element are opposed to
any yielding. One of the conservative men
talked withIwas j. G. James. a Welsh work.
man. He said he believed the deputies
should be recognized if they came here un.
armed and peaceful eff soldiers come here
We will recognize rhem." he said. They
are officers of the State, and will protect
the property. If they should attempt to
use them to force non-union men into the
works, trouble would come. The soldiers
will not come here TO prevent honest work
ingnen getting their rights"
But" asked the reporter, what will
happen after the soldiers get heref They
cannot be kept here, paid aud fed for SIM
plY watching the prOpertv. The firm will