The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-11

sufficient for call to arms. At various
times last night and during the early
honrs of this morning reports were cir
| culated that the Pinkertons were at the
city's outskirts and the scramble that
succeeded each of these announcements
would have been ludricrous but for the
gravity of the situation. Men rushed to
their homes and prepared themselves for
| the impending battle, only to be apprised
an hour later that the report was false
| So often has the cry of wolf gone out that
there is danger when the true alarm does
come it may fall on unheeding ears and
| the enemy be within the city limits be-
| fore the call to battle is sounded.
| There is no doubt of the settled con-
| viction in the minds of the strikers that
| another battle is inevitable. They have
received at least dozen kilograms from
various points stating that the Pinker-
| tons were mobilizing detachments at as
many places, preparatory to a grand
| movement of this private army upon
Homestead. The leaders of the strikers
have accepted most of this information
as authentic, and concluded that de-
cisive struggle is not far distant The
| estimates of the strength of this PinlSer-
| ton army are, by mysterious unanimity
! of opinion, fixed at 800 men. The strik-
ers feel confident that, with the arms at
their command and their strength of
| from 5000 to 5000 able bodied men, they
can easily repulse this force. OF one
thing there can be no doubt. Another
invasion of the Pinkertons will be fol-
| lowed by another battle, more sanguin-
ary,
| More Terrible and More Decisive
4
than the first.
I The strikers are perfecting their organ
ization and today appear to be gaining
in strength in every way, except with
the press. The prominent newspapers
of the country, Of which copies are be-
ing received here, appear to be resentful
of the espionage and restrictions imposed
upon their representatives and the
leaders of the mill-workers now realize
that the effort to exercise censorship
over press dispatches has been a serious
error Everything that can be done by
Hugh O'Donnell to protect the news
paper men from harrassing interference
has been done. 1t is safe to say that as
long as he is the dominant spirit no
more reporters will be ordered out of
town, but O'Donnell is in advance of his
fellows and the spirit of liberation he
evinces is not shared by many of the
rank and file. A good majority of the
strikers are still disposed to regard news
paper men as interlopers. Half dozen
new arrivals today were promptly ap-
preached by the self-constituted commit
tee and marched off to the strikers head
quarters, where they were forced to re-
main an hour or until they had satisfied
the men as to their identity. There are
| representatives of the press in this city
who maintain that
/ Fear of visitations
by the irate committee impels them to
great caution in preparing news de-
spatches. 1t is only when temerity out
weighs discretion that the correspond
ents here exercise the perfect freedom of
expression which would characterize
their dispatches at any other point. The
advisory committee of the strikers is no
longer in official existence but. practical
ly, the same men who composed it are
again performing the functions de-
volved upon the committee. 1t is evi-
dent to any observer that directions are
given by officers who act authoritativelv.
One reason for the non existence of
| an organized committee is found
in caution and desire not to get in
volved in any court proceedings which
may hereafter be instituted. The
leaders realize that they are treading on
dangerous ground, and do not intend
| officially to commit themselves to any
action at law. They are leaders of an
organized and large body which may, at
any time, break away and act as mob.
No one is willing to assume the RESPONSE
bility of control now exercised unofficial
ly and through separate lodges, in which
secrecy obligations hold. The advisory
committee consisted of president and
two members from each lodge. One
reason for its disbandment, the members
of the committee say, was that Sheriff
McCleary and others endeavored to use
| the committee and get it's endorsement
claim the men are now acting together
properly without direction and
Keeping Good Order
and that, therefore, organization is un-
necessary. Mr.. O'Donnell this evening
refused to admit that the advisory COM
mittee was still in force.
"Are you considering the reorganiza-
ton of it?'' he was asked.
''Not yet" he answered. "All can
say is that we expect every man to do
his duty in this crisis.''
Have you received any information
from the sheriff today?"
mo, nothing"
"The Congressional investigating COM
mittee may be here the day after tomor-
row. What steps will you take to re-
cieve it?''
II suppose if they call upon us we shall
respond and give them all the informa-
ton necessary"
''Have you received any visits from
prominent labor leaders?"
eyes; Dan Harris, president of the
New York State Branch of the Fedora
ton of Labor, is here to extend sympa-
thy and proffer the assistance of that or
ganization.
Arrangements have been begun, it is
said, for the establishing of temporary
hospitals for the care of the wounded in
case another fight occurs. The estab-
lishment of such an hospital is said to
have been suggested by Sister Magdalene
of the Sisters of Mercy, who have charge