Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-14

terferes he WIN he snot, Tor the miiitia
must do their duty.
''Bloodshed and conflict with the
troops must be averted. II any man
imagines that the state troops will be
brought here TO stand around like posts,
or TO be on dress parade, that man is
mistaken. They will be brought here
TO act, and the men will act as they are
directed TO, They will shoot you down.
'In the history of the riots in the
coke region this is shown 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.
lie and his posse are the legal repre-
sentatives of the law and are not like
the Pinkertons, hired band who act
as their employers direct"
One of the locked out men followed
MIR. Brennan in a speech Of the same
tone. lie told them that the people OF
the country were in sympathy with
them because of their conservative, or.
derby course since the battle with the
Pinkertons. But they would not be in
sympathy with them IL they violated
the law and refused to recognize IL. The
sheriff is bound TO support the appeal
of the late employers of the men for
protection 10 their works. "lIc will
not bring here men who will fire on us
and take the side of the firm and act in
a hostile spirit to us lie will have toe
much sense for that. He must act, but
he will act fairly toward us, and we
will be better off with his deputies thnn
with others"
The other men who made formal
speeches said: "Our lawyer has told us
what we may expect II the militia
comes, and he has said that II will come
now. IL he cannot be trusted, who can
be? The Amalgamated association
knows that it won't amount to a six
pence II 1t loses this fight, and our Off
GERS would not ask us TO talte this ac-
ton II they did not believe it would be
best They advocated arbitration. We
have the choice to let the sheriff take
possession of the property peaceably
or to resist him, and then the troops
will be called out, and who will gainP
Only the mill owners. Bloodshed may
follow.
by giving way to the sheriff, we will
save sacrifice of his life. think we
will be in better position TO win and
will gain friends by showing that we
are not anarchists, but law abiding
citizens, fighting for our rights AS work.
men. We can't afford TO slight the
civil authorities"
There were some others who were
among the men who followed these
speakers. The opposition of some Of
the men to the sheriff cropped out in
what they said and showed that they
distrusted him.
"They must come unarmed" was the
significant remark of one of them after
the meeting. They wanted the sheriff
10 assure them nothing would be done
that would injure their proposition of
complete control of the situation, and
the deputies would not be used TO in-
troduce non-union workmen. OF course
IL is evident that II the posse comes IL
must see that men are not interfered
with In their lawful right 10 labor for
whom they see fit, and the sheriff could
give no such assurance.
There were too few of the men present
10 act as a representative body of work.
men, and so an adjournment was taken
with the understanding that a number
of leading officers including Weyhe,
Garland, O'Donnell and others would
visit Pittsburgh and confer with Sheriff
McCleary and learn his purposes II con-
troll was given him.
II was understood by some of the men
that another 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
Talks with number of the men show
that the conservative element and the
leaders in the Amalgamated association
are in favor of giving way 10 the sher-
i'll, and good sense would indicate that
they must control, though great num-
Der of the younger and hotter headed
element are opposed 10 any yielding.
Ono Of the conservative mon talked
with j, C. James, Welsh workman.
He said he believed the deputies should
be recognized If they came here un.
armed and peaceful IF soldiers come
here we will recognize them" he said.
"They are officers of the state and " i'll
protect the property. If they should
attempt TO use them To force non-union
men IN the works trouble would como.