Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-13
THE MILITIA
In Full Possession of
Homestead Mills.
The Reception Planned by the
Men Fell Through,
And Gen. Snowden Tells Them
That He Wants None.
Troops Posted About the Mills and
Through the Town.
Martial Law Takes the Place of the
Mems Arbitrary Rule.
Troops Posted About the Mills and
Through the Town.
Martial Law Takes the Place of the
Mems Arbitrary Rule.
Gen. SnoWden Anticipates No Trouble in
caryiag Out Mis- Orders.

CaryiAg Out Ms Orders.
| HOMESTEAD, Pa, July l2-As soon as
/ Gen Snowien established headquarters in
the school house on the hill over the iron
works lie was waited upon by committee
consisting of VDonneil, Coon, Craw ford.
Schueknian and Clifford, representing the
| Anlalgalnated Association advisory COM
mi;iee and Citizen Coon was spokesman
stating that h. represented the association
anl citizens and Oh their part he welcomed
the troops to tosn and offered cooperation
of the citizens in preserving order.
| Gen Snow,en sand: II thank you for
the welcome. but do not need your CO.
operation. The only way good citizens
can cooperate with us is to 90 peaceably
about their business.
| Coon said The citizens wish to know
at what time they may give You IA public
reception
| Snow,len replied II can accept no re-
ception, sir 1t would be most improper
| | thank you for the courtesy, but a formal
welcome is not needed. II would be- an
amazing thing if the national guard of
| Pennsylvania was not welcome in any part
of Pennsylvania.
| Mr.. oDonnell took up the conversation
and began ''On the part of the Amalga-
mated Association, | wish to say that after
suffering an attack from illegal authority,
We are glad TO have the legal authority of
the state here
| II do not recognize your association.
sir" Gen. Snowden replied II recognize
no one but the citizens of this city. We
come here to restore law aud order, and
they are already restored
! But We wish to submit" ODonneli
began. when the general cut him short, say
ing Then, sir, submit to the gentleman
| behind YOU"
ODonnell wheeled around and saw Sher-
| in MeCleary standing in the group. ~ do
submit to him he said. ave never ques-
toned the -heriif's order"
| The general smiled rather sarcastically
and said II am glad to hear it. You must
understand our position. We are here to
preserve peace We represent the exccu-
tive arm of the state of Pennsylvania, and /
have nothing to say 10 you further than the
sheriff must be obeycd."
Bat We have obeyed the sheriff" 0'Don-
nell said, Haven't we, Mr.. MeCleary:"
/ NO yon have not" said the sheriff,
You refused to let my deputies enter the
works
! There was some further talk of this sort,
in which Gen. Snowden took no part. The
conference ended in an awkarl silence
| finally broken by O'Donnell, who said,
| We'll, | believe we have nothing further
/ to say.
| The general bowed in silence. and the
committee departed for headquarters, where
very stormy discussion followed on the
ground taken by the authorities. Gen
! Snow,len said after the committee left that
there was to be no such thing as taking for
nal possession of the works or of the town.
| The feeling of the strikers is very bitter
against Gen. >nowien. lie was denounced
! in unneasured terms when the result of his
interview with the committee became
known The men confidently look for a
large Importation of PinkertOn watchmen
today or tomorrow While they seem decided
/ " iaiimilated by the troops. some of them
swear they will RESIST the landing of de,ec-
tives at all cost. 1t il believed tne Carne
| gle company has over 1000 Don-Inion men
ready to run into the works AS soon as their
safety il assured. and a large force of
Pinkersons will be first brought in to renew
the defeuscs.
These Pinkertons are said to be scattered
about Pitisburg, waiting for n ca TO assem-
Bile at Homestead This statement comes
| from the strikers committee and cannot be
verified here. The strikers guards have
been withdrawn from abont the mills.
! Their places have been taken by the pro-
vost patrol, which guards all the streets
leading to the mill and about it,
| Representatives Of the company, ied by
Otis Childs, took possession aboHt ten
O'Clock AMI so quietly that their presence
was not known until this afternoon. Gen.
Snowden says: The mill property is al
ready in the hands of the Carnegie Com
pany. understand Mr.. Childs is now IN
the works. With all that wa have nothing
to do. We are here to support the sheriff
in the execution of his duties
The advisory committee is Of the opinion
that the works will h. at once filled up
with non-tinion men and watchmen. but de-
cline to discuss how they will meet and
solve the problem. I'VE will not be
Ateaten. UDonneIl remarked confidently.
The sohiiers are permitted to 90 into
town as they pleased to get their meals.
The result was that the soldiers and strik-
ers did great deal too much drinking ard
more drunken men were seen on the streets
than have been visible altogether in the
past week. The crowds and soldiers frs
ternized Some soldiers declared they
would stack their arms If called upon to
protect piHkertons OF non-union men
1t is not thought Carnegie 4 Go. have vet
made any extensive arrangements for the
employment of non-union labor. The men
maintain that the works will remain idle all
summer befofe the men will return, but il
is evident that n feeling of detection has
taken possession OLA majority of the me n
since the appearance of the militia. Tneon-
firmed rumors of further conferences with
the company are in the air.
The congressional investigating commit
tee were here today AMI had an informal
talk with Hugh ODonneIl and other -trik-
ers. regarding the battle with the Pinker-
tons Mr.. Ctild also had an informal talk
with the congressman. No real attempt
/ was made To examine witnesses. The Con-
gressmeH inspected the scene of the late
engagement.
/ The friei,.ls of Sheriff McCleary deny
that he proposes to arrest ilngh O'Donnell
and half the other leaders Of the locked -oas
men. It is said that early tomorrow morn
ing movement will be made towards man
ming the mill. Mr.. Chsld and Manager
Potter had long conference with the sher-
ia this afternoon. and il is intimated that q
vigorous line of se,ion was decided upon.
great many workingInen for the first
time sintr the battle are drinking heavily.
| There have been two or three tights. some
serious. and great deal Of wild talk.
Leaders seem To some extent TO hare lost
control. When il became evident the sol
diers were drinking, patrols arrested them
and soon nearly all the militia men were
back in camp. The evening closed more
quietly thaa one hsd u right to expect. and
/ while the sfr.ets were siill full af TO- the
crowd as drifting homeward.
Gen. Snowden has ordered . whole bat
ialien assigned to patrol duty tomorrow at q
time The strikers believe this orier was
i-sued to cover the sheriff in introducing
non-union men into the works. but this il
mere conjecture