Omaha daily bee., 1894-04-03
COKE STRIKERS USE FORCE
Demands fol Increase in Pay Backed Up
by Threats of Violence,
WILLING WORKERS DRIVEN Off BY MODS
Men Who Did Not Want to Join Beaten
and Compelled to Leave the Furnaces
Heavily Armed Deputy Shcr-
IFS Guard the Works.

UNIoNTowN, Pa. April Especial Tele.
gram to The Bee.)-Coke workers and opcr.
ators were alike surprised this morning, the
as they expected, the latter that there was
any strike at all, Only about one-rourth OF
the works of the region Joined in the strike,
many holding back to await the action of the
district convention this afternoon.
The strike was ushered In about 4 o'clock
this morning, when 300 sIavs, Italians and
Poles, armed with revolvers and clubs,
marched from the Wheeler and Morrell
works of the Cambria Iron company to the
Humphrey, Anchor and Hill farm works at
Dunbar and drove the workmen off the
yards. Several shots were fired and the
nonstrikers fled for their lives. The strikers
cut the hose and threw 1t into the ovens.
Several of the worst rioters were captured
by the officers and lodged in Jail.
AZ the oliver works, near here, the men
up IN the ovens, and when the company
tried to put men to work to draw this coke
the strikers beat the workmen from the
GROUND. The company officials have noti-
fled Sheriff Wilhelm that they demand pro-
lection while they can draw this coke and
save 1t from destruction.
WHERE THE AMERICANS COME IN.
The works of w. ]. Rainey of Cleveland
have always run regardless of strikes, but
the foreign element at his Meyer works
joined the strikers this morning. Their
places are being filled with American work
men; and the company says that hereafter
the English speaking men will be given the
preference. The foreign workmen were
first brought to the country to break "a
strike. and because they were thought to
be least liable to join "a strike. They are
now the most determined and vicious of
strikers. They are enthusiastic in the pres
ent movement and most of the American
workmen, are forced into the strike from
fear of violence at the hands Of foreigners.
The delegates to the district convention
at Scotdale today We're much divided in
the works, others at the works not paying
the Frick scale, while still Others wanted
ton could be perfected and the men be
better prepared for a general battle when
the conditions are more favorable. The
strike feeling predominated, however, and
the convention finally adopted a resolution
declaring the strike general. The demand
is for 80 cents for 100 bushels for mining
and IL per cent advance on the Frick scale
for all other work.
SURPRISED THE TRICKS.
Thu Frick company is the most surprised.
as it has an agreement with it's men and
had no idea of the strike extending to it's
works. Several of it's plants Joined the
ers predict that by tomorrow or next day
all the works of the region will be in the
strike. Mass meetings will be held and adj
the executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America, who are aiding the
movement.
There is an unusual feeling throughout
the region tonight for fear of violence. At
the request of the companies Sheriff Will
helm has sworn in fifty deputies at Rainey's
Meyer works. An official of the company
this evening said: "These deputies are all
heavily armed and # the strikers attempt
sheriff also swore in a number of deputies
at several of the other works. 1t is feared
that the governor will in the end be called
on to order out the state militia, as in the
great coal strike of 1891.