The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-09
HOLD THE WORKS.
Omaha Butchers Defy the
Officials.
SERIOUS TROUBLE FEARED.
Preparations Made to Call Out
the Militia.
ERIOUS TROUBLE FEARED.
NO NoN.UNION MAN is SAFE.
Strikers Assemble on Every Corner
and Permit None to Enter
the Packing Houses.

rived tonight and Ii there is no improve
ment bv morning several companies of
militia will be sent to South Omaha and
the packing-house district will be placed
under martial law. The situation is most
serious tonight and the 1900 strikers have
been doing about as they pleased. At6
O'Clock this evening they forced their
picket line that has for fOrty-elght hours
surrounded the packing-houses under the
walls of the big buildings and their num-
Der was increased by the addition OF
several hundred men.
AT o'clock Mayor johnson Of South
Omaha went before the Omaha police
board and asked that a detail of police be
sent there as he was powerless to control
the lawless element. He said he had
driven all over the city tonight and found
gangs of strikers patroling the streets
waiting for some of the workmen 10 show
up on their way to work. He had found
gangs of fifty to seventy-ive strikers all
armed with clubs. The local police force
was powerless TO cope with these organized
mobs and unless some radical measure
was taken to suppress the disnrderlv ele-
ment there would be men murdered and
the packing-houses would be in ashes be-
fore tomorrow night.
The board was Informed that the Cover
nor was in consultation with the packers
with view of putting the packing-house
district under martial law, and concluded
TO await his action. The packing-house
managers held conference. and at its
close Mr.. Cudahy notified the adjutant-
general that unless the workmen could be
given better protection all packing-houses
wonld be compelled to close down to-
morrow. He said the managers do not
like endangering their plants by keeping
them at work while their men are in dan
ger of assault. Every fresh assault, they
claim, increases the seriousness Of the sit
uatiou, and they believe that there is but
a step from violence toward the men to
violence 10 the pack!ng-houses.
In the evening the Governor and the
acknowledgement met -. Eaekers 20 can
vass the matter. The packers declared
that the situation was most critical, and
the Governor finally concluded to do moth
ing until morning, and then, il there was
no Improvement, to call out the troops.
General Gage is on the scene tonight,
keeping a close watch on the situation.
He is in constant communication not only
with the managers of the several packing
houses, but with prominent leaders of the
strikers. If it shall be decided that it is
necessary to call out the State troops the
two companies in Omaha will be first
brought into service, and if more are
needed the companies from York, Lincoln,
Fairbury and other points within quick
running distance of Omaha will be sum-
moned.
Here in Omaha thu adjItant-general has
a standing arrangement designed to expe-
dite the movement of the Omaha Guards
and the Thurston Rifles in case the State
needs their services. The company SER
geants are required to keep the men in
their squads constantly in reach of tele-
phone or quick messenger service. All
that is necessary is to notify the sergeant
that the company has been ordered into
service and the men will be summoned to
the armory within an hour l: is believed
that both Omaha companies could be
thrown into South Omaha within two
hours If necessary.
Many employees tonight on their way
from their work were assaulted by strik-
ers, who were stationed at all points to in
tercept them. Many Of the men who left
the plants last night and went home to
sleep were unable to return to work TO-
day. In some instances their houses were
watched by strikers and they were afraid
to venture out. Men who were on their
way to work were turned back by strikers
and not allowed to pass the strikers
picket lines In one instance three
IL
night tank men to his home. A mob of a
hundred or more strikers would not permit
them to pass, and the laborer had to re-
turn to the plant and stay there.
Number of the most prominent citizens.
merchants and business men were called
on this evening and were asked to act as
deputies. Many signified their willing
ness and met this afternoon and were
sworn in. Mayor johnson and Sheriff
Drexel visited the various avenues leading
to the different packing-houses tonight
They both report the strikers to be in an
angry frame of mind. They said the en-
frances to the packing-houses were guard. :.
ed by the strikers with an armed force of
men with clubs, revolvers and stones, and
efforts were made to prevent the men 60
Ing 10 WDIK, III WHICH tuc IdIleI were more
or less bruised.
Mayor Johnson predicts serious trouble.
and unless the militia is called out at once
he says that the regular army will have to
brought into action 10 prevent bloodshed
on large scale. Sheriff Drexel is inclined
to think the police and deputy sheriffs can
preserve the peace unless something un-
foreseen occurs. and does not favor the
idea of calling out the militia a: once.
Captain Mostyn, in charge of the special
deputies, received telephone message
from Sheely this morning that mob of
200 men bad assembled along the tracks to
sidetrack the refrigera tor-cars containing
meat shipped East from the packing
houses. A patrol wagon-load of police
was sent to Sheely. but before it arrived
there the meat train passed unmolested.
The regular dummy train which left
Omaha for South Omaha with the packing
house employees was stoned at Sheely, and
a derisive howl greeted the train as it
passed through the suburban station.
OMAHA, Nebr., Aug. Sat l o'clock
this moruinp he cOnference of mupjoipal