Evening journal., 1894-08-09
OMAHA RULED BY A MOB
Packing House Strikers In Pos
session OF the City.
THE POLICE FORCE Is PowERLEss.

squads For Nonunion Men OF Keopak
Them Psnned In Their Homes and the
Packing Houses-AIay Call Out Troops.
OMAHA, Aug. "a crisis has arrived.
md II there Is no improvement several
companies Of militia will be sent TO South
Omaha and the packing house district
placed under martial law. The situation
was most serious last night, and the !, 100
strikers had been doing as they pleased
They forced their picket line that has for
As hours surrounded the packing planus
under the walls OF the big buildings, anu
thoir number was increased by the addi-
tion Of several hundred men. Mayor John
son Of South Omaha went before the Omh-
hn police board and asked that detaoh-
ment OF police be sent there As be WIS
powerloss 70 control the lawless element
He said no had driven all over the city
and found gangs Of strikers patroliine The
streets, waiting for some OF the wurkmen
TO show up on thoir way to work. He had
found gangs Of 90 TO 40 strikers, oil orrncd
with clubs
The Police Poweriess.
Tho local police force was pOwerless ~
cope with these organized mobs, and un-
less some measures were taken 10 suppress
bo men murdered and tho packing housas
would be I'm ashes before tonight Tho
board was informed that the governor WAS
in consultation with the packers, with
Wow Of putting the packing houses under
martial law, and concluded To await bis
action.
Tho packing house managers held
conference, and at the close Mr.. Cudahy
notified tho adiutnnt general that unless
the worSmen could be given odequBte
protection all tho packing houses would
be compelled TO close down today. flo
said the managers do not feel like endan-
| gorlng their plants by keeping them at
work while their men are In danger OF
assassination.
The governor and adjutant general met
the packers last evening 10 canvass the
matter Tho packers decided that the stu
alton was most serious, and the governor
| finally concluded 60 do nothing unta
morning, and then II there was no iiii-
provoment to call for troops.
The employees last night on their way
from work were assaulted by strikers.
Mnhy.of tho men who left tho plants aud
won't homo 60 sleep were unable 70 return
TO work. In some instances their houses
were Watched 10y strikers, and they wsre
afraid to venture out. Men who were on
their way 60 work were turned back "
strikers and not allowed 30 pass the etFik-
ors picket lines. In one instance three
policemen were unable b escort one Of
the night men 10 his home
A mob OF 90 OF more strikers would nos
permit them to pass, and the iaborors had
to return to the plant and stay thera A
number OF tho most prominent oitizans
woro called upon and asked 10 och as dep
uties. Many siRnihed their willingness
and mot last evening and wore aRsrn,ln
Want The Militia Called ont
Mayor johnson and Sheriff Drexel Wis
itcd tho various avenues Leading o. ths
different packing houses. They both re-
port tho strikers 10 be In On anFry hAnaa
Of mind. They said the entrances 20 tls
packing houses were guarded by tho stJi Y
ers with force Of men armed wiGi
clubs, rovolvers and stones and effort,
wero made 20 prevent the new men FROM
going 90 work. Several conflicts occurred
between the strikers and the men going Il
work, In which tho latter were more d
loss bruised and Infused
Mayor johnson predicts serious trouble,
and unless the militia IL brought init
Omaha 40 once he says that the rcgulel
army will have to be brought In 10 pre-
, vent bloodshed on large scale Sheriff
Drexel Is inclined TO think that the police
I and deputy shoriffs can preserve the peacI
unless something Unforeseen OCCURS and
no does not favor the idea OF calling out
tho militia at once.
Captain Moslyn, in charge Of the spe
! ciAl deputies. received telephone mes
, sage from Sheely stating that q mob o.
200 men had assembled along the track
to sidetraolx tho refrigerator cars contain
> ing meat shipped east from the paekinl
houses.
b A patrol wagonload Of police was sen
|, TO Sheely, but before II arrived there th'
, meat train had passed unmolested. fh
. regular dummy train which left Omahi
l. for South Omaha with packing house EN-
. ployocs was stoned at Sboeiy, and De
J., risive howl greeted the train As 10 passe'
d through the suburban station.