The herald., 1895-06-13
TROUBLE BREWING
'''' FOR iH[ SAILORS
The Situation at San Pedro
Is Critical
BLOODSHED FEARED
BY THE CITIZENS
Rumors of Forming a Vigilance
Committee
A StIIPOWNER'S TALK
ABOUT THE RACKET
He Will Sue the County II Not Pro.
tected by the Sheriff
CURRENT OPINIONS AS
He Will Sue the County II Not Pro-
tected by the Sheriff
CURRENT OPINIONS AS
VOICED BY THE SEAMEN
4 Herald Reporter Listens to All Sides in
the Matter
Union and Nom Union Men Talk Freely Upon
the Subject of the Sailors Warfare Now
Raging in the Vicinity Of San Pedro.
The nerchants Complaining
of a Boycott

There is an incipient riot among the
seafaring population OF San Pedro.
The long existing bad blood between the
Sailors union and the Shipowners as.
sociation has culn. mated in number
of petty fights and more serious trouble is
expected daily. AS already published in
The Herald there are mum bers of anony
nous dodgers IN circulation that both ap-
peal to and threaten the alleged offensive
parties. Last week new phase OF the
question was developed by the entrance
of a third paruy-the citizens of San
Pedro.
According to the rumors gathered by
Herald representative in East San Pedro
yesterday there is every prospect OF a
vigilance committee being organized in
the near future to cope with the frequent
disturbances. Be this true or not, there
is much excitement at present and groups
of men are to be found in every conyen-
lent lounging place, discussing the situa
ton. The merchants and tradesmen.
too, are interested as they have much DIT
stake in business lines.
The union seamen are practically in
possession of the tort and propose to hold
of them were met by the reporter, all of
whom bitterly denounced the non-union
agent at San Pedro, laying at his door the
charge of having conspired to foment the
present quarrel for the purpose of in
creasing his business. The agent J. w.
Davis, has denied this in letter to the @
paper and throws the odium upon his
rival in business, Mr.. McLaren of the
Shipowners' association. To both men
their respective followers look for the So
luton of the difficuIty and both are loud
in their protestations of uprightness.
Sheriff Burr is really poweress to pre-
vent the clasning OF the two parties with
his present force at the scene of trouble
and numerous law suits are to be COM
menccd against the county on this ac-
count. In the case of the J. M. Grltfiths
there is litigation pending to recover $3.50
damages, sustained by reason of delay
caused by the union men, who would not
permit the vessel to be unloaded by
"scabs. The sheriff was appealed to
and was unable co raise the siege for
some little time. Other suits are threa.-
ened from the same source. The owners
do not intend to allow the union to die
tate to them as to the seamen in their
employ and the union seems equally de-
termined to obstruct the free handling of
the vessels. This is not done by the I'M
ion i'll a body, but in numbers of ca ses
the obstruetionists are recognized as men
belonging to 1t, and the effect is to
identity them as of chat organization.
The damage done to the town is con-
siderable. r.. X. Streets of the San Pc
dro Lumber company said TO the reporter
to the question of commercial depreuia
ton: Yes, | believe that this agitation
Is proving great dntIiment to the well
tare OF San Pedro. The merchants rec
ogniZe it as such and are anxious for re-
llef OF some sort The 'scabs as they
are termed, are afraid to come ashore in
the face OF the unionists, and the union
men refuse to patronze some of the
tradesmen because they suspect them OF
sympathy with the hated SLipowners
association. In our business the trouble
has affected us but little, as IL is the cap
tain that deals with the crew and not tie
there is serious battle ahead i'd great.
ly regret the damage already done to the
town by reason of the turbulent state of
affairs. - s1
A; g. Marks, union seaman, who is
well posted on the internal status of the
matter. said: "It is all the fault of a few
fiotous seamen not at all idertiried with
the union. We greatly regret the damage
done to property III the numerous con
ticts during the past few months, and
woulu nave 10 UNDERSTOOD that we are in
no wise responsible for it,
James l.. Wall, who has been for years
identified with the shipping interests at
Santa Barbara. San Pedro and Long
Beach, is stalwart hacker of the asso,
citation. Said he: "Why has not cap
tain the right to employ whom he pleases,
irrespective of union? What right mas
any man or party of men to dictate to an
employer whom he shall have on his
booksf The right does not exist, and vet
the entire trouble on this coast has been
from men who assume this authority.
! will@place on my vessels Just such men
as l see fit and pay them fair wages. If
the Sailors union objects. let it object.
The sheriff of this county is legally COM
PEELED to prevent any assaulting OF inno-
cent men, and to him | shall look for a
safe conduct to all whom l employ. A
failure to provide adequate protection
renders the county liable for damages,
TO my mind, and ii necessary the ship
owners will not hesitate to take the
proper LEGAL steps,"
A mum ber of other citizens were talked
with, who seemed to be of the unani-
nous opinion that there is soon to be
decisive strike in the war