, 1897-09-11
sHERIFF'S

Will be no necessity for having deputies
here.
SHERIFF'S STATEMENT.
Wilkesbarre, Pa. Sept. 10.-When
Sheriff Martin arrived here from Haz-
elton he was met at the depot by his
legal advisor. They drove to the court
house, wthere they were closeted to-
gether for some time. The sheriff was
reluctant to say whether he had given
the command to fire, but finally sub
mitted he had. The sheriff's statement
in substance is as follows:
Trouble began at 3 o'clock. I met
a marching column. I halted them and
read the proclamation. They refused
to pay any attention and started to re-
sumo their march. Then | called to the
leader to stop. He ignored my orders.
| then attempted to arrest him. The
strikers closed in on me. They acted
very v%iciously, kicking me, knocking
ME down and trampling upon me. l
called upon my deputies to aid me and
'''S h.' o., Dut thVy "tIt ulldDle " at
complish much. | realized that some
thing had to he done at once, or | would
be killed. l called to the deputies to
discharge their firearms into the air ov-
er the heads Of the strikers. as it might
probably frighten them. 1t was done
at once, but had 10 effect whatever on
the Infatuated foreigners. who used me
so much rougher and became ~fiercer.
more like beasts than human beings. I
then called upon the deputies to defend
themselves and shoot If they must. The
next second there were a few scattering
shots. fired into the foreigners and a
moment later the entire force Of depu-
ties discharged a solid volley into the
crowd. I hated to give the command to
shoot, | was there tt do my duty and
did as hest l knew how and as my con-
science dictated"
THE MINERS CONFERENCE.
Columbus. Ohio, Sept. 1O.-The miners
are still talking In national convention
about a settlement of the strike and re-
porters who hang about the doors out
side say the convention will run into
tomorrow.
The third days session was called to
order al 8 a. m. At the Thursday after
noon session two test woes were taken
that had their bearing on the question Of
accepting the proposition Of the Pitts
burg operators OF 65 cents per ton. The
resolution at stake was a proposition
from Chris Evans to the effect that in
the event Of a settlement the work of
organization was to be continued in the
West Virginia field. A delegate called
for a division OF the question. Both
were promptly voted down. In fact. up
to this time every proposition made by
the officers who have proposed the settle
ment has been promptly shelved. The
opposition to the settlement in a private
way, claims to control two-thirds OF the
members of the convention.
a prominent man, one who has been
instrumental in raising a large amount
Vi uiu " lAS SiaiNiu hiihSlS III oLiio
says the convention had better accept the
proposition as 1t would in the future be
almost impossible to secure further CON
tributions.
1t is known that the day will be main
ly devoted to considering resolutions
bearing on certain things. A most ex-
citing incident happened when a new
delegate from Cecil. Pa, the home OF
President Dolan, presented his creden-
tials. The delegate is a Frenchman and
very bright and brought with him a let
ter from the local union emphatically
declaring against accepting the 65 cents
offered by the Pittsburg operators. The
reading OF the letter merely resulted in
a rough and tumble fight and only a
prompt explanation saved a most dis
graceful scene on the floor Of the On
vention. President Dolan promptly de-
c;ared the letter a "lte." A delegate de-
liberately pulled of his coat. threw it on
a chair and in vigorous language in
Quired: Does the president mean to
say that l am a liar?"
mo-" replied President Dolan; but I
do meal to say that the letter is a lie"
That is all right as to the letter. but
he must not say that I am a liar. As to
the letter being a lie. Mr.. Dolan can set
tie with the local union when he gets
home
For the time, the difficulty was avoid
ed. but 1t clearly indicated that ever In