The times., 1899-05-04
POLITICS FIGURE IN
THE BUFFALO STRIKE
Former Congressman Mahany
HaIshly Criticised.
Contractors Hold Him Responsible
fer Tuesdays Violence.
NOn-Union Grain ShOveIers Arrested
for Carrying Arms-The Situa-
ton Alarms Roosevelt.

Buffalo n. Y, May 3.-The shooting OF
William H. Kennedy yesterday aggravated
the differences between the grain handling
contractors and the striking shoyeler5.
The gravity of the situation appealed SO
strongly to Governor Roosevelt that he or
dered the State Board of Mediation and
Arbitration to Buffalo to weigh the evil
dence. This action was taken after con-
ference between the Governor and the Rev.
Thomas R. Slicer, OF New York. Mr..
Slicer was formerly pastor of the Church
of Our Father in Buffalo. and knows the
strike leaders generally. W. H. Webstsr.
here this morning. Henry c. johnson. of
Astoria, and Francis Delhanty, OF New
York, came in late this afternoon. Thus
far their work has been limited to hearing
the statements of both sides. The attitude
of the contractors toward their former en-
ployes took on bitter personal phase be-
cause Of yesterdays tragedy, Connors and
Kennedy apparently regarding the shoot
ing of the latter's nephew as a circum-
stance justifying them in fighting the
strikers to the end. The strikers are no
less determined, so the Board of Media
ton has two angry forces to handle.
Mr.. Connors gave out a statement to-
night in which he holds former Congress-
man Rowland B. Mahany responsible for
the violence of yesterday. Mr.. Connors
gave substantial support last fall to Will
liam II. Ryan. the Democratic nominee in
the Thirty second Congressional district,
who defeated Mahany. and since election
day Mahany has worked as a disturbing
factor among the dock laborer5. Mr.. Con-
nors said
''The poor fools who did the shooting
on the docks yesterday are not the only
ones who should be arrested. The man
who is responsible for the bloodshed and
the man who ought to be locked up along
with the rest is Rowland B. Mahany
Mahany told ministers that / did not in
tend to abolish the saloon system and he
told the saloonkeepers and brewers that
did intend to abolish it. He told the men
that l intended to cut down their wages.
He lied to them all. and they all believed
him. Without going to the trouble to find
out whether they were right or wrong,
the ministers abused me in their pulpits
on the one hand, while the brewers on the
other hand hired men from among the
lowest element on the docks to spread dis
order among the scoopers. In order to
give the matter the appearance OF respect
ability the Catholic Union and Times,
Mahany's organ and mouthpiece, stood
sponsor for the whole programme. When
the conspiracy was Matched some news
paper proprietors with axes to grind
stepped in and threw some gunpowder on
the flames. One newspaper said that the
contractors would make sS0,000 out of this
years business. No better riot-breeder
| could have been put out among the ex-
| cited men than that lying statement. Now,
/ suppose, there is no better place on earth
to build up conspiracy and to produce
riot and murder than upon the docks OF
| large city. Mr.. Mahany knew this. The
men are simply the tools of Mahany, a
glib beggar. a man who lives without work,
a man of no character, no standing. and no
balance | pay my men 25 cents an hour.
| pay this voluntarily. The railroads em-
ploy men to do the same work at the rate
of Ii cents an hour.
Last night / received a telegram from
James Corrigan, Chairman Of the executive
committee of the Lake Carriers Associa-
| tion. Mr. Corrigan said the Lake Carriers
Association would stand by me as unit.
Nine employees of Contractor Connor5
were arrested on the docks this afternoon
| for CARRYING concealed weapons. Each had
| a large revolver. They were disarmed at
the stationhouse. Mr.. Connors accompa-
MED them there and went bail for all OF
| them. He insisted that their lives were In
danger and that they had right TO go
armed, and said he would make a test case
| in the courts.
Michael Mcnamara, employed by Con-
tractor Connors. was found late last night
unconscious in the gutter. At the hospital
an examination showed that he was suffer-
ing from concussion of the brain. 1t is
claimed that he was sandbagged by strils-
ers but there is no evidence to sustain
the charge The police report that Nc
Namara fell down, striking his head.
Vessel men say Buffalo River is likely
to become dangerously congested owing to
the delay in unloading boats.
Five big grain beats came down this
afternoon. They carried 100000 bushels
of grain. None was able TO reach an ele-
vator Contrary to custom the elevators
| did not work last night. and the boats were
unloading slowly today with an insufficient
force of men. The contractors said they
had 500 men at work. The strikers de-
clared that less than $50 were at work.
and some of these were prevailed upon 10
take up their shovels only by promise Of
four times the usual wages.
President Mcmahon, of the strikers I'M
ion, said tonight: I'VE have had no nego-
tiations with Connors or Kennedy. We are
now waiting to treat with the Lake Car
riers Association and the Vessel Owners
Association. When they are ready to make
an agreement with us we are ready. We
have ample funds and backing to hold out
for three months
William II. Kennedy showed much i'm
provement at the hospital today. and his
recovery is confidently expected.
CRAZED BY PERSECUTION.