The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-19
Little Progress Made, However, Be-
cause the Contractors Are short
of JnskilIed Labor.
FIRM
STRIKERS
ITALIAN
DETERMINED TO HOLD OUT FOR ONE,
DOLLAR AND A HALF A DAY.
Several Conferences, but No Indica'
ton of Weakness Either
Sidc-GeneraI Labor News.

1sAND1NG, n. April 10
This day of hustle at the new camp
in the Croton valley. The military force
was augmented by six companies of the
Seventh Regiment, and now the number of
soldiers under canvas is about 1850. This
force is deemed sufficient TO protect any
number of workmen that the contractors
may decide to put TO work on the new
Cornell dam. The old Croton dam, four
miles to the north of the new one, is guard
ed by two companies of the Seventh Regi-
ment. and the remaining two companies
are encamped at the quarries near Peeks-
kill, from which the stone for the con-
struction Of the huge wall is taken and
hauled by train down to the scene of
trouble.
At o'clock this morning all the non
strikers who were thrown out of work
when the striking laborers went out re-
ported TO the several timekeepers, in re-
Spouse to the request of the contractors.
Their idleness was enforced by reason of
the lack of laborers to do the rough work.
Among them were engineers, firemen,
stonemasons, drillers, quarrymen and
wagon drivers. The contractors, Coleman
& Brenachard, decided to test the strength
OF the strikers by opening the entire works
this morning. with the assistance of about
forty new laborers They claimed that
dozen or more of the striking laborers had
returned TO work, but this was strenu-
ously denied by the Italians who hung
about the Bowery and Little Italy When
the whistle blew the engineers of the loco
motives which haul the granite trains
jumped into their engine cabs, the sta
tionary engineers got up steam, and in less
than hfteen minutes the entire works ex-
tending along the valley took up their old
time busy appearance. Ii was only an ap-
pearance, however, as the lack of the Ia
boring men was very apparent. the few
that were on hand being totally inadequate
| to keep one-tenth of the works in notion
AT the Office of the contractors, in which
General Roe has taken UP his quarters.
a conference was held between contract
ors Brenchard and Coleman and Rev
Father Shapiro. of Yonkers. The latter
| asked the employers to concede the de-
| mands of the men, but the contractors
were stubborn in their refusal Father
| Shapiro urged that the rate of wages be
made s1.50 per day, the men to work ten
| hours. Mr.. Coleman would not consent to
| this, and said ii had been the intention
| OF the firm to increase the laborers wages
| from Sl.25 to $3.50 per day beginning the
| LIST of May, but they had Abandoned this
idea since the men had gone on strike.
| and he further stated that under no con-
| ditions would the contractors make any
concessions.
| Another Catholic clergyman, Rev. Father
Garofolo, of Brooklyn, visited the Bowery
and Little Italy to-day in company with
Mrs John Hanny, the wife of the chief
engineer of the works. They visited the
| homes of the strikers, and after counseling
| them t. avoid violence, Father Garofolo
| begged them TO return to work, but in
variably he was informed the men would
rot go back until the wages were increased.
| That the contracting firm will have a good
4 a N sniff ia
| number of laborers goes without saying,
| and it is question if they will be able
| TO continue the work. Notwithstanding the
| presence of the cavalry and infantry.
| General Roe with his staff and deputy
| sheriffs, visited the Italian quarters this
| afternoon. The commander of the military
| forces advised the men to go back to their
old positions and assured them they would
| be fully protected against any of those
| who might try TO assault or otherwise
| injure them. On the other hand, he told
| them that all new laborers would be care
| fully guarded and he impressed his hear
| ers with the fact that the militia were
| there for business and not for pleasure.
/ The Italians listened to the generals re-
| marks, which were translated, but showed
no sign of weakening.
| In the afternoon Contractor Coleman
| sent for Angela Rotella, who is looked
/ upon as the leader of the strikers. Rotella
| went to the main office where he denied
| that he was the leader. Rumor had it
| that warrants are in the hands of the
/ Sherln S representatives Tor some of the
| most prominent among the striking Ital-
| ians, and one of the Italians said tonight
| that Rotella was too smart for the en-
/ ployers, who, he said tried to make him
| acknowledge his leadership in order to
| place him under arrest on such a confess
| sion. Rotella is a shrewd fellow and when
| asked later about his interview with Cole
| man. refused to talk of it and insisted that
| all he knew that the Italians would
| never go to work on the dam again unless
| they got $50 for ten hours day.
| Three train loads of granite blocks which
4 have been lying out at the quarry for over
| three weeks, were hauled to the works
| to-day and several loads of cement were
| carted to the dam. The trains were es-
| corted by infantry guards and the road
| carts by cavalry escorts.
| IL Is reported to-day that Governor
| Roosevelt will visit the camp on Saturday
next. The camp has been rechristened
\ Camp Roosevelt.