The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-19
MEN HAD R%EVOLVERS
TROUBLE OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
ALMOST CAUSED A TRAGEDY.
N~onunion Men working at Night Pre-
c~ipitated the Action-A Con-
ference Held.

The first incident that tended toward
violence In the electrical workers strike
occurred about 10 o'clock last night at the
corner OF Market and Illinois streets. The
trouble was between FIVE ~nonunion cleo
trlcal workers and about a dozen union
men. Two of the nonunion men. William
Martin and John Mertz, were armed with
| revolvers, which were drawn but not used.
Members of the executive board of the
union then managed to get control of the
radical members OF the union, and serious
trouble was averted.
The trouble was the outgrowth OF work
being done at the Star store. c. w.
Nickel, a nonunion contractor, has the
contract for the electrical work at the
store. Business Agent Johnson, Of the
electrical workers, had several conferences
with Mr.. Efroymson and Mr.. Wolfe. pro-
p~rietors of the store, yesterday, and fin
ally President Blue and State Labor Com
missioner Mccormack We're called into
consultation by the electrical workers.
Mr. Efroymson assured President Blue
that the work was to be done by union
men, and a communication was sent to
Nickel asking him to withdraw his men
and the bill would be paid. Early in the
afternoon Nickel sent word that the prop
osition had been refused, but Mr.. Efroym-
son had the work stopped.
Yesterday evening the electrical workers
business agent got word that work would
be done at night. President Blue and
Labor COMMISSIONS Mccormack were
again notified. President Blue telephoned
10 Mr.. Wolfe, of the firm, and asked him
If work would be done last night. Mr..
Wolfe said Ii would not, and made an APP
pointment to meet President Blue and
Commissioner Mccormack to-day. In the
meantime. Business Agent Johnson had
been assured by members OF the union that
Miekels men We're at work, and in COM
pany with Commissions Mccormack, went
to the Star store. The men had been dis
covered by one of them crossing the street
to a saloon. Business Agent Johnson and
Mr.. Mccormack were met by Mr.. Wolfe,
who threw open the door and invited them
to look through his store, saying no men
We're at work. The labor commissioner
and business agent went into the store
WITH Mr.. Wolfe. and In the rear found a
scaifold up, tools spread about and a
steamlng hot supper untouched. Little was
said and the men withdrew
While this inspection was going on, eight
or ten members of the union and two or
three members of the executive board were
at the side and rear of the building watch
ing all windows and doors. Presently q
head was thrust out or a window i'm the
rear, and later five men left the build
ing by that exit They were seen by the
union men, who at once gave the alarm.
The five men who came from the building
ran east. down the alley back of the store.
around the Statehouse into Market street.
The union men, who had been watching
the building. overlook the nonunion men
at Market street and began to cry 'Scab.
Scab! Scab!' Members OF the executives
board then came up and tried to quiet their
men, but TO no avail. The crowd came
east on Market street, the union men still
crying "Scabi' At Illinois street the MEM
bers of the executive board, who were try
ing 10 prevent violence. lost control OF two
or three men, and one struck John Mertz
on the head with his fist. Mertz's hat fell
of, he staggered and then drew a revolver.
exclaiming. 1.-THE first - - that
touches me III nil full of holes,' William
Martin, another nonunion man, also drew a
revolver, while a third urged Mertz TO
shoot The union men stood back. and
Mertz and the four nonunion men GRADUALLY
worked their way into the street. William
Dudley. member of the executive board.
picked up Mertz's hat, and. putting it on
his head, asked him TO put his revolver up
and go home. He refused. but a nonunion
man called Steamboat Ferry took DUDLEY
by the hand ana said: I'VE will quit. LEI
Us go home"
Dudley shook his hand and then turned
10 his men, and, motioning them back, said:
the Office"
Extra ~precaution has been tsass by the
board members To suppress any outbreak.
and each morning, as the men report,
Business Agent Johnson has seen that the
men did not carry arms. which. perhaps.
is what prevented trouble.
Aside from this cOmmotion nothing &C.
CURED yesterday OF moment. AT the con-
ference with President Blue yesterday II
was decided that II would be advisable to
ask otner trades unions 10 call their men
on OF all Jobs being done by nonunion cleo
trical workers The South Side Turner's
Club viii hold its special meeting tonight
to consider the trouble there, and PresI-
dent Blue and State Labor Commissioner
Mccormick viii attend the meeting. In adj
dition 20 other labor representatives. The
Burdsal Paint Company yesterday can
celed a contract with the Advance Elec-
trical Company because IL employed nom
union men
Is Photo. inDour Doxenm