The representative., 1900-10-18

mitted by Soldiers in the Coal
Fields of Pennsy1vania-Their
Presence Incites Riot-Many Are
Drunk and Women Are Insulted.
The militiamen who form the Ma
tional Guard of the state of Pennsylva-
MIA are not, as a class, nice young men
fond of gentle society, says Otto Car
michael in the Indianapolis Press. They
are husky youths. They are rugged,
and ready for mud and nasty work
They swagger and swear, smoke black
pipes and 60 unshaved. Their faces
are tanned, their hands are hard, they
march up and down these hills with un-
flinching steadiness, stand guard with a
growl, sleep on brick sidewalks or the
raw ground with composure, swear 1T
and for their colonel, and generally
speaking, are not soft. city-bred youths
Where they come from 1 do not know,
but their hardening process is more Sc
we're than given by the drill of militia
companies. Pennsylvania has a rep,t-
tation of furnishing good soldiers.
When one sizes up these lusty, reck-
less chaps, he can we'll believe it. They
are from 18 to 80 years OF. age, and run
to about $50 to 100 pounds. They have
lean faces, sinewy arms and legs, thin
bodies, and are built for endurance.
'Thnv lik0 yyh3 oh oxH
BILE, and are sorry every minute they are
not in a fight. II the great state Of
Pennsylvania should declare war
against the great state Of Ohio. these
lads would be tickled to cheers, and
never ask what the trouble Is about.
Here and there is the grizzled old SER
geant who has plainly served through
two or three wars, and he is the most at
home of any one in the camp. The
officers are a sturdy looking lot. Gen.
Goblin is never happier than when SOL
diering, and would not become lieuten-
ant-gOvernOr of the state until he could
be sure that he need not give up his
place as brigadier-general, commanding
the Third brigade.
And vet, with all this gray and raw
and devilish gallantry, the people Of
Shenandoah are wondering which is
worse, riots or military occupation. I
was in Tampa shortly after the close of
the Spanish war, and one Of the resi-
dents said, in speaking of the time the
Santiago army was there: "Oh those
soldiers, those soldiers! Sometimes
when l think of what we had to endure
| almost wish the Spanish war had
never taken place. That army was
something awful here"
This was recalled to me when I saw
the streets of Shenandoah filled with
drunken, almost riotous, soldiers. They
were infinitely worse than the strikers.
The military occupation of city is not
pleasant sight. Many of the soldiers
arrive in the city drunk from whisky
carried from homes in their TASKS, and
the officers are fresh and almost unbear-
able in their pompous Importance. In
SAio OeaoO IL W. e1o oil oO llulCulOuS, lOT Ino
cause of this vast array of military
force was so utterly insignificant. A
group of excited miners were arguing
about the question of going to work.
The coal company officials rushed in
and butted their heads together. There
was a scrimmage. A lively bar-rOOm
row is infinitely worse. The deputy
sheriffs rush in and kill children and
innocent outsiders. A number of strik-
ers are wounded, but not an officer is
others have put in much time investi-
eating this. 1t is of more than little
Importance. Riots are made the excuse
of forming military relationships in
great countries sometimes. In this case
an invented riot was made the excuse
for suspending civil law in this rich and
populous county, and substituting mill
tary government.
When l arrived in Shenandoah late
at night, the report had already gone
around that the soldiers were coming.
Every one was excited, and the officers
were telling of their gallant deeds of
the day and drinking much raw whisky.
This took place in a crowded cafe:
"Is any further trouble expected?"
Expecting another outbreak every
minute"
Are you prepared?'
"You bet" And there was such a
pulling of guns as had never seen be-
FORE Every man had two-two guns
end many more than two drinks. If
any one had shouted: "There they come
now," there would have been SO shots
before any one knew what was coming.
The deputies and the coal and iron po-
lice officers were in murderous and
vicious state. If cannon cracker had
exploded in the streets. the business
men would probably have petitioned the
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