The San Francisco call., 1901-11-04

k6 HE meeting OF the executive boaro
Of the Building Trades Council at
City Hall Square, held for
the purpose of investigating
the charges against Eugene z.
Schmitz, candidate for Mayor on
the Union Labor ticket, came very
near resulting in q tragedy yesterday aft
ernoon.
The lie was passed. personalities were
INDUCED in by a group Of Schmitz sympa-
thizers who had evidently gathered to IN
unnioate the witnesses who were 70 appear
before the board. and a pistol was drawn.
But for the prompt interference of by
ISLANDERS, the sequel TO the filing of the
charges against Schmitz might have been
murder.
The trouble was precipitated by Joseph
Millmore, chairman of the late labor con-
vention, Thomas Mcconnell. shipwright
and teamster named Eckles- These men,
surrounded by a number of followers, all
adherents of Schmitz and other labor can
didates, were grouped in front of the Car
pet Mechanics headquarters on City Hall
Square when Z. A. Reardon and Ed Two
mey. The machinists who filed the charges
against Schmitz. approached. They were
to give their testimony before the board
and this fact was made the Dretext by
the Schmitz men named to call them to
account for taking the course they did
You're a pair of 'Scabs,' SAID Mill
more to ReardOn and 1womey, as he
nOurlshed a cane excitedly.
Il can prove that, ADDED Mcconnell an
grily.
Reardon answered that he was not there
to answer unofficial charges If the per-
sons addressed were not satisfied with nlm
they might report the fact TO the Council.
Reardon Draws a Revolver.
The discussion became general The
Scnmitz men appeared TO be greatly -exer-
cised at what they termed the rascality
OF the three men who filed the charges
against Schmitz and they upbraided them
in IOrcibie language for making charges
which, they asserted. il was impossible Tor
any one TO substantate. Reardon indlg-
nantly denied that he had made false
Il have told the TRUTH shouted Rear
don. with his hand at his hip pocket. Il
say Schmitz did do 'scab work during the
strike, and your Astatement that he was
given permission 70 do the work by the
Iron Trades Council is false McCabe and
Wisler are the whole works as far as the
Council is concerned, and their statement
in answer to the charges that permission
was given Schmitz 10 DO scab work is un-
true. L oe1y them to produce the minutes
Of the meeting at which this permission
was granted, is recorded They don't dare
to show the minutes bec4ese the books
would prove both McCabe and Wissler to
be liars My reputation for truth is as
good as theirs, and L stand on my charge
that Schmitz is 'scab' and unit to be
Mayor. He may have pulled the wool
over your eyes. but he can't do it in my
case
Millmore made some angry retort
whereupon Reardon sprang back with the
remark that if any one got behind him he
would shoot. Quick as a flash he drew a
revolver and held it before him on a line
with MillmOre's heart. MillmOre remained
mOtonless as a statue, but said nothing to
further infuriate the angry Reardon
President Mccarthy, of the Building
Trades Council. stepped between the par
ties at this juncture, and Reardon was
induced to pocket his weapon. He an
nOunced his intention to shoot the first
man that offered to molest him during the
proceedings which We're pending
Will Swear Out Warrants.
Twomey announced also that he would
not permit any one to molest him, where
upon Eckles made some insulting remark
which Twomey resented with a blow on
Eckles' neck. Bystanders separated the
belligerents, and Mccarthy and some
friends hustled Reardon and Twomey into
a side room of the headquarters. while the
Schmitz men on the outside consulted as
10 the course to pursue. After a few mo-
ments Millmore and Eckles announced
their intention of swearing out a warrant
for the arrest of Reardon and Twomey
the hrst for displaying a revolver in a
assau ult upon Eckles. The party adjourned
TO the City Hall police station and formal
" lodged their complaints. but the war
rant was not issued. The Schmitz adher-
ents then started down town in search of
a Police Judge who might issue the de-
and .Twoney.
The incident created considerable excite
rnent, and an immense crowd gathered in
the square in anticipation of further
trouble. On the adjournment of the ex-
ecutiVe board the crowd slowly dispersed