The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-20
Non-Unlon Men Landed
In Hoop Plant.
TWO CREWS OF THEM
May Be More or less--Strikers
Watched Rivev-- Were
Slipped In From
Railroad.

Monessen, Pa, Aug. 19.--In spite q
the utmost vigilance Of the striking
steelworkers In the local plant of the
American Steel Hoop company, non
union men were quietly landed within
The inclosure OF the mill here some
time between midnight on Saturday
and early Sunday morning. 1t was
believed there were two crews.
Though the mill was under surveil-
lance during the entire day, the fact
Of the presence of the imported men
was not definitely known. The off,
cials Of the company declined to dis
cuss the presence Of strangers nor to
ultimate in any way that they were
there, but definite information was
learned that two crews were present
end the plant would start up at an
carly hour this morning.
Many strikers refused to believe 1t
last night when 1t was told them and
would not be convinced unless the
machinery in the big plant began to
move this morning.
lncensed at Town Authorities.
What the strikers will do when
they discover that they have been out.
witted by the trust is not possible to
c. mcclure. The men are becoming
desperate and thoroughly incense,l
over the way the town authorities
have treated them. The company,
however. is prepared to give the new
men ample protection and have placed
a high board fence about the entire
property, and on top Of this is an ad-
ditonal guard Of barbed wire. The
whole fence is strongly guarded by
special police. who are armed and will
MT permit anyone to get near the in
closure.
AS announced last week, a man
known as Alabama Joe," who is quite
famous in securing strike breakers,
was hired to- bring the men to this
plant, and he was given perfect free
Inn to gather them wherever he
could. The emissary Of the company
went through the south and gathered
up sufficient men to man two mills
and then notified the officials of the
company that he was ready to bring
them on.
A provisional boarding house was
built within the enclosure of the plant.
which has accommodations for 55
men. A store room for placing pro-
visions was also provided and 1t was
filled with provisions during the past
few days. These preparations start
cd the strikers on desperate hunt
, for the men whom they suspected
would come. They lowered about the
plant so numerously that the town
, officials finally ordered them away
from the premises. Along the river
bank the strikers held strong cor.
, don Of pickets, VINO watched every
move made by the corhpany's officials
These mon were also ordered to move
away, and they did SO.
Finding their efforts to keep In
touch with the movements about the
, mill baked by the officials of the
town, the strikers secured a number
; of skiffs and patrolled the river front
, apparently believing that the com
, pany would attempt to bring the meg
to the plant by boat, and In this they
!, were suspecting with good reason, FOL
some OF the men discovered that q
passage way had been prepared from
Z the river to the mill enclosure, which
D would have made an excellent en-
trance to the mill from packet. TAX
Ing advantage Of the attention of strik
els toward the water the company OF
flcials ordered q special train to brint
1 the imported men to the mills direct
over the Pittsburg and Lake Erie rail
road.
I Brought on a Special Train.
, While the people Of Monessen were
: calmly sleeping at an early hour Sun
3 day morning, an engine drawing {
single coach rolled quietly into Mones
: sen. There was no warning whistle
. blown and the locomotive bell wal
I silent. Lights were put out In thu
y coach and to all outward appearances
J. the coach was empty. When the trail
J, reached the nearest point to the en-
i trance Of the mill enclosure 1t cam,
to q sudden standstill. The non-uniol
0 men we're ready for Q given signal
and all made rush for the gates I,
the mill yards. These were hurriedl,
thrown open to admit them and wer,
as hastily shut again after they wer,
all In. Not q word was spoken an,
:, no one was about at the time. TIL,
train pulled ont from Monessen, an,
In another moment all trace Of tn,
incoming men was lost.
The exact number OF men that hav,
n been secured by the company coul,
q not be learned. It is said that ther,
!. ore two full crews in the plant a
r present. This, IL is estimated, moan
n 80 men. PeriAps 1t is more and per