The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-15
TAMPA'S TROUBLES
SITUATION STILL SERIOUS, SAYS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
HE BLAMES RESISTENCIA.
LITTLE PROSPECT OF REACHING
AN ADJUSTMENT.

District Attorney STRIPPING Makes a
VoIuminous Report to Washington
of His Investigations at Tampa.
Could Get No Evidence as TO Who
Deported Strike Leaders-Resis-
tencia Not Only Tried to Control
Cigar Manufacturing, but Every
other Line of Business-FrfvOIous
Pretexts Made Excuse for Strikes.
Tampa, Fla, Oct 14.-United States
District Attorney ]. N. Stripping, who
has been here several days investigat-
ing the labor troubles, especially the
recent deportation of Resistencia
strike leaders, and with a view of ad-
justing the differences. made his re-
port to the Attorney General at Wash
ington. He describes in detail the
trouble between the striking cigar
makers and the manufacturers and
declares "the gravity of the situation
can scarcely be overestimated."
The report reads:
Upon my arrival at Tampa I met,
pursuant to previous arrangement, a
committee of the Board of Trade, COM
posed of many of the most prominent
business men and influential citizens
of the city-among them the Hon. s.
M. Sparkman, member of Congress
and requested their cooperation in
ferreting out any violations of the laws
of the United States.
ut was generally admitted that a
number of the most prominent agita-
Nk-e, -
to leave Tampa. 1t was also repre-
sented to me that the strikers had
themselves compelled a number of
their own members to leave on ac-
count OF the influence they were WELD
Ing in favor of a cessation of the strike:
but / was unable to obtain any evil
dence to indentify the individuals who
committed these acts of lawlessness. 1
conferred freely with the members OF
tn Board of Trade, with representative
citizens and the Executive Committee
of the Resstencia Union, which is con-
Quoting the strike but was unable to
obtain any evidence of violations of
the laws of the United States.
Tried to Restore Peace.
Having satisfied myself that it was
impracticable to secure any evidence
which would justify a criminal prose-
cution in the Federal courts, I made
an effort to bring the manufacturers
| and strikers together with a view to
| adjusting their differences, and thus to
restore peace and order"
The district attorney then deals at
length with the differences between the
employers and employees. declaring that
| strikes have been frequently ordered
from frivolous causes" and charging
the purpose of the Resistencia Union
seemed to be, not only to control man
ufacturing circles in Tampa. but to
control every other line of business.
The policy of the union was so oppres-
sive, and had gone to such an extent,
until finally, when the strike was de-
clared, IL appears that almost every
man not connected with the union rose
up, declaring that the work of the Re-
sistencia had already gone too far, and
that 1t must come to conclusion"
Both Sides Hold AIoof.
The district attorney concludes his
report as follows:
"Unimportant concessiones could be
made on either side. which, in my opin-
ion, would result in no disadvantage,
that would open the way to an early
adjustment, but the strained relations
that now exist have reached such a
high tension that both sides stickle
over making any approach, for fear
IHdl IL Wouiu De TeBdTeu as al evidence
of weakness. and a disposition to yield
to the demands of the other. I, how
ever, succeeded in suggesting a plan
which met with the approval of a
number of very influential citizens.
who promise to take the matter up on
the lines suggested, and l feel hopeful
that 1t may lead to good results.
my conclusion is that the federal
government can do nothing to relieve
the situation in this unfortunate affair,
other than exercise its friendly offices
| in bringing about an amicable ADJUST
ment between the parties"