The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-24
Dye Workers in Paterson,
N. j., Exchange Shots
With Police
RAIDS MADE ON PLANTS
New Men at Work Forced Out of The
Factories During the DiSturb
ance, and Entire Silk In
dustry Is in Danger.

PATTERSON, N. J., April 2S.-Strikfpa
aye helpers today stormed the esta bIisb1
ments that were still running and nv
Iorce compelled a complete SUSPENSION nr
business In their trade. They engaged
III d series of running. fights with the
polICe and plant managers and in one
OF the seVerest clashes exchanged a vol
icy OF pistol shots with them. MANY Der-
sons on each side were severely injured
uurhS the r1Otlng. 1t was believed for a
tIhe that 1t would be necessary to ask
the state Tor troops to restore order and
insure protection to life and property
out the police expressed confidence IN
their ability to handle the situation and
no request for outside aid was made
Judge Dixon called the grand Jury and
charged them to indict the persons guilty
of rioting.
The conservative element among this
strikers had in tie meantime disavowed
the violence of their fellows and urged
return to peaceful means to gain the
end that was sought
A written demand upon the ennD1c,,arsf
for pay was formulated and committees
opened negotiations for its consideration.
Large numbers of the strikers are sullen.
and 1t is predicted tonight that any al
tempt on the part of the employers to
resume business without dealing with
When the strikers completed their cam
paign against the plants in operation tha
number Of men out was found to be near
ly 1900.
The disorder began early in the dav and
was unexpected. A meeting Of strikers
was held at s o'clock at Rueger's River
side hall, and 1000 men gathered at the
place. The hall would not accommodate
them all, and the proceedings were slow
because Of the many nationalities repre-
scented. To simplify matters It was final
ly decided to have the men Of each shop
on strike appoint a committee Of fv, to
represent them. The meeting was order
ly and declared for peace. and the men
were urged to keep away from the shops.
The committees formulated the general
demand of the workers, which in the main
are for higher wages and no Sunday
work.
Four Thousand Men Out.
While the meeting was in progress hun
dreds Of strikers stood outside the hall
angrily discussing their grievances.
The radicals urged a raid upon the
works still in operation, and when their
suggestion was approved headed a rush
for the plant Of Johnson, Cowdin
& Co. The men at work there were called
out and the strikers moved on to the
establishment of James Simpson e. Go.
That firm, fearing trouble, dismissed the
men and closed It's doors.
Robert Gaedes' works were visited next
and after that the Bambord mill, where
the first serious disorder occurred, was
surrounded The property is walled in but
the strikers gained the yard before the
gates were shut. Windows were smashed,
chemicals spilled and considerable dam
age done. The men at work in the plant
quickly left
While one mob was closing the Bam-
hOr mill W. inc n IA
plant the American Silk Dyeing and Fin
ishing company. Armed with dye, sticks
and stones they charged through the
plant, driving the men from their places.
Exchange Shots With Police.
Almost simultaneously an attack was
begun on the works of Emil Geering and
1t was in the fight for possession Of it
that the shooting occurred. Two police
men were guarding the property. One
striker, who escaped unidentified, was
shot in the leg. The mob stoned the two
policemen, and when one Of the latter ar
rested one of the leaders, closed in around
him. The officers swung their clubs and
beat their way out Of the crowd. A strik-
er engaged Mr.. Geering, but was beaten
off. One of the patrolmen finally secured
rifle, and when he came out and faced
the crowd with it there was a general
scattering.
From Geering's the strikers hurried
away toward the property of Knipscher
and Haas, but that raid was checked by
a squad Of police. The latter formed
across the street, and, marching forward
with night sticks drawn, forced the
crowd back Gerald MisteH a young
striker, hurled a rock at the police and
was placed under arrest. The crowd tried
to rescue him, and several hundred strik-
ers followed the arresting officers to the
prison, hooting at them as they trailed
along. An attempt was made to organize
a second movement against Mr. Geering's
works, but only a few volunteered to ta&e
part in it. At noon the men at work for
Geering went out and the place was clos
ed down.
At some of the plants raided the strik-
ers familiar with the machinery turned
the steam on at full force and it was an
effective weapon in driving the WOrkmen
out.
If the dyers' strike Is prolonged other
branches Of the great silk industry which
centers in and around Paterson will be
affected.