Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-13
PREPARE FOR WINTER SIEGE
Strikers Expect Prolonged Struggle and
Shape Their Plans Accordingly.
PICKET LINE MAY Be SHORTENED
substantial Ala f. Received, but
Larger and Permanent Funds
VIII BE Solicited to Insure
system in Fight.

Culated to meet the eNlgenCleS OF the Cold
weather and best subserve the interests Of
the men involved in the struggle. AS was
stated in The Bee yesterday It has been
proposed to reduce the picket line and
allow those strikers who feel the neces-
sity to leave the city and work elsewhere
until the strike here is over. This. Il is
claimed. will reduce the idle force, increase
the number Of paying members and conse-
quently remove a financial burden from
the shoulders OF the various lodges.
A meeting of the men who are conduct
ing the strike was held at the Midland
hotel yesterday, at which matters Of vital
interest were taken up. No definite re-
suits we're reached and the meeting was
continued until today. Thos in attendance
were President John Mcneil, national
leader of the boiler makers: President Ed
Kennedy Of the local and district lodges OF
boiler makers; J. w. Kline, executive COM
mitteeman for the boiler makers; First
Vice President P. ]. Conlon and Third Vice
President George Mulberry OF the ma
chinists' national organization; Samuel
Grace, secretary, and other members of the
machinists' executive committee. Incl
d~cntslly it was suggested that an attorney
be employed to direct the strikers from
now on in a legal manner.
Some Opposition to Plan.
There is some opposition to the PROPOSE
tion of reducing the picket force. 1t is a
question whether this proposition can be
carried. william Richilieu. who has been
one Of the most active picket officers and
workers and who today assumes charge Of
the entire force, believes IL will be a mis-
take to lessen the number of these men.
He has just returned from a trip through
Iowa and northern Illinois towns collecting
F.nlz g., A.. otrgI-a -..-a-r - l.
WINGED that there is ample support for all
the strikers without reducing the picket
force in order that some may go out of thu
city to work and nus reduce the bene-
hciary fund. However this question will
be settled today, no doubt.
1t was proposed at yesterdays meeting
that a joint appeal be made by the allied
unions engaged in the strike to associate
lodges over the country, but this plan is
held in allegiance, pending a decision as 20
the amount of funds necessary and the
facilities already at hand for raising them.
The blacksmlths and boiler makers
throughout the country have levied an as
sessment OF 81 per member to be diverted
to the strike fund and the machinists, hav-
ing other resources at their disposal, have
not felt. the necessity OF calling for such
an assessment from their members.
Warned Against Violence.
At the morning meetings OF the boiler
makers, machinists and blacksmiths mem
bers were warned again to abstain from
violent demonstrations, such as occurred
at the yards a day or two ago. Each union
imposes fines upon any OF its members
guilty of unwarranted assaults upon any en-
ploye of the Union Pacific and, in some
instances, these 0nes have been increased
as a further admonition to the members
who are doing picket duty. The blacksmiths
have raised their penalty from 81 to IS, the
full amount OF a weekly benefit.
Said a leading member OF the blacksmiths
yesterday: The better element Of strik-
ers are, as Chief Donahue puts 1t, not in
favor Of fighting or violence in any form,
and we propose to suppress such lemon
STATIONS in those who are not easily re-
strained. For the length Of time this strike
has been in progress there has been very
little violence, that we fully realize. but
what we want to do is to prevent any vio-
lence whatever"
President Kennedy Of the boiler makers
has been informed that a number of non
union men we're employed in Buffalo, N. Y,
and sent to the Union Pacific shops in
Omaha Thursday over the Wabash.
Makes Declaration.
THE Union Pacific company is entitled
to full protection Of its property, and to the
security OF its employees from insults and
assaults, and to secure such protection 1t
will call upon the city. state or federal
authorities, II necessary. The frequent
acts Of violence must stop. or decisive &C
tion will be taken"
This is the statement made by General
Attorney John n. Baldwin yesterday:
"If the public knew the full details OF
the many lawless and brutal acts recently
committed by the strikers there would be
less sympathy expressed for them and less
encouragement held out to them to con-
tinue the strike. Looking over the list OF
assaults during the last week, it is re-
maTkable that such a state Of affairs should
be tolerated in this city. and much more
remarkable that It should be encouraged by
apparently well-meaning citizens.
Crowds Of strikers and their sympathiz-
ers frequent the gates OF the company's
yards, doing what they call picket duty
Their real duty seems to be to assault or
abuse and intimidate every workman who
goes through the gates. 1t is their purpose,
as openly expressed, to create such a reign
OF terror that no man will dare work for
the company. No person pretends that
these pickets are acting on their individual
responsibility. 1t is we'll known that they
are placed there by their head officers OF
walking delegates, and that their every act
Of lawlessness is heartily approved by the
strike officials, who place them on duty
around the premises OF the company.
"One Of the cases is that OF Michael
Cronin. He has lived in Omaha for twenty
years, and has worked for the Union
Pacific since 1884. From his wages he has
been able TO support his family, and has
saved up fully 81, 1000, which he has invested
in Omaha property. He declined to quit
when the other men struck. and they seized
every opportunity to abuse and intImidate
him. One morning a well known striker
said to him, If you keep up this work, you
will be killed, and II nobody. else will do
It. / will kill you myself
Afraid 10 Go Home.
HE was afraid to go home that day and
remained in the shops all night. In the
meantime his wife was notified that he
would be killed. She was terribly fright
ened, and induced him to quit work. He
remained az home then for several weeks,
but finally tried to get back to work. At
the Cas- street gate Strikers Millett, O'Do
nell. Boles and several others stopped him
and told him II he went in he would be
sorry for it When he went back to town