The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-24
Work Suspended at All Plants and
Four Thousand Persons Turned
Loose in the streets.
RUNNING FIGHTS WITH POLICE
AND An EXCHANGE OF PISTOL SHOTS
WITH THE RIOTERS.
Managers of Plants Mobbed-Mapy
Persons Severely Injured, but
None Dangerously.

PATERSON, y. j., April 23.-Striking dye
helpers to-day stopped the establishments
that were still running and by force COM
PEELED suspension Of business in their trade.
They engaged I'm a series OF running fights
with the police and plant managers. and
I'm one Of the severest clashes exchanged
vOley OF pistol shots with them. The radi-
Gals among the strikers were in command
Many persons on either side were severely
injured during the riOting, but none danger
ously. 1t was believed for a time that 1t
would be necessary to ask the State for
troops 10 restore order and insure protec-
tion 10 life and property. but the police
expressed confidence in their ability to
handle the situation and no request for out
side aid was made. Judge Wilson called
the grand Jury and charged 1t to indict the
persons guilty OF rioting. The conservative
element among the strikers had in the
meantime disavowed the violence of their
fellows and urged a return to peaceful
means to gain the end that was sought. A
written demand upon the employers for
pay was formulated and committees opened
negotiations for its consideration.
Large numbers Of the strikers were sui
len in spirit, and il was predicted tonight
that any attempt on the part of the en-
ployers to resume business without deal
ing with them would be desperately re-
sisted. When the strikers completed their
campaign against the plants in operation
the number Of men out was found to be
nearly 1000.
The disorder began early in the day and
was unexpected. A meeting OF strikers
was held at o'clock at Rueger's Riverside
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 represented To
simplify matters IT was finally decided to
have the men Of each shop on strike ap-
point committee of five to represent
ciared for peace and the men were urged
To keep away from the shops.
DEMANDS OF THE STRIKERS.
The meeting Of committees prepared and
adopted the following demand:
we. the employees, present the following
SCHEDULED
per hour and hfty-fve hours shall consti-
tute one weeks work. Time and one-half
for overtime, ten hours day.
"SecOnd-An machine men and shakers
out, dynamite day men and box fixers, p
cents an hour.
''Third-Finishers, "a cents an hour and no
Sunday work.
"Fourth-No learners to receive less than
20 cents an hour.
"Fifth-Night men to receive 20 cents an
hour.
"sixth-Thls schedule shall be in effect
for the next five years.
''Seventh-AIl hands shall receive five
minutes for washing up before u and s
The old prices. per hour. were as follows:
Helpers, 1914 cents; machine men. ISL
cents; inishers. % cents; learners. 14h
While the meeting was in progress hun
dreds OF strikers stood outside the hall
angrily discussing their grievances The
radicals urged raid upon the works still
in operation and when their suggestion was
approved headed rush for the plant of
there were called out and the strikers
moved on the establishment of James Simp-
son q Co. That firm. fearing trouble, dis
missed the men and closed it's doors
Robert Gaedes works were visited next
and after that the Bamford mill, where the
first serious disorder occurred, was sur
rounded. The property is walled in but the
strikers gained the yard before the gates
were shut. Windows were smashed, chem
icals spilled and considerable damage done
The men at work in the plant quickly
quilted their places. While one mob was
closing the Bamford mill. another was
surging into the plant of the American Silk
Dyeing and Finishing Company Armed
with dye sticks and stones they charged
through the plant, driving the men from
their places. George Arnold, one of the
members of the firm. was dropped insensi-
Die with a blow on the head from a dye
stick.
PISTOLS AND STONES USED.
Almost simultaneously an attack was
begun the works of Emil Geering and
twas in the fight for possession of it that
the shooting occurred Two policemen were
guarding the property and when the mob
came rushing down on them they warned
those in the van to keep away. Some one
In the crowd discharged a revolver and the
police quickly returned the fire. Half a
dozen shots were fired and one striker, who
escaped unidentified. was shot in the leg.
The mob stoned the two policemen and
when one of the latter arrested one of the
leaders closed In around him. The officers
swung their clubs and beat their way out
OF the crowd. \ striker engaged Mr.. Geer-
ing. but was beaten OFF. One OF the patrol
men hnally secured rifle and when he
came out and faced the crowd with IL there
vas a general scattering.
From Geerings the strikers hurried away
toward the property OF Knipscher a Mas.
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
Misteli. a young striker, hurled "A rock at
the police and was placed under arrest.
The crowd tried TO rescue him. and to the
number of several hundred followed the
arresting officers TO the prison, hOOting at
them as they trailed along. An attempt
was MADE TO organize second movement
against Mr.. Geering's works, but only
Few volunteered TO take part I'm il. At noon
the men at work for Geering went out and
the place was closed down.
At some Of the plants raidec the strikers
familiar with the machinery turned the
steam on at full force and il was an effect
i've weapon In driving the wOrkmen out.
The strikers met at Riverside again at
o'clock In the afternoon to receive the re-
ports OF the several shop committees. Near
~ every one Of the latter reported that
their shop would agree TO the wages con-
cesstons demanded If all the other shops
would. The conservative leaders strongly
advised the strikers to avoid violence and
disavowed the attacks made on the mills
during the morning. If the dyers' strike is
prolonged other branches OF the great silk
Industry will be affected.
The AmaIgamated Association.
WHEELING, w. Va, April 23-The
Amalgamated Association devoted Itself TO
committee work to-day. brief session of
the convention was held in the morning 10
consider reasons and resolutions and act or