Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-09-24
NEGROES TAKING STRIKERS
PLACES.

The widespread disturbances in Leb
anon, Pa, caused by the demonstration
against the negro laborers employed by
The American Iron and Steel Works to
take the place of the strikers has re-
suited in the ordering of troops to Leb-
anon. The city was in state of ex-
citement all night. There was firing of
pistols for hours in the vicinity of the
iron and steel works, where the strike is
in pl jgress. The negroes, who had just
arriy ID at the works, were terrified, as
were the residents in the vicinity.
William Hoffman, aged II, was shot,
and he died in tue hospital later. He
was a messenger in the Office of ihe
American Iron and Steel Company and
had attended an entertainment in the
Opera House. On his way home be was
struck by a bullet. The steel plant was
surrounded b. threatening crowd yes
terday. The streets were filled with ex-
cited people and the plant of the Ameri-
can Iron and Steel Company was under
guard. The feeling is bitter against the
colored iron workers carried to Lebanon
from the south, and there are threats
that they will be violently treated and
driven out of this section. A self-con-
stituted committee of Lebanon residents
waited upon the governor and earnestly
requested that he furnish military pro-
lection. They explained that The civil
authorities were unable 10 maintain Or
der. After a long conference with Che
governor, attorney general and adjutant
general Governor Stone ordered General
Goblin, who is in command of the troops
in the hard-coal strike region, to send the
First Battalion of the Twelfth Regiment
to Lebanon. The battalion, which has
been on duty at Shenandoah, reached
Lebanon about p. m. The steel
workers at Lebanon went on strike May
5. The puddlers asked for an advance
in wages from 81 to S4. 80 a ton, but The
company was willing togrant only S4.25.
This compromise was refused by The
workers. The strikers at that time rum
bered about | 900 men, and 1000 other
employees were affected by the idleness of
the mills. A few weeks ago the CON-
pany started up several of lis rolling
mills with non-union men, all of whom
were negroes taken there principally |
from the South. The presence of the |
negroes greatly excited the strikers, and
there has been more or less disorder ever
since.
A dispatch from Wilkesbarre, Pa,
said the situation throughout Luzerpe
county continues to become more serious.
Attacks are reported at 10 O'Clock upon
the houses o. number of workers al
Wanamie, and the sheriff office sent a
number of deputies there to reinforce
men already on the scene. At Nanti
coke continued attacks are reported, and
at Parsons threats we've made that the
armory Of Company +, Ninth Regiment,
may be entered before morning and the
guns taken. In Plymouth, Georgetown,
and Edwardsyille crowds are on the
streets.
Yesterday when General Goblin and staff
were passing through Tamaqua on their
way to Oily phant, one of the officers said:
''The Thirteenth Regiment was ordered
out last night, and is now in the field.
am in position 10 say that Governor
Stone is now going to furnish every
colliery and every man who desires to
go to work adequate protection, even
though he hes to order out the entire
National Guard to do it.