The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-20
.DONNELLY RAISES
STRIKE BLOCKADE
Continued From First Page

the blockade, and if he is not success
full it has been agreed that the governor
will once more be called upon to put
an end to the blockade of the plant.
So far as determined opposition to the
strikers is concerned the activity of
the business men will be delayed until
Grisim has been given an opportunity
to carry out his agreement.
Mayor Lyle demanded that M. D.
Flower leave South ST. Paul on the
ground that his presence is menace to
the peace of the community, and Gen.
Flower answered that he would re-
main in town and protect the interests
over which he presided early and late.
He did not come to st. Paul until the
usual hour in the afternoon.
Judging from the outcome of the
meeting of the union yesterday at
which President George Willis made
his report and strongly urged the
abolishiug of the picket line, majority
of the members Of the union are in
favor of flying in the face of the gov
ernor and permitting the calling out of
the militia if he deems such a move
necessary. When President Willis
called upon 400 members of the union
meeting in the South st. Paul hall to
sustain his action in calling off the
blockade of the Swift plant and resort
to moral suasion only not more than
half of the men stood up.
The scene was dramatic.
Thomas Lawler, one of the most rad
ical of the strikers, left the meeting in
anger, and on the street corners for the
next few days carried on an agitation
in favor of the blockade. George
Steep, the business agent Of the union,
appeared also in favor of radical ac-
ton, although he pursued a different
course in endeavoring to secure the
result that he desires. After an i'm
passioned speech he secured a vote of
the union that the entire question be
referred to Michael Donnelly, the ma
tional president of the amalgamated
union.
Declare They Will Win
The 400 union men who gathered in
the city hall in the afternoon were dis
pirited and tired, but notwithstanding
the great difference of opinion as to
the proper conduct of the strike all de-
clared that they would win. A num-
Der of men declared that they were dis
couraged because they had not received
from the national organization the SIS
a week promised them when they
walked out.
President Willis explained at great
length and upon several occasions the
result of his two interviews with the
governor and the attorney general. He
appealed in most vigorous language to
no fri inc f0 a
conservative course and allow the rails
ing of the blockade.
THE governor and attorney general
pointed out to me that the maintaining
of a blockade of a public highway is
participating in riot he said. "Hav-
ing always been w-abiding citizen
and not desiring to be otherwise at
this time 1 shall refuse to participate
in or countenance the future blockading
of the entrance to the Swift plant.
appeal to you to hear what I have to
say calmly and then decide that with
tonight the forcible blockading of a
street shall cease, and that hereafter
We shall resort only to moral suasion.
The governor told me at the inter
views 1 had with him that unless the
blockading of the street is stopped
compelled to take the matter in his
own hands. 1t has been stated by some
of our men that it is impossible for
the governor to call out the militia
that he will not send the troops to
South st. Paul-but when he said that
he would take matters in his own hands
he did not mean that he would come
down here personally and ask US to
admit persons desiring to enter the
Swift plant. If he did not mean that
he would call out the militia, cannot
understand to what he referred.
Personally, l am going to stand for
the laws of the country. The attorney
general Of the state, the highest legal
authority in Minnesota, has advised
me that we are INDUCING in riotous
acts when we blockade the street. and
do not believe that the men here are
DESTROYS of violating the law. We
should obey the mandates of the high
est officials in the state. If this is not
done you can count me out, although if
the strike is lost 1 will be one of the
last to go back to work, although I am
only a clerk"
Radicals Are Aroused
President Willis was family cheered
at various stages of his speech, but
Thomas Lawler was better received be-
fore he had uttered ten words. Lawle1
was decidedly in favor of maintaining
the blockade and thought the butchers
who enter the plant and take the place
of the men should be killed if they
should dare to come out. AT the con-
clusion of his remarks Lawler angrily
left the room.
Lawler was decidedly severe as tt
the conduct of the packers, abused the
newspapers, and averred that the
blockade should be continued, particu-
s larly as he had been told that the gov.
ernor had called out the militia ant
that the troops had refused to respond
answering Lawler, President Will:
went over much of the ground he hat
before touched, and contended that the
company cannot get competent men tt
take the places of the strikers. He be.
1ieved that not one of the expert work.
men would return to their old places.
And if they desire to go back al
that would be necessary to send then
home again would be to point the finge
of shame and scorn at them as the,
pass by. A true man cannot stand tn,
hatred and scorn of his fellow man