New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-28
STRIKE BREAKERS QUIT
Nc7c Workers Poisoned - PiciOuS
Conditions alleged an StOck@dc.
rRy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

fBy Telegraph The Tribunel
pittsbarg, Aug 27.-At shutdown tonight sixty
state troopers mounted guard at the plant or me
Pressed Steel Car Company I'm Schoenville where
thirty-ave hundred employees of that concern
striking, expecting before another twenty-four
hours repetition OF the bloody corner riots Of
last Sunday night.
Trouble is feared for several reasons the prin-
cipa one being the fact that all during to-day i'm
ported workmen have been deserving the plant
I'm parties OF from two to two hundred. The men
declare unequivocally that they have been misused.
subjected TO ndignties and forced 20 work whether
they chose not.
AS soon as the men reached the outside OF the
car plant stoekade they were welcomed with open
arms by the striking employees. and within half an
hour the imported workmen had entered into a
strike spirit as viruent il they had walked from
their jobs six and half weeks ago. when the car
plant employees first laid down their tools. instead
Of only thirty minutes before.
Late this afternoon some two hundred strike
breakers who left the stockade this morning tried
20 batter down the mill gates with bludzeons 20
get at two guards who they asserted. had cruelty
beaten one Of their number Martin Hart. OF New
York, who the guards had caught alone outside the
mills. For few minutes matters looked stormy
The guards inside. armed with riot guns. came
rushing 20 the gate and the outside strike breakers
told they would be blown 10 bits IL they per-
sisted in forcing their in: that the guards who
It was charged, had assaulted Hart were already
under arrest
Hart. who was assaulted with billies, stand
ing by himself outside the plant late day, when.
it is said. two guards from inside the mill to
him, and, knocking him down. beat him unmerci-
fully. leaving him for dead. He is now at the Ohio
Valley Hospital.
The departure of the four hundred men who left
the mill to-day practically ties up the plant Only
three hundred worimen we're left in the plant to-
night, so the deserving workmen declare
The grounds surrounding the river gate of the
Pressed Steel Car Company presented picturesque
sight tonight Encsmped there the work
men who left the car works during the day. and
who say they will stay near the plant offices
until they get al least a part OF the wages due
them. State oonstsbusTy and deputies have
yet refused 10 make the men decamp. Lieuten-
ant Smith, in charge OF the trooper guards. de-
clares that trouble outside OF the car company
property is now up 10 the Stowe Township police
and out Of his jurisdiction. The encamped work
men declare they will stay on watch az the ear
company gates until they are compelled 20 retire
by force.
Stories told by the workmen who have Quit their
jobs in the car plant are almost unbelievable
Conditions, according 20 these workTnen were prac-
ucaly UNDESIRABLE inside the stockade. Soup pre-
pared from rotting vegetables was served 90 them
they declare, by filthy negro walters picked up
from employment agencies in the slums OF Pitts
burg. Beds filled with vermin were given them TO
sleep on, they declare, while they had 20 nav
exorbitant prices for clothing even 2-oent stamps
selling at four for 10 cents in the car company
N'@lAASodig- AuSse stories were made the subject
OF anidsvits late to-day in the government inquiry
into alleged peonsge conditions az the plant
several developments I'm the session OF the gov
efhheht instigators were developed tonight when
several witnesses declared on affidavit that they
had been treated worse than dogs had beeD
served rotten food the car company had FAILED
10 Keep financial promises" and car cou1pany
bosses had threatened ito blow heads of with re-
volvers" Charges that gambling was allowed 20
20 on unchecked in the car company commissary
were also made.
Mr.. Hoagland was forced to-day 10 rusb his ex
aminations because his witnesses. coming from in
side the plant were rapidly going 20 HOSPITALS
from ptomalne poisoning. He held night session
which adjourned az 70 p. because John Norris
OF New York, witness, became alarmingly I'll
from the poisoned food, and was rushed 10 a hos
pItsl.
The strikers gained heavily to-day in their pres.
enianon OF claims Of bad conditions and treat
inent inside the stockade. II shown the in
Vestisat!on committee that Louis Smith whose ad-
dress is given as No. 5ss Park avenue. BROOKLYN
was sent home yesterday, suffering from pneu-
monia, which he contracted from exposure during
guard duty on the foggy river bank at nights when
he had not eaten food for days Fully score OF
New Workers testified to-day that they could NOT
cat the food furnished Them and that thov had
guns pointed at their head when they refused
20
Probably for the first time since the jncen,ion
OF the strike. nearly two months ago the strikers
are in a happy frame of mind Many Of them
when they heard the imported men were leaving
the mill by tho hundreds. began singing foreign
songs that were weird and tuneless Fearing the
many assertions would have a bad effect mounted
troopers redouhled their vigilance in the vicinity of
the works. majority of the imported men who
struck to-day arrived here from New York on
Friday. August q.
The men alleged they were subjected 10 cruel
treatment. and that they we're forced TO work
when they wanted 10 quit. Three men, III
and weak, tainted when they reached the river
bank James Given, Of Philadelphia who is said
10 have lost thirty pounds I'm the fourteen DAYS he
worked in the mill, taken to the emergency
hospital Of the company.
Allegations Of the men include the following.
Compelled To pay 81 for 35-cent shirts: a-cent
postage stamps sold four of 10 cents; cIubbed h,
special company police when they refused to work
their requests 10 leave the plant ignored. not al
lowed to exercise in the mill yard.
The leaders Of to-dsNs strike are Clancy C;ordon
Sidney and Henon. all Of New York
The strike district continues under strict mar
tlai law Tonight a spirit Of unrest peryades Nc
hees Roeks ana the strike zone. In spite of the
state constabuiary duty aud their eternal vigil
ance the strikers and their sympathizers gathered
In knots about street corners and discussed 20
DAYS developments i'm strong language The strik
ers declare thaf before morning the Pressed Steel
Car Company will be forced 20 suspend onerat,o,s