Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-23
Fifteen Hundred Employees of Tan
merry Are Involved in Strike.
IT'S BEYOND POLICE CONTROL
Governor May Send Troops to Keep
Order in the Town.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ON
Broken off once, but Conference
Between Men and Company
Officials VIII he Held
Today,

KENOsHA. wis. July 22.-Anticipating
further outbreak following the rioting
early today at the plant Of the N. r. Allen
Sons company. tanners, when three strikers
were shot state troops are being held In
readiness in Milwaukee tonight to proceed
on a moments notice to take charge OF
the situation here.
large force Of deputy sheriffs, armed
with riot guns, Is guarding the tannery
tonight Hundreds of the striking em-
ployes. nearly all of whom are either
lithuanian Polish or Hungarian, stood In
sullen groups about the plant throughout
the day and until late in the night Others
attended a meeting called by the mayor
looking toward a settlement Of the strike.
Since the rioting this morning no seri-
Gus disturbance has occurred In the optn-
ion of the local authorities. however, little
would be required to start violence afresh.
General Otto Falk, in charge Of the Wis
consin state troops, was on the ground
and declared that at the first sign Of fur
ther rioting he would order a troop OF
cavalry and two regiments of infantry to
the scene. The men were said to be un-
der orders and a special train being held
in readiness for their transportation:
Strikers Refuse to Disperse.
The rioting began today when the guards
attempted to dispense strikers, who gath
cred in numbers about the entrance to
the plant to ieer 200 or more men who re-
mained at work. AS the last OF the men
entered a rush was made by those outside
to go into the building. simultaneously
a deputy and policeman were cut off by
the strikers and attacked with bricks and
clubs.
The guards drew their revolvers and
charged the mob, firing in the air. When
the strikers retreated one of their number
was found to have been shot in the groin.
He is believed to be fatally injured. Dep
uty Sheriff Lewis Morehouse and Police
man Nels Nelson. on whom the attack was
made, were both painfully injured about
the head.
Second Riot Breaks Out.
The shooting caused cessation of hos
tilities at that point, but q few minutes
later another riot occurred block further
alorg the street from the plant when the
police attempted to arrest the leaders of
the strikers.) The police had made an ar
rest and were about to put their man in
patrol wagon when the strikers again
attacked them. In the fight that follow ed
legs.
The police assert that the injuries tn the
strikers were occasioned either by the
strikers themselves in their excitement or
through glancing bullets. They declare
they fired in the air in every instance.
A dozen or more arrests followed through
out the day, and tonight the police declare
they have the worst agitators behind the
bars. They are taking no chances, how
ever, and a large number of additional
deputies were sworn in during the day for
, duty at the plant
| Several hundred mattresses and blankets
were carried into the tsnnery during the
day and a commissary was established for
the benefit of the guards and the loyal
employees, who will be housed in the build
| ing until quiet is restored.
The shooting today put stop TO negotia-
tions which were in progress at the time
for settlement of the strike.
Reopen Peace Negotiations.
! Charles w. Allen, general manager of
the company. was in conference with a
| deputaton OF strikers. He at once dis
missed them and declared all negotiations
off. Nevertheless an agreement was
reached late in the afternoon for a further
conference tomorrow and a meeting OF
strikers was arranged for tonight to name
a committee for the negotiations.
What was said TO have been a move by
the strikers to force the release from the
jail Of their companions under arrest was
thwarted by Sheriff Gunther during the
afternoon. A dozen or more strikers were
said to have appeared at the Jail and
upon stating their demand the sheriff con-
fronted them with double -barrelled shot
gun, whereupon they fled.
! The strike at the Allen tannery is the
outgrowth Of demands made yesterday for
the removal of an Objectionable foreman
and an increase of 50 cents a week in paw.
Both of these concessions. the tannery
officials say, were agreed to, whereupon a
new demand for 81 a week was made This
the company refused.