The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-05
Delay Arrival in Order to
Avoid Ambush by Des-
perate Strikers.
ORDERS ARE GIVEN
TO STOP RIOTING
If Situation Does Not Clear Mar
tial Law Will Be Proclaim
ed Tomorrow.
BRIDGEPORT, Ohio, Dec. s.

DlNiGOLi OINAs OlLOs DC-. D
Fifteen hundred State troops poured
into this place at 8 o'clock this morn
ing in response to the urgent de-
mand of Sheriff Amrine, of Bel
lmont county, for militia.
Within an hour Brig. Gen. John
IC. Speaks had his men surrounding
the plant of the Aetna Standard
Mills, a branch of the American
Sheet and Tin Plate Company
where 200 strikers have been rot
ing since Thursday night.
ONE FULL REGIMENT.
The troops include the entire
Eighth Regiment. seven companies
OF the Seventh, eight companies of
the Fourth, and Troop B Of Colum-
bus Cavalry.
The National Guards were ex-
pected last night, but Sheriff Am
rine detected what he believed to
be plot on the part of strikers
TO ambush the troops. He wired
General Speaks TO delay the arrival
Of the troops until daylight.
READY TO SHOOT.
According to information received
by the sheriff. the strikers had pro-
cured all available ammunition and
planned to station themselves In am
bush on the hill overlooking the Aetna
standard plant, and pick on the state
troops one by one
The arrival OF troops was without dis
order. although the strikers and hun
dreds OF their sympathIzers watched the
debarkation of the miitiamen sunenly,
hootinE the soldiers. and hurting an oe-
| casional stone.
Serious trouble is expected tomorrow.
when the company viii attempt 10 re-
sumo operations with the 200 men who
refused TO strike and several hundred
non-unionists, who are expected to get
TO town during the afternoon. The
strike at the plant is against the open
shop" policy Of the management.
General Speaks said this morning that
at the first indication OF trouble
Bridgeport and Martins Ferry, which
town adioIns and in which the mills are
partly located. will be put under mar
tial law.
A majority Of the strikers here are
Americans and Welshmen. The latter
especially are evidencing an ugly spirit
and Sheriff Amrine is expecting a pitch
ed battle before the trouble is adjusted
Arbitrator On Hand
/ Joseph ". Bishop, secretary OF the
= Ohio state board Of arbitration. arrived
last night and is exerting himself in the
role OF peacemaker between the man
agement and the strikers.
The strikers have kept watch when
the men were due tc leave the mill and
the delay in the leaving has brought
most Of the friction al night.
Thursday the workmen were smuggled
| oct of TIE plant in a boNcar that had
been sealed before II was sent out, and
in this way the strikers were fooled
Last night when Drs. r. II. Wilson and
]. A. Heinlein were called TO the plant
TO look after the wounded men, the
c strikers opened fire on them as soon as
they tried Il remove their patients 20
the hospital buildings OF the plant and
DR.. Wilson had a narrow escape from
being shct The wounded were kept
I'm the mill until this morning.
Fight To Finish
The strike leaders have announced the
, fight will 20 on 20 a finish, and that the
men generally seem determined that the
, battle which has wagcd so long shall
, not be abandoned now. The company
/ officials say the mill win resume Non
day. With the state troops here order
can he preserved. but IL would not be
surprising IL the strikers put up a battle
before recognizing the soldiers power
! This is a dry territory and there is no
danger from the saloons, but Wheeling,
| across the river. is wet, and Sheriff
Aurine today issued proclamations for
| Kidding either the traction company or
anv individuals bringing liquor into Bel
! mont county. He also issued a proclaim
alton prohibiting the gathering OF
crowds on the streets II the situation
does not clear by tomorrow, It is likely
: that martial law will reign.
The strikers arranged for a mass
meeting this afternoon Leaders de-
clare they will not submit to arbitrH-
tion and that the company must make
} a complete surrender. General Speaks
arranged to have troopers at the meet
ing to guard against disorder. Through
out the day matters have been quiet
Sheriff Amrine charges the strike
sympathizers with having attacked sur
seons who were on their way 10 at
} tend wounded men in the MILL and
} with firing on an ambulance.
; The sheriff has arranged 10 place 500
OF the troops in and around the plant