Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-24


OF negotiation for settlement,
free from any suggestion OF vfo-
lence, followed yesterdays riots
at the strike bound tannery Of N.
r. Aliens Sons Co. here. The
breach between the company and
its employees has narrowed to. a
question Of pay for time lost by
the strikers. This promises, how
ever, to be a stumbling block to
an adjustment.
Kenosha. Wis, July %. While the
troops Of the state have not arrived,
this city is like an armed camp to-
day Hundreds of men with firearms
parade the streets, and the property
of the w. r. Aliens Sons Tannery
is being patroled with a view to quell-
Ing any outbreak from the ranks of
the thousand striking employees of the
big tannery. In addition to them there
are nearly six hundred other men in,
sympathy who are willing to aid in
case trouble is started.
General Otto II. Falk, head Of the
Wisconsin National guard, is here talk
ing care of the situation on the psssss
OF the state, and he has troop al OF
the cavalry and two Milwaukee regi-
ments of infantry ready to send to xe-
nosha just as soon as he gives the
signal The soldiers have special
train awaiting the call at the Milwa,l.
kee station, and they can be dispatch.
ed to Kenosha on an hours notice.
Will Be Finish Fight.
The strike at the tannery is the
elimination of a long line Of similar
labor troubles there, continuing over
several years, but 1t is to be a fight
to the finish, and 1t Is certain that
now that the state has been asked to
interfere, there will be no let-up un.
til the strikers are forced to lay down
their arms.
Catholic priests were called to the
strike by General Falk yesterday and
they pleaded with the men to desist
from violence.
Leader Is In Prison.
Their leader, Steve Brovsky, Is In
the county jail charged with rioting,
and last night several parties went I'd
the jail and demanded his release,
The sheriff, William III. Gunter, haa
prepared himself against any possibla
attempt to storm the Jail and he has
been assured that troops will be calIs
ed to the city at the first show OF
violence.
The strikers have made no new de.
mand, and in fact their original de-
mands have been lost sight Of in the
excitement Of the day. Like flock
of sheep, they are willing to accept
any leader, and, being without an or
ganization, it Is impossible to tell just
when they will break out and start al
riot. The tannery officials have re-
fused absolutely to treat with any COM
mittee until the last semblance OF
mob rule has been put down, and then
it is not thought that the demands OF
the men will be met.
G. w. Allen, manager Of the plant
and one Of the directors of the Central
Leather company, which owns tho
plant, declared last night that the com
pany was asking nothing from the
city and state but to be permitted to.
save the million dollars worth OF
hides in the yats and then close down
the plant in peaceable manner. He
has intimated that the plant would not
be reopened, declaring; "Thls COM
pany has hundred plants In the coun-
~ ~ tsiip w SsIii toolly S3SL diDIR WILII-
out this one IL we cannot get along
with our labor"
The big fight is now to secure ST q
week increase in wages, and this waa
made after G. w. Allen had voluntarily
given the men an increase of half this
amount.
Civil War Threatened.
Threats were made that there
would be civil war in Kenosha ii
troops we're brought in and it is cer
tain that guns and ammunition are
being shipped into the city for the use
of the strikers. These are being pur.
chased in both Racine and Chicago,
and one Of the strikers, Simon Lud-
oko. arrested in Racine, had five re-.
volvers and goodly quantity Of am
munition on his person. Martial law
has practically prevailed in the city,
and no firearms have been sold save
on a written order from the chief OF
the police department. 1t is estimated
that fully 140 deputies have been
sworn In and these men have been
armed with rifles, reyolvers and clubt