New-York tribune., 1909-07-19
LOOK FOR RIOTING
TROUBLE EXPECTED IN
PITTSBURG TO-D4T.
Steel Car People Haze Started Their
Furnaces, bit Strikers Say
Works UM Not Open.
fBr Telegraph to III. Tribune :

NCkeeS
pIoyes of the Pressed Steel Car plant are on
strike The company persists in its avowed in
tention to start the plant running, beginning at
6 a. m. even though it is hinted that this may
mean something worse than Homestead.
That Governor Edwin Stuart Of Pennsyl-
vania is aroused to the seriousness of condi-
tions was shown when It became known that he
had surveyed ground for the establishment Of
batteries on the htops surrounding McKee's
Rocks This military movement started
yesterday within four hours after the reply of
President Frank n. Foffstot TO the strikers, and
was concluded to-day The Governor per
suaded that the statement of President Hof
stot would lead to trouble. and not only were
battery sites for two guns selected. but camp
site for the state troops as we'll.
It is not unlikely that the annual encampment
Of the Second Brigade. n. g. F, which 70
open in the central part of the state next Thurs
day. will he changed to the vicinity Of McKee's
Rocks. If trouble breaks between now and
Thursday this will surely be the case
It was discovered to-day that the strikers are
in possession of q vast store Of dynamite. This
has been handed them by coal miners OF the sec
tion, who are accused of having broken into tns
storehouses at the different mines and robbed
them of dynamite and powder. to be used by rhe
strikers in of trouble.
shows that they will hardly stop at anything to
prevent the opening of the mills. The police
find that the sales Of firearms and ammunition
in Pttsburg Saturday exceeded that OF any
previous known day. most Of the purchases
going TO McKee's Rocks
Sheriff Gumbert made a last appeal 20 officials
of the Pressed Steel Car Company to-day not 70
try to start the mills in the morning pointing
out that It can scarcely be attempted without
loss of life, bur II is asserted that the company
would not heed him. Assistant District Attor-
nev Frank PiekarskL famous as University Of
Pennsylvania football player years ago and a
Pole of prominence. also went before the com
pany and asked that nothing be attempted for
some days. but was laughed at. Piekarski who
has spent three days trying TO make The for
eigners listen 20 reason declares the first at
tempt TO start the plant will start serious hght-
ing.
MAY ARREST OFFICIALS.
There is rumor tonight that warrants have
already been issued for President HoHstot and
other officials of the plant, charging them with
melting to riot. These are 20 be served a
last resort in case the concern really makes
effort 70 start the mills st A PittsburE
magistrate tonight received a request to ba at
his office minute after midnight ard remain
there until morning
party OF strikers outside the plant shortly after
last midnight There was quite row with the
state constabu!ary over .he matter. and the
crowd was not dispersed until il had torn to bits
the flaming dummy labelled Baby Hoffstot.' The
crowd threw few rocks at the consta bulary as
It fed.
Edward Politt. real estate man OF McKee's
Rocks says he has been driven from his own
town To take refuge in Pittsburg Ee asserts
that officers of the Pressed Steel Car Company
heat and arrested him because he sympathized
with the strikers. Pollitt said to-day:
'I know. and have stated publicly. and will
again. that workman after workman has been
killed in the works of the Pressed Steel Car
Company without the fact becoming public
Neither the coroner nor the families Of the un-
fortunates we're informed in many cases. When
the fact of death has reached the family in many
cases they are forbidden to publish death
netice"
FURNACES STARTED.
'I know these things occur. and have not
hesn backward about saying so. This is the
reason I was arrested some nights ago while
walking along tine street, and locked Up On A
trivial charge. After being kept in cell for
almost dag was released on promise that
would leave town until the trouble blew over.
If did not go policemen were there ready 10
At midnight under officials Of the company at
McKee-s Rocks assert that they ready 10
start their plant at daybreak The great stacks
began blowing out smoke early this evening as
the furnaces lighted up, but the strikers
on the outside say this is only bluff. and that
there are not more than one hundred men in
side the mill. and this number did not come out
on strike
When the company attempts TO take any more
men into the mills. 1t now says 1t will, at
daybreak the clash will come. The Steel Queen.
owned by the Pressed Steel Car Company. has
not been in the vicinity Of the plant all day.
she having pa ssed through Pittsburg and UP
the Monongaheia River early to day and at mid
night she had not again touched Pittsbure. IT..
IS expected on her arrival at the plant before
morning there will be trouble
TRUCE FOR SUNDAY.
TIE turmoil and excitement and general sAnEs
Of Imminent rict and uprising which have per-
vaded McKee's Rocks and the immediate vi
clnity of the plant of the Pressed Steel Car
Company for the last week gave way to-day TO
peace and unbroken quiet.
The vForkingrnens settlement a. Preston.
which for days has had the appearance of an
intrenched camp thrown up at the gates Of
barricad4d city. was say with the Sunday fnery
Of the wives and children OF the strikers. who
focked to end from church loterAd az play
by the river side while the men sat at ease on
their doorztsps smoking and enjoying concerts
furnished by harmonicas and accordons
At the various gates of the mile square stock
ade incosing the various shops Of the company
groups of deputy sheriffs still stood guard but
the streets. which for days had been patrolied
by the grim looking troopers OF the state con
stabuary. sitting on their little wiry bronco
ponies girthed with cartridge belts and with
carbines, hickory clubs and Colt revolvers ready