The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-16
STATE POLICE NOW ON GUARD Thousands Strike in
 Pennsylvania. RIOT0US MOBS FACE GUNS Steel Workers Hurt by Troopers
 Charge. Coal Miners walk Out Despite Orders of President Lewis--Precnu-
 cautions Taken ts Preserve
 order st Any Cost.

Pittsburg. Pa. July 15.-Between 75.000 and 3o,000 workmen--coal min- ers tin and sheet plate workers. and various steel crafts--are out on strike today throughout Western Pennsyl- vania. Eastern Ohio and West Virginia.
 majority of the idle men are in the Pittsburg district. Excepting the strike at the Pressed Steel Car Com pany at McKeen's Rocks. a borough where fierce rioting marked last night and early today, resulting in the shooting and beating of thirty per- sons, the strikers are orderly.
 The situation between capital and labor in the Pittsburg district today is unique. trailing as 1t does, on the heels of an apparent wave of prosper- ity.
 Assumptions have been ordered in all trades, and men, who have been without employment for many months, are being afforded employment. On the. other hand is the present unrest of the workmen. Solutions of the causes leading up to the strikes are varied.
 In several instances the men claim that their employers. taking advant- age of their recent prolonged idleness, are offering them low wages for their work. The officials assert that condi- tions do not warrant higher remuner- ation at this time.
 Men Have Grievances.
 Other grievances are the alleged vi- olation of the ,eight-hour work day re- cognition of organized labor, a con- troversy over the use of so called safety" powder for coal mine blast ing, and better working conditions gen. orally. The strike of the United Mine Workers against the Pittsburg Coal Company does not have the support of the national officials of the United Mine Workers of America. It isI said that the tin plate workers strike will affect plants in different portions of the country, adding from 5000 to 10000 to the ranks of the strikers.
 At the Pressed Steel Company a de- tachment of Pennsylvania State police are on guard. All the tin plate plants are protected by special police. The coal strike Is but few hours old. but precautions are already being taken in connection with this trouble. Trooper Seriously Hurt. The State police and several thous- and strikers ciashed at the Pressed | Steel Car Works at noon today. One | trooper was seriously Injured and sev- eral other persons hurt. The strikers | threw bricks at the police and fed when the constabulay fired a voiley | close to thair heads. The mounted | troops then gaiioped into the cfowds arresting six of the strike leaders. The lgsitiiafioh sat--fhe plant of the l this morning. Following a night of terror and wild disorder in which thirty persons were shot or beaten, a de- tachment of the Pennsylvania State constabulary arrived early today and soon afterwards the rioting stopped. The men were frightened and awed by the presence of the mounted State po- lice. When the police reached the plant they stationed their horses inside the great steel plant and then took up po- sitions outside the troopers. Instantly the mill gate was thrown open, several troopers vaulted into the saddle and the next minute were dashing fiercely into a crowd of strikers and their sym pathizers As they galloped through the crowd the State police struck right and left with heavy riot clubs. The crowd became demoralized under the terrific assault and fled in all direc- tions.
 Miners Defy chief.
 A peculiar situation has developed in the strike of the Pittsburg Coal Com pany.
 District President Feehan announced last evening that the men would not work until the controversy with the coal company is adjusted. National President Tom Lewis of the miners union has issued a letter to the sec- retaries of the different locals. re- questing the men>to continue working as he claims that the national organiza- ton has not sanctioned the strike or- der.
 officials of the Pittsburg Coal Com pany appeared to be surprised last night when informed that the men would not work today. They contend that they have been willing to make any changes in their agreement with the miners provided the latter can point out a single instance where the agreement has been violated.