The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-05-17
Foreigners at Cement Plant Threaten to Create
Trouble and Governor Hadley is Appeal to
in Order to Prevent Serious Uprising.
SOLDIERS ARE sent TO town OF ILASCO
Although Saloons Are Closed the Rotous Ele-
ment Has Already Filled Up on Liquor and
the Situation is of a Serious Nature

HANNIBAL, Mo-, May 17.--Martial
law was declared at Ilasco today as a
result of the rioting Of the striking
foreigners who had been employed at
the plant of the Atlas Portland
Cement Co. Four companies Of the
Missouri National Guards are In
charge Of the situation and four more
are expected to arrive today. The
soldiers entered Ilasco this morning.
HANNIBAL. Mo, May 17.-Early
this morning four companies Of the
Missouri National Guard were thrown
around the works of the Atlas Port
land cement plant at Ilasco four
miles south of Hannibal, where strik-
ing foreigners threaten trouble.
The Hannibal company was re-en-
forced at midnight by companies A
and NJ of the First Regiment, from
st. Louis. under Majs H. C. Dyer, and
Company l., Second Regiment, Of JEFF
ferson City. under Maj. Paul c. Hunt.
Company c, Fourth Regiment, of
Kirksville arrived about o'clock,
when the troops marched to Ilasco.
Lieut.. Col Clay C. Macdonald is in
command.
The four saloons st Hasco were or
dered closed at / o'clock yesterday
afternoon, but not until after many
kegs of beer and considerable whisky
had been sold. All the foreigners
have been drinking heavily and trou-
bic is feared.
Interpreters declare that the for
eigners are not going to allow the
troops to camp in the village, and II
they attempt to stop them it is fear
ed there will be bloodshed.
The troops were called out to pre-
vent serious rioting, which is threat
ened at the Atlas Portland
cement plant if the company
attempts to fill the places OF
the 1,5o0 foreigners who struck
yesterday for higher wages
The trouble grew out of the refusal
of the company to accede to the de-
mands made " the foreigners and
GOO Americans for higher wages.
The plant was closed down at noon
Yesterday by orders of Supt. w. A.
Smith, who called upon Sheriff Roland
of Rails county for deputies. The
sheriff sent number of deputies to
the scene and then appealed to Gov
Hadley for troops. A trainload oil
Americans who work shift work at
the plant were driven back when they
landed at Ilasco at o'clock yester
day afternoon by crowd OF intoxl
Gated foreigners, armed with guns
knives, stones and clubs A few rocks
We're thrown, but no one was serious
ly injured
Capt. ]. F. Meyer of Company r
was in communication with Adjt
Gen. Rumbold la night and was or
dered to hold his men until detach
ments from other cities arrived be
fore marching to Ilasco in order that
in case of q clash the commanding of
fcer of the troops will not be handi
capped by lack of numbers. Lieut.
Col. Clay c. Macdonald of st. JOSEPH
VIII be in command. If the situation
warrants the adjutant general him
self will assume personal command
PROVISIONS of all kinds are being sen
to llasco for the troops and they vii
probably remain on the scene for a
least two days
Trouble has been brewing at tn,
cement works for several months
The entire force, consisting of 1,5O,
foreigners and 600 Americans, hav,
Deen at outs with the company owe
the wage scale and the officials hav,
always refused to lis. en- to their pleas
some weeks ago the machinists. al
Americans, struck, and the compan,
announced that the machine shop
would be moved to North Hampton
Pennsylvania.
The men were paid off and notife
mat their services would be on long
er needed Saturday the entire black
smith force walked ont an,
MONDAY morning the packer
ana quarrymen quit. Some O
ihe workmen were not Il
sympathy with the movement and /,
me mines fight almost ensued
10 add to the seriousness of th
trouble Yesterday was pay day. Th
men were paid off as rapidly as nos