Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-16

In letter to Sheriff A. A. Nichol-
son today County Attorney j. H. Eyer
mayer proceeded under the criminal
statutes to afford protection to en-
ployes of the Lennox Machine Com
pany who are at work in the machine
shops where other employees are out
on a strike.
| In his letter to the sheriff the county
attorney directs that officer to procure
evidence as to the persons who are as
semblying from night to night and
making threats against and abusing
by word Of mouth the employees of the
company. The sheriff is also directed
to report on any use of vile and obscene
language such as may attract the at
tention Of people in the neighborhood,
to afford protection to the employees of
the Lennox Machine Company, and
prevent the commission of any crime.
Claims City Officer at Fault.
The county attorney has had many
complaints from people in the neigh
borhood and employees Of the company,
as to the acts of former employees who
are now on strike; also concerning
the actions of one Of the special officers
appointed by the mayor to preserve or
der and protection at the factory.
According to information given the
county attorney the special city Of
ficer is in sympathy with the strikers,
and does not appreciate what consti-
tutes the commission Of crime. The
county attorney has been informed that
when the officer had been appealed to
by woman, whose husband had been
corralled and was being abused by
strikers and their sympathizers, the
woman was told by the officer that if
into trouble she had better not have
him work.
Sheriff Says He Will Act.
Sheriff A. A. Nicholson said after the
county attorneys letter had been de-
livered to him that he would act; that
he would thoroughly investigate the
case personally. and that if necessary
he would employ help. He said that if
evidence was obtainable arrests would
be made.
"I'll make a thorough investigation
of it," said the sheriff, and if can OBJ
tain the evidence there will be prosecu-
tons. I'll go on the job personally and
if l find that it is necessary I will en-
ploy all sthe help / think is needed. I
intend to look after it."
Sheriff Nicholson candidly admitted
that it was going to be a difficult mat
ter to prevent neighbors from abusing
women because their husbands were
working at the plant.
Complain to Marshailtown Club.
A committee of the machinists, who
were not union men, and who did not
go out when the strike was called, have
lodged complaint with the Marshall
town Club. Some OF these men have
worked for the company for years and
have bought homes here.
They say that they have been fol-
lowed home from the plant by strikers,
who have called them "scabs" and APP
piled vile epithets to them. They have
asked that the MarshalltoWn Club take
some action that will aid them or pro-
tect them against abuse. The directors
of the club will probably take the mat
ter up with the mayor in a short time.
Police Say Nothing Wrong.
Deputy Marshal Michael Clark, who
has Deeu OIl uuly al lLc pant DOlH
morning and evening for several weeks,
| says that the police and the special Of
| fcers assigned to this duty are power
less to act unless they are eye wit
nesses to the abuse complained of by
the non-union workmen. The officers
Clark said, altho they have frequently
accompanied working men home from
the plant, and ahho strikers have
frequently followed them, say that the
workingmen have not been molested, al
| least insofar as any violence was con-
cerned. He also say that the officers
have not heard the strikers cursing the
workingmen. He admitted that strikers
lay in wait for some ON those employed
when they returned from the plant, but
| he says that the officers are power
less to prevent this.
Police Want Complaints Filed.
| The police say that complaints
should be filed by the men working a,
the plant If they are done any violence
or molested. Clark says that the non
union mon have been told this repeat
edly and have been asked to do it, and
he wants to know why, If they have
been molested. they have not done so.
The non-union men say, on the other
hand, that it Is hard to get evidence
because the strikers do not modest OF
curse them when any one is near They
complain that while strikers follow
them and curse them 50 long as there
is no one within hearing distance, thai
as soon as any one comes near the
strikers keep silent and apparently at
| tend to their own affairs.
| Claim Guards Are Impartial.
When asked about the special Officer
on duty at the plant, who is said to bt
a union painter and in sympathy will
the strikers, Clark said he knew he was
a painter but that he did not know h
was a union man.
Clark declared that three Of the foul
special officers had been chosen for thu
very reason that they were not in sym
pathy with the present city admins
tration SO that they could not be &C.
cused Of being partial and not doint
their duty.
Royal Hishlanders Attention
All members are requested to attent
IL