Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-04-30
STRIKERS HOLD
A MEETING AT
PULASKI PARK
Name Committee to Make
Demands on A. S. & r. Of
fiCiaIs For Increase.
QUIET AT PLANT TODAY
--GUARDS vlGILANT


Company are somewhat quieter to-
day. Only once during the night
were the police needed. A drunken
striker threatened violence, but Pa
Il oln,an Rymarczk used his club and
prevented any trouble.
Seventeen special officers were
sworn In at $50 o'clock last night,
and together with Patrolmen Kozus-
ko, Rymarczk and Weitzen, they pa
trolled the outskirts of the plant un-
til relieved this morning Employees
are being taken to and from the fac
tory in launches, in order to avoid
the mob stationed near the gates Of
the plant To fill the places of the
men who are out, laborers are being
brought from New York. Several
hundred men slept within the fac
tory last night, taking no chances on
being attacked by the former en-
ployes.
Strikers Had Meeting.
meeting of the strikers was held
last night at Pulaski Park, and a
committee, consisting of Rev. Julian
Zielinski, pastor of the st. Stephens
Polish Catholic church, and five of
the strikers, was appointed to state
the grievances of the men, and de-
mand the required increase of twen-
ty-fve cents per day. According to
reports, the meeting was an exciting
one, attended by about four hundred
strikers, and as many more sympa-
thizers. Mayor Bollschweiler was
present and repeated his address of
yesterday afternoon, urging that vio-
lence be eliminated and a peaceable
settlement be effected. The commit
tee members will present themselves
at the office OF the comany today and
will make demand for the extra
wages.
Prisoners Arraigned.
Stephen Majurak and Joseph
Weshlinski, who were arrested yes
terday charged with melting a riot,
were arraigned this morning, and
remanded. Stephen Lechiski, who
was accidentally shot by Patrolman
Hartmann, was paroled, and Barnes
Matzurak, who was charged with dis
orderly conduct at the plant, was
fined $5.
The police expected trouble when
the day shift left the factory at A.: 80 |
o'clock yesterday afternoon. About
fifteen minutes before the whistle
blew, the strikers from different
places outside the plant limits began
to assemble near the main g te. Soon
there was a mob of probably 500 |
lined UP near the gatehouse, and the
police prepared for trouble.
A few minutes before quitting
time, however, word was passed |
around among the officers that the
men were to be taken away In boats, |
and they then made no attempt to |
disperse the rioters. Six employees
of the plant, however, more cour-
ageous than the rest, did venture to
make the trip to this city by troll |
ley. AS they came up the path lead
ing to where the mob had congre-
gated, they were jeered and hooted
at, and shouts of Catch EN-, catch |
'em," filled the air. Awed by the
police, the foreigners, at first eager
to fight, only annoyed the employees
with words and epithets.
Two Of the strikers, incensed by
drink, went among the aliens, at
tempting to form an assaulting body
while the six men waited for car,
but sullen growls were the only an
swers made.
hbtttCk OH 1OIlCCs
Armed with sticks and stones, the |
strikers, 500 strong, yesterday after
noon congregated in gully south of
the gate house, and when the word |
was given, ran for the police, hurling |
the stones. The bluecoats, some
drawing their revoi -ers and others,
their night sticks, made a stand and
awaited the attack Seeing the pa
trolmen invulnerable, the assailants
desisted, not however, before several
of the missiles had met their mark.
PatrOlman Tim Quinlan was
struck In the shoulder with a brick,
but not seriously hurt, and large
jagged-edged stone grazed the face
of Patrolman MCGOWAN. 1t was in
this skirmish that Patrolman Hart
mann accidentally shot and wound
ed Lachiski.
Guards Were Hungry.
Owing to thoughtlessness, many Of
the patrolmen had no food save cup
of coffee during the entire days
duty. A plentiful luncheon had
been prepared, consisting of beef
stew and ham sandwiches with the
various trimmings" but as most of
the men are Of Catholic faith and
prevented from eating meat on Fri
day, they were compelled to go hun
cry.
Today the strikers are still con-
outside the plant limits, but
their numbers have considerably de-
They are less eager to
fight, although they flourish their
fists and jeer at any passing employee
They stand about In small knots and
discuss the situation, but to all ap-
contemplate no attacks.
Present Communication.
The committee appointed at last
nights meeting, headed by Rev. Mr..
Zielinski, went to the Office of the
company this afternoon and present
ed the following communication to
Manager Pierce:
American Smelling & Refining
Works,
"Mr. Pierce, Mgr.
Dear Slr:-We, the employees of
the American Smelling & Refining
Works, at Perth Amboy, n j., re-
submit for your considera-
tion the following grievances: AS
the cost of living increased enor-
in the last two years, the
present scale of wages in the Ameri-
can Smelling & Refining Works is
not sufficient to meet decent, our .
living expenses, hence we oeg the
OF the American SmeIt-I
ng & Refining Works to kindly in
,rease our wages twenty-five cents
.1oxr In .aoh ~