The Calumet news., 1911-03-21
Many Foreign Miners on Strike
and Ten Companies Of Mil
itia are Called Out to
Disarm Them
DLOODSHED MAY Be RESULT
Clash is Expected When Attempt is
Made to Make Strikers Lay Down
Arms. Men are Ugly and
Town is Alarmed.

Gillespie. Ills. March 21.-Ten COM
panies of militia are on duty
at the mines of this vicinity. The
miners at Benld became dissatisfied a
week ago with working conditions and
quit work. Union officials having ruled
against the strike the Americans re-
turned to work. Foreigners have been
endeavoring by means of force and
otherwise to get the Americans out.
The trouble became acute last night
after the deputy sheriffs OF Macoupin
county were driven away. An appeal
was then made to the governor for
troops About 1000 foreigners, who
left Benld this morning and arriving
here, drove the Americans out of mines
one and three. They then returned to
Bend. No move will be made on the
foreigners by the militia until the ar
rival of all the troops. The officers re-
fuse to state what course they will
pursue
All night a vigilance committee of
citizens patrolled the streets. other
armed citizens were ready to meet the
marchers from Benld, and declared
their intention to attack them should
they enter town. The conservative ele-
ment prevailed. however, and after
marching through town and visiting
two mines the foreigners returned to
Benld.
Colonel Lang commanding the
troops, purposes To march his men to
Benld and disarm the belligerents II
necessary he will proclaim martial law.
Citizens here fear bloodshed at Benld,
as il is said the foreigners are drunk
and in a disagreeable temper.
There were nearly 1000 men i'm the
procession of foreigners that came
from Benld. They were armed with
varied assortment OF firearms, old
rifles. muskets. shot guns, revolvers
and Winchesters, and marched to the
music of an Italian band. Crowds
watched them from the sidewalks and
despite the threats made during the
night that they would not be allowed
to march through Gillespie. the DEM
onstration passed without opposition.
The procession first stopped at Mine
No. 1 and passed through the main
street of Gillespie. and thence on to
Mine No. 3 and back to Benld.
Three months ago John p. Reese
came to Gillespie from Iowa to take
up the superintendency of the proper
ties. Rose inaugurated several
changes and reforms that were not ia
vorably received b ythe foreign element
among the miners A strike was in
augurated but the union officials de-
clared Il illegal and ordered the men
back to work The foreigners refused
to obey orders and have icen in an
ugly mood for several days culminat-
ing last night in a demonstration at
Benld that caused the authorities to
ask the assistance of troops.
When the mon reached mine No.
they found no one at work, the miners
acting upon the advice to absent
themselves until tomorrow when they
will return to the mines under the
protection of soldiers. The marchers
then passed through town to Mine No.
3, which they also found deserted
They. then returned to Benld. where
the saloons are still OPEN Tho Tor
eigners, ii is said, imbibed freely ana
IT is feared will resist any attempt OF
the troops to disarm them.
Sheriff Etter has sworn I'm 100 depu-
ties and backed by soldiers will this
afternoon attempt to arrest the rioters.