Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-21
Ten Companies Sent by
Governor to Giles
pie, III.
RIOTS ARE THREATENED
Foreigners Sur1y When Union
Declines Permission to
YP - Strike. y


9mespfe, m. March z1@Ten com
panies OF militia, are on duty a1 the
mines in this vicinity.
The miners at Bend became dfssatts-
fed a week ago with WORKING eondi-
lions and quit work Union officials
having ruled agafust q strike. the
Americans returned to work The for
,igners have been endeaEoring by
means of force and otherwise to get
the Americans out.
DRIVE DEPUTIES AWAY.
Trouble became acute last night af-
ter the deputy sheriffs OF Macoupin
ccantv were driven away. An appeal!
Nas tt~n made to the governor for
ss.s. Arogt 900 foreigners who
.'.s.' this morning. and, arriving
the Americans out OF the
yCd three. They then re
mid.
til be made on the for
@ militia until the arrival
--ons. Officers refuse TO
.r5c they viii pursue.
.ts-e.sD po RESIST.
~ chs ,lgi,ance committee of
ritizras uat~olled the street. Other
rlmed oinzens were ready to meet the
marchers from Bend and declared an
intention to attack them should they
enter The town. The conservative ele-
ment prevailed, however, and, after
marching through the town and atsec
visitin&-ssxe two mines. IL SoreiF@eFs-
returned to Benld
NAV DTs4RM gHEM.
Colonel y Lang commanding the
troops, proposes to march his men to
Benld and disarm the belligerents II
necessary he will proclaim martial law.
Citizens here fear bloodshed at Benld
as II is said the foreigners are drunk
and in disagreeable temper.
1000 IN BAND.
There were nearly 1000 men in
the procession of foreigners that
came from Benld. They were armed
with varied assortment OF firearms,
old rifles, muskets, shotguns. re-
volvers and Winchesters. and march
ed TO the music of an Italian band.
Crowds watched them from the side
walks and, despite the threats made
during the night that they would
not be allowed to march through
Gillespie, the demonstration passed
without opposition.
The procession first stopped at
mine No. l, passed through the
main street of Gillespie. thence on
TO mine No. 5 and back to Benld.
OBJECTED TO REFORMS.
Three months ago John P. Reese
came to Gillespie from Iowa to take
up the superintendency of the prop
critics. Reese inaugurated several
changes and reforms that were not
favorabiy received by the foreign ele-
ment among the miners. A strike
was inaugurated but the union Of
f1cials declared il Illegal and ordered
the men back TO work. The foreign
ers refused TO obey orders and have
been in an ugly mood several days
eliminating last night in the dem
onstration at Benld that caused the
authorities TO ask the assistance of
troops.
NO ONE At WORK.
When the mob reached mine No
1 they found no one a. work the
miners acting upon advice 10 absent
themselves until tomorrow when
they will return 10 the mines under
the protection of soldiers. The
marchers then passed through town
to mine No. 8. which they alSo found
deserted They then returned 10
Benld, where the saloons are still
open.
HAVE BEEN DRINKING.
The foreigners, il is said. imbibed
freely and it is feared will resist the
attempt of troops to disarm them
Sheriff Etter has sworn in 100 dep
uties and backed by the soldiers will
this afternoon attempt 10 arrest the
rioters.
TOWN Is QUIET.
Benld. ILL.,, March 21--The ar
rival this morning OF the militia from
Springfield and Danville found this
mining town quiet. The miners, who
had been armed and troublesome for
several days, suddenly left for one
of the nearby mining camps. No
word has been received as to their
progress towards the different camps,
Trouble is feared il the militia un-
dertakes to disarm the striking min
ers Leaders Of the miners union
are endeavoring 10 induce their men
to return to work.