Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-08-08
STRIKING HOP PICKERS
AND OFFICERS RIOT

here today; four more are seriously
injured; scores are nursing broken
heads; 1900 hop piekers, sullen and
idle, have left their work, and six
of the California militia
are patrolling the streets of Wheat
land as the result of a pitched battle
between ten officers and $50 work
ers. on the great burst ranch here
late yesterday afternoon.
Chaos. such as has seldom been
witnessed in Yuba county, reigns In
Wheatland, and it is believed a great
industrial crisis impends. Many hop
pickers are being arrested and jailed
and the militiamen are meeting with
sullen looks on every side.
Back and forth between the sQual-
i'd tents Of the workers, the uni
formed soldiers are marching, while
county officers are trying to place
responsibility for the death OF two
public officials and two hop pickers
who fell. riddled by bullets, on a rude
dance platform in the midst OF the
hop pickers camp. That more were
not killed or wounded is considered
miraculous. Firing was general and
bullets flew everywhere. Scores we're
injured in a rush to leave the place,
and heads were battered on all sides.
Many Versions of Affair.
Every one who witnessed the af-
fair has a different version. The
events leading up to the shooting
seem to have been about as follows;
A protest meeting was called Sun
day by the hop pickers employed on
the burst Brothers ranch. The
meeting was called by a committee
composed of representatives of seven
races employed in the hop fields
Articles of agreement, containing
seven grievances, were drawn up and
presented to r. II. burst. Epito'
mized, they follow:
A price of s1,25 per hundred
pounds for picking hops instead OF
the so cent rate, with sliding scale
of premiums, ranging from FIVE &c
Is cents, according to the length o.
time a picker has worked.
Better sanitary conditions.
Drinking water in the fields, fresl
twice daily.
More toilet room with separate
lavatories for women.
other minor improvements for thu
welfare of the workers.
Ultimatum of Hop Pickers.
According to the pickers, Ours
agreed to every stipulation of tn
workers except that of increased
wages.
we will give you an hour to gran
this concession was the ultimatun
given the ranch owner. At the en-,
: of the allotted time We will quit an
we will send notice to every distric
/ in northern California that thes
: hops are not to be picked"
= A protest meeting was called an
| great crowd gathered at a dane
: platform in the center OF the camI
= Here, in the shelter OF a great shed
, on which a sign, Near Beer" wa
! conspicuous, men and women advc
Gated the meeting. At this poin
, burst sought Constable l.. b. An
) derson, asking that he arrest on
2 OF the hop pickers, whom he charge
: with melting to rebellion. Some dc
g clare that this man is an l. W. "
] organizer.
e Opinions differ as 70 the resu
of Anderson's visit. According
Chief of Police Mccoy Of Marysvill'
who arrived soon afterward, Andei
9. son was met with violence when b
attempted to make an arrest. II
Y said the men came to blows, but thi
e could not be verified today.
p Sheriff Voss Notified.
e At this point, District Attorne
D Maxwell, who was in Wheatland o
t business, was notified OF the state {
I affairs. He telephone to Sheriff Vos
= at Marysvlle, and voss swore
d Reardon as a deputy and hastene
;, to Wheatland. ne was met by nNr'
and the party . )ceeded to the D.
ing of the pickers.
Included in the delegation wei
!. Voss, MAXWELL, Deputy Sheri
Mathews. Constable Anderson, Rea
J. don, Burst, Henry Dekin, game wa
= den and village blacksmith, and
d negre chauffeur.
g Nov don't shoot, boys" Sheri
= Voss is said TO have shouted as u
e party approached the meeting plac
An unroar started Accounts OF d