Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-02-08
Ten Newly Appointed Special
Policemen Help to Disperse
Mob at Plant.
STRIKERS NOW DESPERATE
Elmer Osborne, Beaten, At
tended by DoctorS-Wom-
en-, Almost Crazed,
Cause a Riot.
STRIKERS NOW DESPERATE

CduSe d nlOl.
Almost crazed with anger at the
refusal of the American Agricultural
Chemical Company to come to terms
with their husbands, mob OF
women, the wives of the strikers,
stormed the gates of the Williams &c
Clark fertilizer plant this morning
and man-handled several men who
went back to work. Ten special
policemen, who were sworn In by
Mayor Joseph Hermann, helped to
disperse the mob, but shortly after
Elmer Osborne, chief engineer at the
Liebig Works, was caught In the jam
on the '-eets of Chrome and beaten
by the strll RS. The strikers are be-
coming desperate and fresh out
break of violence is looked for at any
minute.
Plant Still Refuses to Settle.
Over month has elapsed since
the strike started, and although the
Consumers plant and the Armour
Works have reached an amicable set
tlement with their laborers at the
desired wages of So per day, the
largest concern, the American Agri-
cultural Chemical Company, stead
fastly refuses to meet the demands
of the men. In spite of all the out
side financial assistance that is being
given, the laborers who were former
ly employed at the Williams & Clark
and the Liebig plants appear to be in
desperate straits and are bitter
against the officials of the corpora
ton. This feeling is shared by the
neli,v<u and ipss1s of 49, ~ n ssssss4s
Iives NJ; d2h9 h9n lei g ssp1e sssf iKers
and they displayed their spirit by the
demonstration this morning outside
the gates of both plants.
A number of employees who left a
Central railroad train this morning
and attempted to go to their work
were stopped by the angry women,
who treated them roughly. One wo-
man picked up a stick from the
ground and began to batter one OF
the strike breakers over the head un-
til he was rescued by a couple of the
watchmen at the Williams and Clark
plant. All the men, however, man
aged to reach the gates of the plant
without serious injury.
Sheriff Edward f .Houghton was
notified Immediately of the Roosevelt
disturbances and went to the scene
of the strike.
The most significant occurrence of
the morning was when Chief Engi- |
neer Osborne and companion en-
ploye of the Liebig works were stop
ped In Woodbridge avenue. They
when Osborne lost his footing several
women jumped on him and trampled
him severely before the police could
get to his aid. The men also assisted /
In beating Osborne, who sustained
many bruises and minor cuts. He
was attended by DR.. J. l.. Reason.
who has been threatened by the
strikers for assisting "8eab."
Appoint Special Officers.
Fearful lest the brewing trouble
should result in serious riots the
common council of Roosevelt, In
special session Saturday, voted to
appoint ten special officers who were
placed on duty at once. These men
rendered good service this morning,
and Mayor Hermann states that he
believes with their assistance the
borough police force will be able to
handle the situation efficiently.
Sheriff Houghton ts at the Roosevelt
plants now, and In face of this morn
fng's disturbance he may decide to
swear in citizens of the county to act
as protectors Of the corporations
property In place of the dispossessed |
deputies.
Quinn in Roosevelt.
President Arthur A. Quinn, Of
Perth Amboy, president of the State |
Federation of Labor. appeared in |
Roosevelt yesterday with 5000, the /
donation of that organization toward |
the support of the destitute strikers.
A similar amount Is expected today |
as the proceeds from strike benefits |
conducted by New York Socialists |
The money from the State Fedora |
tion was turned over to julius Yae-
ger, secretary of the fertilizer work |
ers' local.
A meeting of the strikers was held |
last night with no important develop |
ments, and another mass meeting |
will talb place tonight, when the |
strikers in meeting to be held In |
Van Ness hall, are expected to take |
steps to bring about set |
tlement of the strike.
Trouble Follows Notice.
The trouble that occurred this !
morning was probably the outcome |
of notice issued by the A. A. c. |
Company to the effect that all their |
employees who had been receiving 81 |
per day or over would be considered |
discharged unless they reported for |
hn
cluded the foremen, engineers and |
other executive help. These men tried |
to get back to work this morning and |
the trouble arose when they were
stopped by the strikers. The strikers |
maintain that Osborne was injured |
blackjack on the men who requested |
him not to go to work.