The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-09-30
..
WACED ON MINERS
Mclean and 100, 900, 900 Baby"
Supply Gossip-While En-
e + ployes Fight.
SHERIFF AND GUNMEN
BRING REIGN OF TERROR
Mayor and Marshal of Rosiclare,
Ill.,, Deporter BY Mining
Companies.

WASHINGTON Oct 3.-While
Edward b. Mclean and his $780,
100000 BABY continue to supply
Washington and it's tourists with
gossip, the striking flur-spar miners
who helped produce McLean's
wealth at Rosiclare, in southern l]li-
nois, are waging a desperate battle
with starvation and gunmen.
Aided by the sheriff of Hardin
county, armed guards in the employ
of the Mclean and one other min
ing company have instituted. a reign
of terror for the striking minera
their families and all who sympath-
ize with them.
It was not enough to order strik-
ers and their families out Of town
under threat of violence. Embold-
ened by the support of the sheriff,
the company deputies have even de-
ported the mayor Of the city, the
city marshall, and members of the
city council.
A full statement of occurrences at
Rosiclare has been sent to the Com
mittee on Industrial Relations by
William j. Sneed, jr., international
organizer for the United Mine Work.
ers of America, citizen Of Illinois.
1t follows:
'On July 10, Colonel Shand, assist
ant adjutant general of Illinois came
to Rosiclare as the personal repre-
vestigate the appeal for the militia
hx, %h@
that there were about 20 deputies
sworn in by the sheriff, but being
paid by the mining companies to
guard and intimidate strikers. He
refused the companies the militia,
ordered the sheriff to depose the gun
men, and Instructed the Mayor to
swear in, with the approval of the
city council, enough special police
to protect the citizens of Rosiclare
from violence and intimidation. In
stead of guarding company property,
the guards were loafing around town
intimidating strikers.
Homes Shot Into.
1.-THE Mayor and city council did
as commanded, but the sheriff and
company did not discharge the depu-
ties. Colonel Shand returned to
Springfield, thinking the sheriff and
the company would obey the law.
But after a night or two it become
an every night affair for striking
miners homes to he shot into.
I'm a few days business men in
sympathy with the companies de-
manded of the mayor that he re-
move the special police, as it was
costing the city government too
much. The mayor complied. I'm
mediately the guards and gun men
began bulldozing strikers and their
friends, until a. clash occurred be-
tween the strikers and so-called dep
uties, resulting in one gun man and
one striker being seriously wounded.
The company had previously armed
thugs and gun men with riot guns
and automatics. They started g. riot
and tried to shoot up the doctors
office where an injured striker was
being attended. About 20 gun men
came across the river from Starrs-
vile, Kentucky, with false faces on,
and along with thugs on the Illinois
side, began ordering the strikers, and
sympathizers to leave town on pen
atty Of death. crying they would
lynch the mayor or shoot him if they
could find him.
"About 100 men with their fami-
lies, wives and children, walked or
went up the river in boats to Eliza
bethtown, the county seat. They
were told that there would be 200
night riders over from Kentucky tc
wipe the union men off the man
An old lady Is. years :~old was pre-.
pairing supper when she was told she
had Is minutes to- leave town. She
begged to-: be allowed TO. eat supper
and was told she had better not lei
the sun go down on her head if sh,
! wanted to live. So she went. Gu,
ment went into the house of the
mayor and scattered powder on tn,
floor. ripped up the carpets and ran
sacked everything in every room
They went into another house, cu
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