The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-08
U. $. Company Head Included
in Grand Jury Grist.
RESULT OF STRIKE RIOT PROBE
Indict East Youngstown Mayor
and COunciImen.
Unable to Locate Blame for
Reign of Anarchy.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, March SIN
dictments were returned today against
the Youngstown Sheet and Tube com
pany, the Republic Iron and Steel
company. the Brier Hill Steel e<'m-
pany, the Youngstown Iron and Steel
company, the Carnegie Steel COM
pany, the L. ). Steel company. and
Judge f. Ii. Gary, executive chairman
of the u. ). Steel company, charging
them with having formed a trust to
fix the wages of common labor in Vlo-
lation Of the laws of Ohio.
These indictments followed an in
vestigation of the East Youngstown
riots and labor troubles of January.
The specific offense charged against
the six steel concerns is that they con-
spred to keep the wages, in January,
of common labor at the same figure
as the Republic Irou and Steel COM
pany and the Y Youngstown Sheet and
Tube company Announcement was
made by all these companies within
two days time of a ten per cent in
crease in wages. This action is held
to be due to an agreement.
Town Officials for Graft.
Indictments also were returned
against Mayor w. H. Cunningham and
six councilmen of East Youngstown,
charging them with being financially
village purposes.
Among otFfaH things the jury repcssf
sets forth that the grand jury was un-
able to fix any particular cause for
the recent East Youngstown reign of
anarchy. The report criticises Mayor
W. H. Cunningham and members of
the East Youngstown police force, say
ing that neither the mayor nor any
member of the police force made any
effort whatever to disperse the mob.
Mayor Cunningham is criticised for
not closing the saloons early on Fri
day morning after he had received no.
tice of the temper of the mob The
report says the mayor and police Of
ficials of East Youngstown were guilty
of such inefficiency and such disre-
gard for the law as to be unfit and un-
worthy to fill the positions which they
hold.
Guardsman Violated Rights
The report recites the fact that a
guard at the Youngstown Sheet &
Tube company, who is a member of
the state militia, took without
legal authority ten members of
the National Guard to the Tube COM
panys property to guard the same.
It is also stated that the guard ap-
propriated state ammunition although
the grand jurors say they do not feel
that he intended to steal the ammuni-
tton. 1t is set forth that the action
of the guard made it impossible for
the sheriff or captain or the militia to
mobilize militiamen in time of grave
public danger.
Guards on the Sheet & Tube com
pany bridge, who fired into the crowd
assembled about the time keepers Of
flee before the rioting began, are cen
sured The report says the guards
were not of the standard to be trusted
with such a responsible duty.
The report says the grand jury was
unable to find that the influence of
any foreign government was respon-
sible for the riot. The alleged COM
bination of manufacturers with the
intent to keep down the wages OF
common labor is criticised.
Gary Enraged at Indictment.
New York, March S.-When n
formed of the indictment returned al
Youngstown against himself. Judge
Elbert II. Gary issued the following
statement:
There are no facts to justify tht
indictment returned by the Mahou1ne
county jury against the companies oi
any of the officers. The indictment
a n tT-pg -fT-.ax