Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-15
American Miners, Armed and
Carrying Flags, Rush For
eign-born Miners to Railway
Station,
MERCHANTS GIVEN TIME
TO DISPOSE OF STOCKS
Origin of Trouble Said to Be
DiSCharging of American
Miners and Employment of
Aliens,

Flat River. Mo, July 14.-About
700 foreign born laborers were forced
out of the st. Francis county lead
belt by the American miners. A mob
estimated at 1000 men calling them
selves American Mine Workers. de-
manded that every foreign workman
with his family depart from the lead
district of Missouri Immediately. The
Americans, armed with shotguns and
carrying American flags. rushed the
foreigners to the railway station ev-
cry time a train came in. No one
was seriously injured. The foreign
born miners left here by train, by
wagon, by automobile truck and or
foot Many sought shelter in the
wooded hills that surround the min
ing towns. Many women and child
rem left but for the most part they
were unmolested, being allowed to
stay an hour or two with the under
standing that the exiled heads of
families would send for them.
Two Men Shot.
Not only miners, but tradesmen
and storekeepers were ordered to
leave the district The foreign born
merchants in Flat river were given
until Monday afternoon to dispose of
their stocks, A careful inquiry to-
night disclosed that only two men
have been shot since the trouble be-
gan last night So far as could he
learned, neither was in critical con-
| ldltion. -
A train Of seven passenger cars
loaded with miners, but carrying
some women and children, left the
lead belt for st. Louis this afternoon.
All evening miners made the
rounds of the houses occupied by the
foreigners and told them to leave.
Now and then n strange procession
was seen on the streets-two or three
foreigners bearing trunks and bags
on their backs and followed by de
termined native miners driving them
to the railway station. The foreign
ers usually went without resistance
and with very little protest. Few
were able to take many belongings.
State Troops Arrive.
Some of the exiled foreigners took
their most precious belongings to the
railway station and left them in the
care of the ticket agent. One man
left with the ticket agent a family
Bible wrapped in cheap cloth.
Local officials of the different COM
panies are marooned in their head
quarters, afraid to move out.
Prosecuting Attorney Matthews
said that no complaint had been filed
no property had been destroyed, and
the mob was but a peaceable assem-
bly,.
State troops arrived here shortly
before midnight.
An inquiry tonight failed to dis
close any activities by the Industrial
Workers of the World or by leaders
of organized labor The miners here
are not organized. 1t was stated that
there are no Industrial Workers of
the World In the lead belt.
The origin of the trouble, as given
by Americanborn miners and towns
people tonight is this:
Issue Statement.
"In the last few weeks American
born workers have been discharged a
few at a time, and Russians, Aus
trians, Poles and Hungarians have
been put to work. OF the 5000 en-
ployes in the mines and separating
mills, about $500 are foreign born
The foreigners get the same pay as
the Americans-42 20 q day.
There is no strike here or threat
of strike, and the men have no wage
grievances. One foreigner was shot
tonight, making the total number of
persons shot since the trouble began
three"