The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-09-24
Thousands of Workmen Obey
Orders of Union Leaders
to Walk Out
OFFICERS SAY PLANTS
WILL BE RUN, HOWEVER
Order Being Maintained By
Patrols Of Police and Mil
Guards

ittsburgh, Sept. ;21.-CIashes be-
tween Pennsylvania State police lld
crewds bent on holding labor mass
meetings in the Pittsburgh district to-
day ushered in the strike in the
iron and steel industry. The
most serious disturbance occurred
at North Clairtors, 20 miles from
pittsburgh late in the afternoon,
where the State troopers charged
crowd Of union men holding a
mass meeting and broke it up. Re-
sistahee was offered and it is charged
by union leaders that the mounted
policemen used their clubs vigorous
ly and injured a number in the crowd.
About a. dozen men were arres.ed.
The meeting was broken up ut the
request of the local authorities.
According to eye witnesses the
meeting was proceeding quietly when
the State police broke it up The
crowd scattered and some ran up a
railroad embankn1ent and threw
stones and other missiles at the
troopers. During the melee, sever
al in the crowd were struck on the
head by the policemen, it was said.
The crowd soon scattered and as far
as can be learned no one was serious
ly injured. During the melee the
horse of one OF the troopers suffer-
ed a. broken leg. It rs alleged tha'
several shots were fired by some one
inIfhe crowd.
William u Fosterc, secretary Of the
lratienal epmmittee for organizing iron
and steel workers, tonight said that
xaignfoGs protest would be lodged
with the State governmen against
what he termed a .murderous at
taek upon law abiding people.
some Of the blast furnaces OF; the
sssyarReg steel corn pany aae located
af Charlton
There was a slight disturbance at
9Mcteesport, where: union organizers
attempted to hold a. mass meeting in
defiance of the proclannatio Of May
Or George Lysle forbding public
gatherings More than $500 steel
workers and sympathizers were gath
cred near the southern limits of the
rsty when a squad Of Mcneesport po-
lice dispersed them, driving the crow.
Into Glassport, an a,djoining borough
When the crowd again began to as
sefnble in Glassport the local police
appeared and ordered the meeting dis
persed.
The crowd refused to move and {
detachment of State police appeared
and with drawn clubs broke up tn
meeting. No one was injured. Two
aliens were arrested for refusing r
obey the order Of the police to ''movt
on,
After dispensing the Glassoor'
meeting the State police returned to
McKeesport and patrolled the streets.
Crowds were dispersed without dii-
acaIty
All preparations had been complet-
ed by Mayor Lysle tonight for putting
down disorder in McKeesport. AL
Z DAY long men were being sworn in as
snecial officers Members of the Nc
Keespoft chamber OF commerce were
sworn in as special police. More thar
1880 civilian policemen are now
available for duty. About 5000 en-
p1oyees of plants at McKeesport have
been made deputy sheriffs to protect
company property, it was stated. The
steel plants in and about McKeesport
employ approximately $4,000 work
men.
All plants in the Mckeesport dis
triet are under heavy guard tonight
Search lights have been installed ant
command all entrances to the COM
pany's property.
Quiet reigned throughout the day
at Duquesne, Homestead and East
Duauesne There was no attempi
made by the steel men to hold meet
ings and there was no congregatine
on the streets.
The steel plants at Homestead ant
Duuuesne are prepared to protec;
their property. Special barbed wire
fences have been constructed abo:i'
exposed property and searchlIghts
have been installed. Deputy sherisfs
are patrolling the company property
Although the call of the unions
made the strike effective tomorrow
morning reports showed that steel
companies in the Pittsburgh district
at feast. have already felt the eftec'
Of the summons. The skeleton Sun
dat shifts in many plants were no
as complete as under normal condition
and union leaders said that large
number of men had decided not tc
report tonight.
Sunday was day Of expectancy ir
virtually all the iron and steel mill
communities in the district. Active
ufionists were busy canvassing men
in their communities to get an idea
OF the extent of the walkout and IN
the afternoon mass meetings were held
in many places in last efforts to per-
st,ade men to join the strike.
steel Workers Hear Cifktrqrffb8'
@1;,ooo Sanf 21-While uniOr