davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
Feeling Out
Opinion

ny own opportunities for observing this
AFFAIR were unusual For several days be-
iore the strike occurred I had gone among
vac prisoners at will, trying to learn ex-
sSay what sort Of place the disciplinary
'srracks was. bore note of introduction
70 me commandant, Colonel Sedgwick Rice,
'iom the Third Assistant Secretary of War,
sao pass from the commandant allowing
40 70 go anywhere inside the prison at any
Aao' had talked to prisoners alone, had
'"Ised them at work and in their cells at
"ssn.' had played checkers and sat at mess
.'sn them, and had made friends with
aem and the officers. / wanted picture
tae prison under normal conditions, and
."a0ogh l succeeded in getting this before
.s' alter the strike, got also picture
- ono OF the most dramatic and cxtraor-
saay events in penal history
=" understand the origin Of so battling
snug IA prison strike, one must know
,ssa'ny OF the events that led UP to
saa the conditions that produced IT,
=. years ago the Disciplinary Barracks
Sors Leavenworth was a place for con-
sag oncers and enlisted men Of the army
"asins corps who had been sentenced
s"uss-martial Or other military tri-
saAis' With the entrance OF the United
Ss INTO the war, new kind Of soldier
te. assd Upon the horizon. In private
snis new soldier had been a clerk, a
t.san'e, day laborer, a politician, a
, .-s man. He knew nothing Of mill
IA. method, etiquette, procedure, discI-
~ 80 ne was civilian transported to a
- .s'sdiction, new milieu, and sub.
II. 70 new code Of criminal ethics.
49, '1'iafsA rules Of conduct that he had
III ( ~ weeks or months 10 understand,
IL. ~ npnishments for which he did not
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

from another, in spite Of barred doors and
double guards, they held mass meetings
and discussed their grievances. In the
Mysterious fashion in which news travels
through prison brick and stone, they in
formed one another OF their thoughts and
Planned course Of action. They elected
representatives to meet with their superior
omeers and voted on whether they would re-
Turn to work. And they did this while one
: thousand armed soldiers of the 49th In
iantry regiment waited outside the prison
walls, ready to enter and shoot at com
mand
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
First Signs
Of Trouble

On Wednesday afternoon, January 90 the
first gang" composed of about $50 prison.
ers working outside the walls, quit on their
jobs. They were excavating for a new
building, and they simply threw down their
shovels and spent the afternoon talking,
joking and loafing. The guards in charge
made only a nominal effort to induce them
to resume work. Even the guards had been
on duty for long hours during the days of
the race riots and we're themselves dis
satisfied with their lot. At the usual quit
ting time the members of the gang marched
back to the prison and went to their cells.
This was the first overt act Of the strike
In that mysterious fashion in which news
travels through walls and barred doors in
prison, the whole place was soon humming
with the exciting news that the "frst gang"
had struck. What did it mean? What were
they striking for? How far did they intend
to go? What was to be their method
violence and attempt" to overpower the
prison authorities, the quiet method Of
simply refusing to work? Would they try
to get others to join them?
One of the members of the "frst gang"
was conscientious objector. In civilian
life he had been a newspaper reporter and
poet; he was known as radical" That
night he held a conference with friends in
his wing. He told them that he had no de-
sire to participate in a strike for such
petty objects as the men of the FIRST gang"
were then considering. No one had for1nu-
lated that afternoon any statement of what
was wanted. One prisoner wanted more
tobacco; another wanted better food; an
other resented the treatment of negroes
on an equality with whites; fourth felt
bitter because he wasn't getting his letters
from home; fifth wanted the privilege Of
writing more letters himself. This ABSORB
ton in small desires, and utter disagree
ment Of one man with another, character
lied the early stages of the strike. Every
one was disconnected, many were surly, but
only by chance did any two agree upon the
causes of their dissatisfaction.
The prisoner in question told his friends
that If he did not join the strike with the
other members of his gang, his own safety
might be endangered. Local Kansas City
newspapers, notably "The STAR had for
week past been publishing wholly untrue
stories Of the bitterness existing among
the prisoners toward conscientious objec-
tors. Realizing that these stories were not
true, this prisoner nevertheless feared that
their very publication (they were, of course,
read by many prisoners) might produce tho
antagonism described. single unfortu-
nate accident might turn against the OBJ
jectors the very passions that had already
been aroused against the blacks. II he, an
objector, incurred the cnmity Of his fellows
by refusing to Join the strike, he might bel
the unwilling means Of bringing about
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

"HE strike of prisoners at the United
States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan week before last
was no ordinary prison mutiny. 1t
presented many of the characteristics of
typical labor disturbance in the world
outside. True, it originated in the vague
unrest that occasionally sezes prison
populations the world over, but it soon
crystaIlized about well-defined demands
and took form in definite organization.
That it occurred in military prison is
one of the strangest things about this
strange affair; yet, from the very nature
Of the demands that gave it force, it
could not have occurred elsewhere. The
1900 men who took part in it were still
units in the military machine, with the
exception Of 400 conscientious DIRECTORS;
they had once been soldiers. They were
subject to military discipline. Their Off
GERS were leutenants, captains, majors
and colonies. They stood at attention or
saluted when these officers passed An un~
questioning obedience was expected Of
them that is not expected of men in civil
prisons. Some of them, in the ordinary
course Of events. will be restored to mill
tsry service. Yet they organized them
selves in the approved labor union way and
presented their demands just as if they
had the full power of collective bargain
ing. In spite of walls separating one group
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

shouted q prisoner from the upper tier, to
the great amusement of the others.
What are you here ~ asked the colo
mel, ignoring the remark.
"Disobedence, SIR
You're a conscientious objector, aren't
your"
Eyes, sir"
"Are you an I. W. W."
NO. sir, l never belonged to that organi-
zaton."
You're Socialist, aren't you?"
yes, sir, I'm Socialist"
and in addition to being conscientious
objector, you're constitutional objector,
aren't you?"
a don't know exactly what you mean,
SIR
81 mean you object to all forms of gov
eminent and order"
"No, sir, do not"
"Well, most Socialists do"
II beg your PARDON" shouted prisoner
from an upper tier. but said no more.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
A Case of
InCendiariSn1

AS an organic part of the strike, the fire
had no significance. In two hours it was
practically extinguished, without loss of life,
but with the loss of approximately $780,
600 worth Of clothing and supplies. It's
occurrence, however, due, as it was, to the
work of two or three prisoners who later
confessed, was evidence of the spirit of I'M
rest Men were bent upon any measure
that gave an outlet to their passions
The strain Of it must have been very
great on the $500 men locked in their cells.
The fire screwed the tension to a higher
pitch, and left both officers and prisoners
with raw nerves.
Next morning occurred the first blunder
of the administration. Without consulting
Colonel Rice, the executive officer ordered
that the prisoners be marched back to their
wings Immediately after breakfast and that
they remain there for the morning. This
did two things: it told the men that the
officials were afraid that something might
happen if they went to work, and it gave
them further opportunity to discuss their
grievances.
During all of this time my own rela-
tions with the men had been friendly and
cordial. 1t was known to them that l was
on good terms with the officers and the
commandant. This fact, and the circum-
stance that some of the prisoners were sure
to regard me with suspicion if | went too
freely back and forth from Office to cell
while such momentous events were on foot
induced me to hold myself somewhat aloof
during the next two days / still went
freely about the yard and talked with indi-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
QueIied BY
A Speech

"Now, men," began Colonel Rice, Pm not
down here to threaten you. That's not my
purpose at all. would really like to get
your point of view. | would like to know
what you think you're going to gain by
your present conduct. I know many of you
have grievances. Some of these grievances
real, and some are imaginary. ! know
what some of them are. l know there are
men in here who can't understand why they
have such long sentences. know there are
men here who can't understand why they
have fifteen, twenty, twenty-five year and
even longer sentences, when other men
who, in their Judgment have committed
similar offences or no less serious offences
have only two years.
The colonel had struck hcme. A mighty
shout and handclapping greeted this state
ment. The colonel went on:
"But what ! can't understand is why you
think you in position to correct it.
For aught you know, there may be others
who now trying to correct it. For
aught you know, there may be people who
are now trying to get clemency for you I
am not making any promises, but these
people may be working hard and may have
some chance of success. But what are you
doing? You are making it so much harder
for them by your present conduct. You
are fixing it so that even when the time
comes when something might be done for
you, those who are making the effort will
find their hands tied. That's absolutely all
you are getting by your conduct.
81 am perhaps closer in touch with what
is going on here than you think. I have
many sources of information and I hear
much If | had no other source than the
anonymous letters from prisoners that come
to my desk, l would know, for example,
that you saying that you are $500
strong that there only few guards,
and that you take things into your own
hands 1t is true that there are only
few guards, but what you forget is that
there are four thousand soldiers in this
post, soldier for every man, and I can
have em all here in five minutes" Cen
eral shifting of feet and sidelong chances.
"Now, know there are things about this
institution that could be better And we
are working all the time to make them bet
ter l know the service in the dining room
is not all that I would like to have it. But
there is exactly twice the number Of prison
ers in this institution that we can reason
ably accommodate, and that is a condition
that l cannot control. l didn't send you
here. Don't imagine that I want to keep
you. I'd like to get rid of the whole lot of
you. You're comfort to me-"
Such was the groplng during the early
stages Of the strike, both by prisoners and
officers, to find out what the spontaneous,
inexplicable movement meant and how to
quell it. No one knew yet just what was
happening Or would happen. No one knew
how far the movement would CO.
Colonel Rice was a study during these
first days. For four years he had been in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

playing cards with a white man in the yard
assaulted his opponent. Others mixed in
the fray and, although guards and officers
quickly broke up the fight, two negroes
were taken to the hospital as a result Of
injuries received.
News Of this affair spread quickly
through the prison. There is no segrcga-
ton Of blacks from whites in the barracks
and the number OF blacks is, Of course
greatly in the minority. For the frat time
in their lives many Southcrners in the
prison were compelled TO live on equal
terms with negroes, Hothsads among them
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

charge of the Disciplinary Barracks and
had never before seen the men under him
in such a mood this. He knew as much
and as little about the causes of the I'M
rest as any one else knew. He seemed hon
estly seeking for the explanation. and while
he disapproved the conduct of the men and
found it difficult to talk to them In their
present temper. he made himself do it. He
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16

The Tribune prints THIS article for its
amazing ard dramatic social interest. 1t
is essentially q matter of ne,Os. The
moral conclusions, If there may seem to
DO any, are those of the aur-iter.-ED.1
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16
The Social Phenomenon of Our Mill
tary History in the Great
World War
By Winthrop D. Lane
Of the Surrey staff


Published simultaneously by permission Associates
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
SURVEY FOR HAVANA,
HELIX ROAD IS BEGUN

Surveys on the county road be-
tween Sunnyside and Umapine were
completed last week and the locating
crew, under Douglas Kyle, started
Monday on the location of the high
way from Havana TO Helix. The
route to be followed Will be almost
Identical with the present road. which
is 10 mics in length.
The county program for improve
ment of the Havana to Helix road in
eludes a first class gravel lateral to
connect with the Oregon Washington
highway. When the location of this
road has been completed 1t Is likely
that the surveyors will take up the
survey of the Pendleton Pilot Rock
section.
Grading on the Old oregon Trail
from the base of Cabbage Hill has
progressed 12 miles south and east
from the foot of the hill. Several
small flurries of snow have already
been met with and it is likely that
the crews will leave the high places
by November 1 and commence work
from the foot of the hill toward PEN
dleton. The county is doing the work
under contract from the state high
way commission.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
Suggestion for International
Action is Made to Germany
in Note Also Addressed to
Austria and NeutTElS.
BERLIN CHANGING FIRST :.
DECISION TO COOPERATE
feeling Expressed by Response
BILE Authorities That Ger
many Ought to Decline as
Matter of Principle. =
BY CARL d. GRoAT

/ Omitted Press Staff corresDondjent)
BERLIN. Oct. 1.-THE allies have
proposed an international blockade
against soviet Russia. The sugges ton
was made TO Germany in a note which
was also addressed to Austria and
neutral countries. The note as ked
what measures Germany is prepare
to take in assisting the government.
At first is was officially stated here
that Germany ,yas willing to cooperate
but Incapable of extensive measures
The feeling later. however. as expires
sed by responsible authorities. was
that Germany ought to decline as
matter of principle. IT was stated
that Germany will likely reply that
she could not be party to action re- /
shifting in a starvation blockade such
as she herself suffered. Germany isl
also expected to point out that non
bolshevik elements would suffer as
much under the blockade as zhe boil
shevik. 4
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
MILL MANAGER MAKES
BUSINESS TRIP IN EAST

r. Nj. Crommelin. manager of the
new Collins Flour Mills. LEFT this af-
ternoon for Spokane and from there
will take a six weeks business trip to
Chicago, New York City and the
southern states to establish business
connections. He will spend the ma
jority of his time south of the NIason-
Dixon line. returning about Decem-
ber l.
Flour made from wheat grown in
this section is very desirable in the
east and south because of its pure
white color. MIR. Crommelin explained.
He has previously made business trips
to the south and is well acquainted
with flour buyers there.
Another carload of machinery for
the mill arrived today. making two
loads now on hand. The roof to the
building will be on by October 81. MIR.
Crommelin says and installation OF
machinery will then be rushed. Floors
are already laid and work is to begin
at once on the construction OF the
two-story warehouse which will sur
round the mill proper.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
REALTY DEALERS OF
COUNTY LAST NIGHT
FORMED ASSOCIATION
E. T. Wade Heads New 0rgani-
cation Which Aims to I'm
prove Conditions of Business
and Protect Selling Public.

Realty dealers of Umatilla county
last night perfected an organization to
be officially called the Umatilla Coun-
tys Realty Association, and elected the
! following officers to serve until the
next regular annual meeting;
President e. T. Wade: vice presi-
| ]. c. Snow. These, together VITA A.
w Lunden, H. E. Bickers. w. H.
Morrison and p. w. Dayton, Who were
appointed by the president, are to
constitute the executive committee.
The aims and objects of the asso-
citation are to improve the conditions
of the real estate business in Umatilla
county by enforcing the state law; to
strive for better recognition from the
public. promote mutual respect and
good fellowship among members. and
follow out a policy that will be of
greatest benefit in general to the SELL
ing public.
The association adopted a standard
contract from to be used by all its
members. to be in keeping with the
new state law requiring licensing of all
real estate dealers. No real estate can
be handled without this regular con-
tract being signed by the seller. Real
ty men, under the new laws. are re-
quired to furnish a bond of $1,000
with II freeholders as guarantors,
that they will comply with the state
laws governing the real estate busi-
ness before they can secure a license
Neither can they act as agents with
out stipulation of agents authority.
The association aims to prevent the
eptrance of unscrupulous dealers by
seeing that anyone operating is sup
piled with the regular state license.
Rules and regulations governing
the listing and sale of real estate and
rates of commission will be
posted in each real estate office for
of the public,
Members who have already identi-
fled themselves w.th the association I
are E. T. Wade, y. Berkeley. J. C
Snow, W. C. sutherland, \. w Lun-
Ion c. T.. Roosevelt. 2. w. Dayton. I
W II, Morrison, j. II. Estes. II, F. Z
Pickers. Fred laatz. Manuel Friedly. I
Real estate operators throughout 4
lmatilla county Will be invited to join I
he association. and are requested to I
make application for membership TO !
he secretary
The organization was started
through the efforts of Snow & Day H
on and a. w Lundell.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
SEMI-FINALS OF HIGH
SCHOOL DEBATES TO BE
HELD IN EUGENE ALSO

II. II. Inflow. coach of the r. IT, s.
debate team. received word from the
State Debate League headquarters at
Eugene. that the winning team in each
debate district would get "A change to
go to Eugene for the final and semi
final debates. instead of allowing only
two teams to make the trip. In this
way more interest will be created in
the contests in the district and a more
Just reward given. 1t will also elmi-
nate any partiality that might arise
among judges as the professors at tho
u. of o. will be used.
Another new idea which is being
introduced into the league this year
is that the district debate directors
may work out a percentage basis to
determine the district champion in
stead of relying on the old elimina-
tion system. The local debaters are
spending their time in study of the
question and in assembling the ma
terial
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
CLOCK STRIKES-AND
IT'S THREE FOR TEA AT
ABSTRACT co. OFFICE

The clock strikes three. The
sound OF typewriters stops abrupt
ly. The girls put aside their PEN
ellis and notebooks. The tea-hour
has arrived at the Hartman Lb-
stract company office.
The Innovation is a recent one
and II carries out an idea which
originated with James Johns. Sir.
He says that the girls work all
day at top speed and that as tho
afternoon wears on they need a
III drink-of tea-to stimulate
them for the remainder OF the
days work
A mysterious red box is fasten-
ed to the wall in the office. Tho
box contains not only tea. but
chocolate. tea cakes and "instant'
coffee. as well as electrical devices
for heating water. When open
ed the box forms a tea-table. 3
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
SECS aGrcalcst strike. !.

SPOKANE. Oct. l4.-Wilful mali
cious murder, suppression of truth.
bribery of legislative. executive and
judicial branches OF the Government
refusal to arbitrate, deceit and evasion
were charges hurled at the american
capitalistic monarchy by President
Short of the Washington Federation
of Labor; who just returned from the
east. at a meeting OF the labor coun-
ell last night. He warned that he
sees no possible means to avert the
coal strike.
THE coal miners no doubt will be
engaged in the greatest strike of Am
erican history by November IL
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
BONDS CONVERTIBLE
UP TO NOVEMBER |

Holders of four per cent liberty
bonds. of the first and second issues,
are being asked by local banks to
bring them in by Nov IL they desire
the bonds converted to bonds bearing
IA per cent interest. The final in
terest coupon on the second loan
bonds Is due November / 5 and on the
first loan converted on December Is.
The government has extended the Of
fer of conversion and inasmuch as new
coupon bonds must be issued for the.
remainder OF the time they are to run.
two steps can be accomplished at once
and an increase in interest gained.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
J AGAINST
,s,,TEN|NC TO
IIi'A|LWAY LINES
{ IONA VISITOR
VICTIM OF HOLD-Up

A gold watch and $42 is the haul
which j. w. Daniel. an oklahoman,
says two men got from him about IL
o'clock last night on Garden street
near Webb. He was accosted by the
pair, he told the police. after he had
seen two young ladies home.
One man was described as being 8
feet 10 inches. in height and wore
striped overalls, black coat and a
slouch hat His companion is feet
8 inches and wore a cap. Both. he
Judged. were about 26 years old.
Police are keeping a lookout for the
holdup men today. Daniel is regis
tered at a local hotel.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
NURSES REGISTER TO
Be KEPT AT HOSPITAL

A register. for nurses is TO be kept
at st. Anthony's hospital to aid local
doctors in locating nurses for service.
The register will contain cards
bearing the names and addresses of
nurses. and will indicate which nurses
are available. All nurses who wish TO
have their names placed on the regis
ter may call the hospital. phone 165.
Doctors Of Pendleton have experi-
enced considerable difficulty in locat-
ing nurses for cases and the sisters of
st. Anthony's hope that the new plan
will help to solve the difficulty.
East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-10-14
Miners Warned by Senate Com
mittee on Investigation That
Contract for Present Scale is
Still Binding.
STRIKERS MAY LAY THEIR
CLAIM ON ENDING OF WAR
Unions Have Agreement to
Work Until Next April or
Until Conflict is Officially
Brought to an End.

WASHINGTON. Oct. l4.-Steps to
avert a threatened bituminous coal
miners strike are being considered by
the senate interstate commerce com
mittee today. Senators explained that
the unions have an agreement to
work under the present scale until
next April. or until the war Is off,
cialiy ended. The issue now is
whether they will stand by that con-
tract or declare II invalid by reason
of the ending of the war Director
General Hines says railroads will be
forced TO stop running ten days after
the strike Is started.