Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-05-30
FIGHT FOR UNIoNISM.

FIGHT FOR UNIoNISM.
Highland Park Mills in Trouble With
Operatives.
Charlotte Observer, Wednesday.
Difficulties precipitated by striking
operatives and requiring police inter
vention occurred at long intervals yes
terday and the previous day at High
land Park mills, in North Charlotte
AS a precautionary measure the four
mills here of which A. ]. Draper is
president, not directly involved
temporarily were shut down, it was
learned yesterday. The trouble Is con-
fined solely to the Highland Park mills
where more than 1000 operatives are
unemployed.
Though the situation at several
times was regarded by Highland Park
company officials as tense and pre-
senting the possibility Of serious acts
nothing of serious nature has de-
veloped.
Tho labor trouble in North Carolina
began about three months ago, and the
first of the series of minor disturb
ances occurred several weeks ago
Monday morning what was regarded
by the Highland Park officials as q
demonstration that might assume Sc
rious proportions seemed developing
and police assistance was called fei
and given, with the result that quiet
was soon restored.
Early yesterday morning Sheriff N
w. Wallace, of Mecklenbur5 county
was called upon to serve writs of eject
ment upon the families Of number
Of strikers and legally cause them to
Immediately vacate the company's
houses. This instruction later was re-
scinded, before the sheriff had acted
The proper legal papers remain in his
possession, it was understood.
Earlier in the morning, another cal
for assistance had como to the Char
lotte police department from the
Highland Park mills. The police de.
partment was informed tliat strikers
armed with shotguns. were patrolline
tire mill village and around the mill
itself, and that the possibility of Sc.
rious trouble was realized. Chief OF
Police Orr Immediately communicated
the substance Of this report to Mayor
McNinch, who came to the city hal
without delay. While preparations
were being made at police headquar'
ters to organize a party of patrolmer
for duty there for the purpose o.
maintaining order, Chief Orr went
alone to the mill.
Mingling with The strikers and tell
ing them frankly that order would pe
maintained by the Charlotte police
department, Chief Orr succeeded after
short time in quieting the strikers
He was informed by the strikers tha'
they had no objection to the presence
of members of the police department
but that they did object to the pres
ence of "scab deputies" At the city
hall, threats against these deputies
were attributed to the strikers.
After the visit Of Chief Orr it was
found necessary to send other mem
bers Of the city police force to the mill
At Z o'clock last evening the qule
which had been restored in the early
morning still continued, so far as out
ward indications were concerned
though the officials keeping in toucf
with the situation reported that the
operatives had showed no indication OF
receding from the policy which they
made effective fortnight or more ago
The difficulties of Monday were re
garded by city and county officials d:
the most serious which have occurred
since the break between the Higalane
Park mills and their employees came
about three months ago. In an inclpl
ent clash late Monday, special police
man, formerly soldier, was struck OF
the head by a stone thrown by maj
REGARDED as one of the striking opera
tives. The former overseas man re-
mained cool and urged the assembled
strikers to avoid rash acts, and asking
them not to make it necessary for MIN
to use his revolver, which he ha'
drawn. This period of extreme tcnslt!
soon passed, but later an arrest wa
made by the police.
When the situation involving III
Highland Park mills became of SOM
tcnsity early Monday morning, cuimi
mating in C. w. Johnston, president
being threatened with rough treat
ment, A. j. Draper, president of eacn
ordered the two Chadwick-HosKih
mills. the Louise mill, am the CalVin
mill closed down temporarily. II Wa
understood this action was taken u
avoid the possibility of trouble, whici
was not then apparent, but had Deer
threatened. The situation at each
these mills was untroubled yesterday
! A Surer Test.-"That man." said al
admring friend, "is so honest m
wouldn't steal q pin"
Il never thought much Of the pi,
test" replied the iconoclast, "suppos'
you try him with an umbrella"