Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-04
5000 ASSAIL
AUTO PLANT.
FEELING HIGH.
Troops Used to Put Down
Outbreak-New Clash
Today Is Feared.

Toledo, Ohio, June 4.-Operations
at the WHY'S automobile
works were at a standstill today
as a result of the rioting last night
in which two persons were shot to
death and 10 injured. The plant
opened a week ago Monday after
two weeks of idleness.
Clarence A. Earl, vice president
and general manager of the COM
pany, authorized the announcement
that no attempt would be made to
operate the plant, pending word
from Governor Cox regarding en-
appeal from Mayor Schneider for
troops to handle the situation.
The dead men, il is said. were
not involved in the labor dispute
and were never employed at the
Overland plant. They were in the
crowd which congregated about a
fire station when discharged SOL
diers guarding the plant arrived in
response to a riot call.
Feeling Runs High.
Feeling in the neighborhood
where the deaths occurred is run
ming high. and police authorities
are apprehensive of further out
breaks today aimed at the former
soldiers doing emergency police
duty. These emergency policemeu
are armed with automatic pistols
and rifles. They still wear the uni
form of the army and are operating
under the direction of Colonel l.
w. Howard, who receives his in
structions from Mayor Schreiber-
There was a pitched battle at the
gate of the plant last night.
A crowd estimated at 5000 idle
workers attacked the loyal en-
ployes with a shower of bricks,
stones, clubs and other missiles.
The emergency police charged
them, firing more than a hundred
shots over the heads of the rioters.
Eleven persons were injured in this
clash, two probably fatally.
Two Killed When Soldiers Fire,
After this disturbance had been
auelled, one of the discharged sol
dier guards was seen near the au-
tomobile plant. A crowd gathered
cred about him, hooted and threat
ened him, and he took refuge in
fire engine house. A summons for
help was sent to the commanding
officer of the emergency police
force and two automobile trucks
filled with men in uniform respond
ed. These men fired a yolley over
the heads of the crowd. When this
failed to disperse the assemblage,
the order was given TO shoot low,
killing two men and wounding SIX
others.
With the plant again shut down
at the request of city officials,
Mayor Schneider admits that the
situation is beyond his control. No
word has come from Columbus as
to the sending of troops here.
Strong Feeling Against Soldiers.
Crowds again gathered at the
plant this morning but found a sign
giving notice of the shut down
There is no reports of further vio-
lence. In the section of the city
near the plant and populated large
ly by former Overland workers,
feeling against the soldiers is run
ming high. Leaders of the latter to-
day claimed that they shot into tho
crowd last night only after a score
Of shots had first been directed at
them. The shots by the soldiers
we're declared in self defense.
Governor TO Ask Aidl
Columbus, Ohio, June 4.--GOv-
ernor James NJ. Cox has not yet
indicated whether he has asked the
war department to send troops to
Toledo to quell the rioting which
late last night caused the death OF
two men and injury of many 9TH
ers.