The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-22
INJURED.
DOZEN ARRESTED
AS TROOPS BREAK
UP MASS MEETING
Vigorous Protest to Be
Lodged With State Gov
eminent, Says Secretary
of National Organiza-
ton Committee
ny Associated Press

hs5ocidteu
Pittsburg, September I'll
Clashes between Pennsylvania
state police and crowds bent on
holding labor mass meetings IN
the Pittsburg district s~da
ushered in the strike in the
iron and steel industry.
The most serious disturbance oc-
Cured mt North Charlton, 70 miles from
Pittsburg, late In the afternoon, where
the state troopers charged union
mass meeting and broke ii up. RE-
sistznce WINS offered and il is charged
by union leaders that mounted police
men used their clubs vigorously and
injured a number In the crowd. About
n dozen men were arrested.
According to eye witnesses, the
meeting was proceeding quietly. After
it was dispersed the crowd scattered
and some ran up a railroad embank-
ment and threw stones at the troop
ers, but as far as can be learned no
one was seriously injured. 1t is AL
legged that several shots were fired by
someone in the crowd.
William Foster. secretary OF the
national committee for organizing
iron and steel workers, tonight said
that vigorous protest would be
lodged with the state government
against what he termed a "murderous
attack upon law-abiding people"
There was slight disturbance at
McKeesport, where union organizers
attempted to Hold a mass meeting In
defiance of the proclamation of Mayor
George Iysle forbidding public gath
erings.
CROWD OF 2500
More than $500 steel workers and
sympathizers were gathered near the
southern limits of the city when
squad of Mex eesport police dispersed
them, driving the crowd into Glass
| port, an adjoining borough.
(, When the crowd again began TO as
semble In Glassport the police up-
| peared and ordered the meeting DIS
| persed
The crowd refused to move a
detachment OF state police app gs
and broke up the meeting. No oss
was injured.
After dispensing the Glassport iaeat-
ing the state police returned to u
Keesport and patroled the street
All preparations had been 9sri-
pleted by Mayor Lysle tonight for pss
ting down any disorder in McKces
All day long men were being sura
in as special officers Members o. tS4
McKeesport chamber of conn stN
were sworn as specia, police.
$500 EXTRA POLICE
More than $500 civilian police 80
now available for duty Mayor eia
said. About 5000 employees of p
at McKeesport have been made de
sheriffs 10 protect company prop S
it was stated The steel plants in and
about McKeesport employ approxi-
mately $4,000 workmen.
Quiet reigned throughout the day a.
Duquesne. Homestead and East Du-
auesne. There was no attempt made
by the steel men TO hold meetings aud
there was no congregating on the
streets.
The steel plants at Homestead and
Duquesne are prepared to protect their
property Special barbed wire fences
have been constructed about exposed
property and searchlights have been
installed. Deputy sheriffs are patrol
ing the company properties
Although the call of the. unions
made the strike effective tomorrow
morning, reports showed that steel
compa MES in the Pittsburg district. al
least, have already felt the effect Of
the summons. The skeleton SUNDAY
day shifts in many plants were not
as complete as under normal condition
number of men had decided not to re-
port tonight.
UMONISTS ACTIVE
Sunday was a day of expectancy n
virtually all the iron and steel mill
communities in the district. Active
unionists were busy. canvassing mon
in their communities to get an idea
90 the extent of the wallSout. and in
the afternoon mass meetings were
held in many pfaces in last efforts to
persuade men to join the strike.
How the strike will end and what
It's cost will be were questions that
came to the minds of men when they
realized that the Industrial conflict
had materialized. National leaders OF
labor unions involved have long pre-
pared for the strike in the event they
could not make a settlement. They
say they are prepared for a bitter bat
tie and would not have gone into 1t II
they were not sure they could sustain
the struggle. Large sums OF money
will be required to finance the strike.
Confidence has been expressed that
money will not be lacking.
Labor leaders were asked today If
L.