Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-07-29
DELMAR STRIKERS
CAUSE DISORDER
Strikers Force Railroad Guards On
Way To Salisbury To Turn
Back.

No little excitement prevailed in the
town of Delmar on Monday night
when conditions provoked by the rail-
road strike reached an acute stage.
For some time there has been con-
siderable unrest in that railroad CEN
ter due to the opposing factions of
strikers and strikebrcakers.
Sentiment in the community itself
is undoubtedly behind the striking
forces. However it has not expressed
itself in any extreme violent spirit,
being limited to a general boycott of
all outsiders who have been enlisted in
the aid of the Pennsylvania system.
Such help has been forced to make
all purchases in other districts as
absolutely no supplies are being sol'
the employees by the merchants and
other stores in town. The strike
breakers have not even been able to
cash their checks there.
Occasionally small stoning parties
were encountered by the incoming
workmen it is reported, and there
have been some attempts to hinder
the work in the shops and yards,
whereupon the railroad officials have
secured the assistance of several out
side individuals to do guard duty in
addition to their regular force of
police. This was planned in order to
prevent property destruction.
Antagonism against these new
comers was instantly created and the
affair Monday night was but cul-
mination of u series of outbursts.
Tive of the guards, who were from
Salisbury after completing their days
duty Monday evening started for this
city about eight o'clock in car and
upon getting outside of town were
surprised to find a number of men
grouped together ahead at fork of
the road. Having been previously
threatened and also warned of i'm
pending trouble the guards turned
around in their machine and went
back to the company's headquarters
and reported the disturbance.
Here they were assured of fur
ther escort and accordingly the cap
tain of police joined them and several
other men followed in car close be-
hind. However the border line of the
two states had been scarcely reached
when they were confronted on all
sides by large crowd and one strik-
er stepped out and demanded that
they stop. When the Pennsy captain
of police arrested this man, it was a
signal for general rush and in the
melee that followed the two guards
themselves were arrested by Della
ware state police and town authori-
ties and carried to magistrate and
there charged with having in their
possession deadly and concealed
weapons.
They were then required to put up
$500 bond each to appear at the fall
term of court. This bond the railroad
company provided and the two
guards under heavy escort finally
reached this city late after midnight.
II is their contention, which view is
held by other responsible persons,
that their arrest on Maryland soil by
Delaware authorities was an unpar-
donable act and that the charge OF
carrying concealed weapons was
without foundation inasmuch as they
were paid railroad guards and also
that their lives had been threatened
on the state highways.
II is indeed fortunate that no SER
ious termination of the encounter in
Delmar resulted on Monday night as
the situation there, already regret
table, might have reached alarming
proportions. Luckily the mob spirit
which was much in evidence did moi
Continued on next column.