Evening star., 1934-08-26
SHOTS ARE HEARD
IN ONION STRIKE.
Bullets Fly When Workers
Try to Flee Area in Ohio
Dispute.
ny the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
McGUFFEY, Ohio, August as
Shooting was heard across the Scioto
marsh lands here tonight as threats
to striking onion workers took effect
in an attempted exodus Of some of
the strikers.
The shots we're heard after a curs-
ing, shouting crowd of several hundred
had paraded past the home OF Okey
Odell. 38-year-old strike leader, who
was ordered out of town after he had
been abducted and beaten early .oday
following the bombing of the mayor S
home
Deputy sheriffs who investigated the
shooting said strikers armed with
shotguns and guarding the home of
Gladys Dyer another striker, had fired
the shots to SHOW him his protec-
tors were on the job" Dyer ives one
of several including Odell, who were
reported to have been ordered out of
town by an anti-strike faction.
Seek Transportation.
Meanwhile, nine groups of former
Kentucky residents who had joined
the strike after working in the onion
fields, sought transportation back to
their former homes
A striker was arrested on charges
of assault with intent to kill after
the automobile caravan of demon
strators had departed from McGuffey
in the direction Of nearby .own
Klines Wies, 81, son Of strike leader,
was taken into custody on an aff1-
davit by Ray Harden, foreman Of a
land company, who charged that Wies
threw a brick that hit Ora Craig, a
non-striker, during the parade.
Come on out, Odell," the marchers
shouted as the bruised and battered
Agricultural Workers Union head lay
in the upper room, pistol near his
hand, recovering from the beating.
Friends Guard House.
Nearly q score of Odell's friends,
armed with shotgunS and revolvers,
guarded the home, and the crowd
made no attempt to enter. "I'n kill
the first man who tries to get me-"
Odell said, in defiance of a rumored
ulimatum by non-union Sympathizers
that he had better leave town tonight.
The crowd, riding in two score
trucks and automobiles, went past
the strike leaders home but once.
Then the procession headed toward
Alger, a village miles west Of here,
where sporadic outbursts have oc-
CURED during the three-month-
strike of onion field workers. Heavy
-I,.L~ d. H. ~ =
members of the crowd.
Authorities said they were appre-
hensive that serious violence might
break out before dawn. A National
Guard observer had visited the scene,
but was assured by Sheriff Wilbur
Mitchell his staff of 10 deputies could
control the crowd. Five of the dep
uties trailed the paraders as they
started toward Alger.
Others Are Warned.
Three other strike leaders-Law-
renee Gross, 30,; Ben Corbin, so, and
Floyd Collins-were warned to leave
the village, which claims to be the
worlds largest shipping point for
onions, before morning.
Collins was removed by his friends,
who said he was Ill and could not
defend himself.
Charles johnson, So, father Of II
children, said he had been threatened
with the bombing of his home unless
he departed ere morning. He said
he refused to leave.
Outbreak Is Most Violent.
The outburst today was the most
violent of several that have marked
the strike CT several hundred onion
weeders and harvesters in the Scioto
Marshland since it started early in
June.
The workers demanded IS cents an
hour and an S-hour day. They as
serted they we're paid 8 to IL cents
an hour. The growers said their
wages were supplemented with grants
of the use of houses, domestic ami
mails, plots of ground for gardening
In late weeks several growers have
started eviction proceedings to force
striking tenants from these grower
owned houses.
At first violence was the exception.
Then outsiders sought work. The
strikers bolstered their picket lines.
Clashes occurred.
The growers proposed settlement.
Its terms were refused.
A Federal mediator investigated. He
conferred with both sides, then re-
turned to Washington, nothing &C
complished.