The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-16

the projected scene of action.
That was why I came to Gary.
That, also, was why I was de
tanned"
The city lays a grimy hand
along the south shore of Lake
Michigan. Hugging the waters
edge for six miles is the steel
plant, it's chimneyS stabbing the
horizon like smoking battlements.
A stagnant ditch and three rail-
road tracks embrace it on the
inland side. 1t may be APP
preached only by bridges. From
the military standpoint it is al
most impregnable.
Beyond the mill, sprawling
south on the prairie, is the COM
munity of f1at-topped, false-front-
ed business buildings and row on
row of frame cottages as alike as
one shoe box to another. These
are the company houses" Like
a slightly Slattern regiment they
spread over the lowlands. I felt
that if some one shouted Squads
Right" they would wheel and
plunge headlong into the lake.
THIS was what I saw as I
Il arrived shortly after 6. I
asked the hotel bell boy why the
electric lights f1ickered so con-
stantly and unpleasantly.
I'VE have a low number of
cyles here. Only twenty-five" he
replied. Makes it easier for the
steel company, you know"
We dropped the discussion and
I asked him to get me taxicab.
That was how I met Steve Petro-
vich, who has been hacking
around Gary for ten years and
knows the town.
They don't want to strike, -
Steve told me. But they'll go
out if the others do"
told him to drive me to every
steel mill in town. I wanted to
study the entrances, to visualize
just what contingencies The Times
would face in covering an indus
trial conflict at those entrances.
TIE took me to the main gate
Il i of the big mill Oh Virginia
street. I cautioned him not to
get on company property. 1t is
difficult in Gary to tell where the
public domain ceases and the field
of the United States Steel begins.
Virginia street runs straight as an
arrow, but suddenly, without the
slightest warning, becomes jeal-
ously guarded private property.
We drove up to the narrow,
dirty creek, but Steve said we
could not cross the bridge. He re-
marked that the city police had
fixed that bridge as the boundary
line of the company's property.
After again asking him whether
were on public street and, be-
ing assured that was, got out
and began to look over the terri
tory making notes and sketches,
meanwhile, of the terrain. Within
five minutes I was disturbed by a
heavyset individual, in blue uni
form with badge the size of a
skillet, peering over my shoulder.
Who are your" he inquired.
"a newspaper man." replied,
want to see my credentials"
He didn't seem to know what I
meant.
Am I on company property"
I asked, looking about me at a
highway no whit different from
the street over which we had been
driving for blocks.
You are" He was sure of his
ground on that. 1.-THE boundary
is that overpass of the Elgin,
Eastern & Joliet Railroad"
Il MOVED to the overpass, mount
Led to the tracks and continued
my sketching. The results were
precisely as though had aimed a
sixteen-inch siege gun at the steel
plant. Bluecoats scurried from
the gate. Three painted up to me.
One whose appearance and voice
were vaguely reminiscent of a
macaw seized me. asked him
whether I was on company prop
erty.
"That doesn't make any differ
ence," he cawed. You're coming
to the captain"
asked him whether were UNI
der arrest. He said, mo, just de-
tained.'
I told him that if I were not
under arrest and not on company
property I thought I should be
moving along to my cab.
/ informed him that I thought
the threatened strike was regret
table and that I should far rather
be away on my vacation, as I had
planned the week before last, but
that this labor trouble had caused
me some work as, doubtless, 1t had
caused him.
My CHEEKY chirping merely
caused me to be propelled forcibly
to the steel mills private police
station. Once there, was con-
fronted with the usual roomful of
red-necked, large-footed gentry.
As an old police reporter, I sensed
that the boys" were getting ready
to give me the works" I have
seen the works" It-or they-is
not pleasant.
II 4
GO again I explained my BUSH
- ness, produced identification
from the Indianapolis police