Evening star., 1948-05-15
Fixed Bayonets
RoutCrowd al
Packing Plant
Guard Commander
Issues Warning on
Illegal Assembly
BY the Associated Press

SOUTH ST. PAUL, Mimi, May
15.-A wedge of 600 National
Guardsmen, helmeted and with
bayonets fixed, swept the streets
clear of an unruly crowd, eSti-
mated at 500 persons, in front Of
the strikebound Swift g. Co.
packing plant here today.
The troops were formed as the
crowd gathered to boo and shout
catcalls as workers entered the plant
through lines of guardsmen.
Col. Lester Hancock, troop COM
mander. ordered the formation an
hour after reading a proclamation
to the crowd from sound truck.
Col. Hancock said through the
loudspeaker that any assembly of
more than four persons over large
area of downtown South st. Paul
would be considered unlawful.
Except for minor difficulties in
moving those persons closest to the
advancing troops-they were being
pressed on from the fringes-the
crowd dispersed quietly. The two
block area in front of the Swift
plant was cleared in 10 minutes.
Numerous Scuffles Started.
Reading of the order followed
numerous scuffies between the
guardsmen and picket line sympa-
thizers.
Col. Hancock explained the troops
were there to aid civil authorities,
adding that my men are here to
maintain law and order. We have
no interest in either side of this
dispute"
He ordered the clearing of Con-
cord street, the community's main
thoroughfare, for a distance of IL
blocks. This area covers the en-
frances to both the Swift and
Armour plants.
The previously unruly crowd re-
NAMED quiet as the colonel spoke.
There was no demonstration when
he finished.
Man Attempts to Seize Rifle.
AS workers cars started to go
through the thinned picket lines
earlier, several minor disorders oc-
Cured, one of them when a man
in the crowd attempted to seize a
guardsmans rifle.
Some in the crowd sang the
National Anthem mockingly and
many gave simulated Nazi salutes
Ln x,nb,ic1oc
detachment of guardsmen on duty
when the first automobiles of work
ers started moving into the plant
was quickly reinforced.
More than Is automobiles loaded
with workers moved into the plant
In quick succession. The crowd lin
ing the edge of Grand avenue near
the Swift plant entrance shouted
threats and surged forward as the
workers drove by.
Half-Track Patrols Streets.
Guardsmen. their bayonets at
point, drove the crowd back.
A half-track carrying a squad Of
carbine-armed soldiers patroled the
nearby downtown area of South St.
Paul.
Thirty-four National Guard trucks.
including convoy vehicles, half
tracks, jeeps and ambulances, moved
into the plant.
1t was the first time workers had
been able to enter the Swift plant
since last Wednesday when massed
pickets. defying a Dakota County
District Court restraining order,
halted every one, including South
st. Paul police and sheriff's depu-
ties. Several clashes occurred when
police tried to open the massed
lines
Youngdahl Answers Appeal.
National ~Guardsmen moved into
the Swift plant and the Cudahy
plant at Newport, across the Missis-
sippi River, at l am. today.
The Guard was called out by Gov
Luther w. Youngdahl after the
incident at the Swift plant and an
outbreak of violence at the Cudahy
plant Thursday night when about
200 raiders broke in to slug workers
and create damage.
| About 30 of the workers were
taken as hostages by the raiders. All
but one have been accounted for
and two are hospitalized
CIO United Packinghouse Work.
ers employed in the two towns by
the Swift, Armour and Cudahy
companies have been on strike for
higher pay since March 16
An estimated 1000 guardsmen
were in the detachment that re-
ported to Sheriff Norman Dieter
of Dakota (South st. Paul. County
and Sheriff Reuben Granquist Of
Washington CNewport County.
National Guard officers described
it as a modified task force consist
| (See PACKING HOUSE. Page A-O
I Il n