Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1919 — MILITIA ORDERED TO LINTON [ARTICLE]

MILITIA ORDERED TO LINTON

To Quell Riot Following Strike of Telephone Girls. Two companies of the state militia were ordered to Linton, Ind., Monday night to quell a riot resulting from a strike of telephone operators at that place. The action was taken by state authorities following an appeal Ifrom the authorities at Linton for assistance. During the rioting a mob of 500 persons broke the doors and windows of the telephone exchange and drove eight girl strikebreakers to the roof. The girls later were rescued and taken to a place of safety. The operator’s strike began last Thursday, the 15 operators of Linton, a mining community of about 12,000 inhabitants, demanding more pay and recognition of their union. The telephone company brought in several girls as strikebreakers and tonight an indignation meeting, attended principally by union miners, was held. The rioting started immediately afterward and although police officers succeeded in rescuing the girls driven from the telephone exchange building, the appeal to state authorities stated they were unable to cope with the situation.