Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1894 — TO ARMS! [ARTICLE]

TO ARMS!

I Indiana Militia May Take the Field Agian. The Pullman strike assumed alarming symptoms at Hammond, Friday. Strikers spiked switches and refused to allow any trains having Pullman cars to proceed. United States Marshal Hawkins served a warrant, issued by Judge Baker, upon Alexander Shields, president of the Hammond branch of the American Railway Union, and three strikers, Patrick Sexton, John Rescoe and Walter St. John. These men are charged with interfering with trains carrying the United States mail. They were taken to Indianapolis, Friday night, for trial. Sheriff Fredericks wired Governor Matthews that he was unable to prevent lawless acts by strikers, and asked that troops be at once sent to preserve order. Governor Matthews, in an interview, late Friday night, stated that he had not decided on his plan of action. * 'The. si tmai on in Lake countyv” he said, "will have to assume such serious proportions that the local authorities are absolutely unable to cope with it before State troops are sent. The action of the strikers at Hammond has been such as to bring them into conflict with the federal authorities, and it is possible that the United States marshals may be able to control \the situation. I have been in correspondence with the Lake county authorities, 'and I am convinced that the situation has a very threatening aspect at this time, but I will have to be fully convinced that the sheriff is wholly powerless to protect property and prevent lawlessness before I move the State troops into Lake county.” Late Friday evening District Attorney Burke at Indianapolis received a telegram from United States Attorney General Olney calling his attention to the laws providing for the aryest of any and all persons interfering with the transportations of United States mails, and giving him positive instructions regarding the enforcement of all sucli laws. The instruction to the district attorney included an order to the United States marshal to sup ply himself with all the deputies needed, and to swear in posses of citizens if neces sary.