California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
DepartmentToward the end of May 1909, in the town
of McCloud, Siskiyou County, a controversy between the McCloud
River Lumber Company and about 700 of its employees, nearly all
of
whom,were foreign born, developed into a strike which threatened
to become serious.
On May 31st, the Sheriff of Siskiyou County, at the request of the lumber company, entered the company plant with six special deputies. They were immediately surrounded by strikers who ordered them to leave the plant. The strikers told the sheriff that any persons who attempted to work there would be killed. The sheriff, believing that if he resisted and attempted to arrest the strike leaders the plant would be destroyed and bloodshed would ensue, withdrew.
In response to the sheriff's request for
assistance, Governor J. N. Gillett directed his Adjutant General,
J. B. Lauck, to inquire into the matter and advise him. The Adjutant
General
sent his assistant, Colonel A. W. Bradbury, to McCloud, where
he arrived by train on June 1st.
As a result of information and recommendations
provided by telegrams from Colonel Bradbury, three companies of
the 2d Infantry Regiment and Troop B, Cavalry, National Guard
of
California, under the command of General Lauck, arrived at McCloud
on June 3rd.
Under protection of the soldiers, the sheriff
arrested the three principal strike leaders on June 5th. Although
there was no further resistance or threats of violence after the
arrival of the
National Guard, the troops remained until June 10th, at which
time the sheriff was satisfied that he could control the situation.
One of the telegrams sent by Colonel Bradbury
to General Lauck, as quoted in The Adjutant Generals report to
the Governor for 1910, and the title of the report on the McCloud
incident as it appears in the report, will be of particular interest
to students of civil rights movements, race relations and attitudes
between groups of different national origins:
|
McCloud, California General J. B. Lauck Strikers had meeting about three -o'clock. After considerable speaking went in body to machine shops, car shops and power plant and compelled all engineers and workmen to quit work. Broke in doors of power plant, ran wood cars out and stopped firing of furnace. McCloud now without fire protection and light. Two million dollars worth of property, white people, and their homes at mercy of strikers, who seem to be beyond control of former leaders. Sheriff cannot or will not give proper protection. I believe four or five companies should be rushed here to protect property and whites. I personally witnessed all that took place. Please advise action. Signed: Bradbury |
Source: Report of Brig Gen J. B. Lauck, The Adjutant General of
California, relative to the service performed by a part of the
Notional Guard of California in connection with the strike of
Italians at McCloud, Siskiyou County, June 1 to 10, 1909.