There were many men among the three thousand who could take, and wished to take, the places of the two hundred and eighteen--at least so it was reported to me.
It is easy to look back and say that the vital step of opening the works should never have been taken.

All the firm had to do was to say to the men: "There is a labor dispute here and you must settle it between yourselves.

The firm has made you a most liberal offer.

The works will run when the dispute is adjusted, and not till then.
Meanwhile your places remain open to you." Or, it might have been well if the superintendent had said to the three thousand men, "All right, if you will come and run the works without protection," thus throwing upon them the responsibility of protecting themselves--three thousand men as against two hundred and eighteen.

Instead of this it was thought advisable (as an additional precaution by the state officials, I understand) to have the sheriff with guards to protect the thousands against the hundreds.