"We want to know," Owens said, "whether your administration is on the side of Republic Steel, or intends to be fair to its citizens who are trying to protect their rights to their jobs."

"The latter, of course," Burton said.

Owens paid no attention to that, pressing on. "We demand an immediate investigation of Republic Steel for importing strike breakers. We demand that the police department shut down Corrigan-McKinney because Republic Steel has violated the law."

"No," Burton said flatly. "I have no right to do that."

Selby, sitting forward, biting off words, said, "Republic is importing scabs from Pennsylvania, Canada, and God-knows-where. Is that fair?"

"Certainly not," Burton said. "But I'm powerless to prevent that. Personally, I think the work should go to Clevelanders… but I doubt you feel much brotherly love toward our local 'scabs,' either."

Selby was almost shouting now. "Your cops destroyed our picket tent this morning, smashed a radio-"

Burton held two fingers in the air and said, "I have two police officers in the hospital." Then he raised three fingers on either hand. "You have six strikers similarly indisposed. What do you propose we do to keep the casualties at this level?"

"You attacked us!" Selby said.

Owens patted the air hard, a gesture at once calming and impatient, and Selby's lips tightened into a line; then Owens looked sharply at Burton and said, "Your cops waded into our pickets with billy clubs. Pushed our people off the picket line, forced them down Broadway, way the hell away from the plant entrances."

Ness said, "Strikers were hurling bricks at trucks and cars taking non-strikers into the plant. My understanding is that a mounted police officer rode into the crowd, going after a picket brandishing a brick, and was knocked off his horse. That's when the other officers 'waded' in."