The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-11
joseph Elder.

most honorable aud upright men, is Mr..
Joseph Elder, formerly of the Rockford
Rock Island 4 St. Louis railroad Oster-
berg attempted to get him to testify to the
good aud safe condition of the road and
rolling stock, which he could not con-
scientously do. Mr.. Elder was, as
previously stated in this paper. interviewed
by Walter Trumbull, for Osterberg, but
declined to give such testimony as Oster-
berg wanted He was then ordered up to
Chicago where he underwent three
hours questioning and importuning by
Hon. Lyman Trumbul. but he still de-
cllned to swear to anything but the plain
truth and the whole Truth, if questions
were put to hi,u on the stand to bring out
the whole truth Mr.. Elder became SO
disguised with the efforts to get him to
cook up his testimony to suit the gang
who are attempting to rob the bond holders
that he sent in his resignation and left the
employ of the road,
The Osterberg- Skinner gang then got
up and published in the Chicago Times,
the following:
BEARDsTowN, Ill May 9.-There was general
strike on the Rockford road, to-day, among the
engineers and as many fremen as they could lin
influence. There seems to have been an under
standing with the engineers, headed by the master
mechanic, to cripple the road and DELAY trains bS
having engineers get engines out of repair etc.
The general manager discovered the plot and dis
charged Elder, the master mechanic and the en-
glneers belonging to the clique are now on
strike, resulting In but one hours delay to one
passenger train. Ali are now moving along regu-
larry again. No further difficulty is apprehended.
The foregoing is characteristic of the
lying manager Of the road. 1t is infa-
nous y false that there was any plot of
the sort named, or of any other sort, or
that the fellow, Skinner, general manager.
discovered any plot" So ignorant, stupid
and impecunious dead-beat as "Old
Skin" is not the kind Of man to dis
cover" anything, unless it be how to cheat
landlords, saloons, cigar stands, boot
blacks and washer women. That business
he understands.
1t is untrue that they had only one
hour delay on one passenger train-even
with the Infamous order of "Old Skin" to
run her on time or run her to he'll, The
tuesday night St. Louis train due here at
S.4j did not arrive until daylight the next
morning. And the Wednesday morning
ST. Louis train due here at go A. NJ. did
not arrive until near noon. This is a
sample of their trains.
On the Quincy express, few nights
ago, the conductor and all hands were
drunk, and running on "Old Skins or
der" on time or to hell, y and both they
and he bid fair to reach the latter place
before long; but the men were especial
favorites of the present management and
therefore not to be discharged, even if they
did run her to hell "
Their train men are mostly new and in
experienced, several of the passenger
trains being run by fremen and freight
conductors.
In order to show the outrageous falsity
Of the Beardstown telegram, attention i.
requested to the following
CARD.
We, the undersigned, engineers, conduc-
tors and employees of the Rockford road dc
most emphaticallv condemn the untniti-
gated falsehood and SANDER upon Mr. Jo-
seph Elder, late master mechanic of the
Rockford road, contained in telegram
from Beardstown, and published in the
Chicago Times of the 10th inst, wherein
it is stated that there was an organized
strike and attempt on his part, assisted by
the engineers, to injure the locomotives Of
the road. 1t is a well known fact that Mr.
Elder resigned for good and sufficient cause
and was not discharged. The publication
Of the Beardstown telegram we brand a:
despicable attempt to injure a capable
and honest man and an endeavor on tht
part of the same to draw public attention
from the management of the road
Henry Dalvin, Chas. Cowan,
| Robert Barr Chas S. Giaspell
Jos. Fezler, T. H. Rogers,
A A. Kavanaugh, John Gray,
| 4. W. Wells, John Weaver
And Many Others.
~ G.