The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-05-11

egation took seats at the table, with
Chairman Curtin in the center, Col.
Burnes being on his right and Gov.
Stewart on his left. The two steno-
graphers accompanying the party also
sat at the table, while Knight of La
Dor Mcclure sat to the right of Col.
Burnes, whose client he appeared TO
be.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Owing to Chairman Curtin's feeble
condition, most Of the questioning was
done by Col. Burne- and Gov. Stew
art, the chairman chipping" in &C.
casiOnaliy. The oath administer
ed by Gov. Curtin differed somewhat
from the customary Oaths in courts OF
law, its phraseology being: "Iou
swear before Almighty God, the
searcher OF all hearts, that the evil
dence you give before the members
Of the congressional committee,
now in your presence, shall
be the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth" BY this time
there were couple of hundred spec
tators in attendance, a large proper
ton being strikers and Knights of
Labor. The deepest interest was
manifested by all, and when Mayor
f. w. Stephens, the first witness,
was called, a death-like stiffness per-
vaded the room.
THE MAYORS TESTIMONY.
The mayor was questioned by Gov.
Stewart aud related in detail the de-
plorable situation produced by the
strike. Business was completely pros
trated, and merchants with whom he
had conversed claimed that their
trade had been ruined 1t was impos-
sibe to receive or ship goods, and in
consequence the wholesale houses of
Kansas City and St. Louis had swal-
lowed up the business which
had, prior to the strike,
been given to Sedalia. The
witness testified to the overt acts of
the strikers when attempts were made
10 move trains. He, lin company with
other gentlemen, had called upon the
Knights Of Labor executive commit
tee, with a view of ascertaining if the
strikers would resort to personal viO-
lence in case tine trainmen, who were
by the officials to be loyal,
would GO out on their regular runs.
The citizens committee had been in
formed that the crack, engines and
cars are over there (pointing to the
round house, and we are here" The
strikers had very little use for the
witness, as they were aware that he
had been rather active in assisting in
the organization of the
LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE.
Witness knew of no grievances
having existed, and the only cause he
ever heard assigned for the strike was
because of the discharge of a man
Hall by the receivers of the
Texas * Pacific road.
Col. Burnes asked witness what
qualifications were necessary in order
to become member of the Law and
Order League, to which the mayor
replied
AZ do not know that | am at liberty
to state"
In reply to further questioning by
Col. Burnes, witness stated that the
object of the league was to enforce
law and order. No Knight of Labor
was eligible to membership until he
from that order. The league
had no fight against the Knights of
Labor. They were excluded because
they were responsible for the existing
and it would hardly be adj
visable to admit them, thus giving
the enemy a knowledge of what was
being done looking to suppression of
the strike.
Col. Burnes wanted to know if the
league excluded from membership
persons who had been indicted for
violations OF the law.
To this question Mayor Stevens re-
piled that he did not know of any
indicted person having applied for
membership. In conclusion, the wit
ness stated that he believed all the
Knights of Labor who applied for
membership to the league were adj
mitted, as prior to making applica-
ton they had renowned the Knights
Of Labor.
b. G.. WILKINSON
stated that he was lawyer by pro-
fession, which caused Gov. Stewart to
remark that it was quite likely his
(Wilkerson's) business had not been
interfered with by the strike,
as lawyers often profit on the misfor-
oe