Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-12
MAKES AN ALLusloN TO GETTING.

Milchrist Thinks He Is "Playiug to the
Galieries''-Some More Evidence.
All this time Dunlap was on the stand.
but in lull of the oratorical gale he was
asked an unimportant question or two
and let go. Frank Conroy, yardmasterf for
the Rock Islnnd at Blue Island, was the
next witness. He told, in reply to Mil
christ, of the meetings at Blue Island A
man claiming to represent the American
Railway Union called the meeting for the
evening of June 20 Witness did not
know his name. Geeting entered an OBJ
lection to the witness testimony.
Il think if the enterprising gentlemen
who represent the newspapers and the Ia
dies were not in the court room we would
get along faster" said Milchsist, with
something of a sneer. Geeting half rose
from his chair with an angry retort on his
lips, but he was restrained by Gregory,
! who sat near him.
Witness Conroy went on to tell what
was said and done at the meeting. Debs
and Howard made speeches. Generally he
told the same story as other witnesses as
ID the meeting
The cross-eXamination Of Conroy BIZ
Erwin developed considerable merriment.
'Iou heard Debs aud Howard tell of the
Great Sorthern strike and how the dis
pute had been submitted to arbitration"
asked Erwin. YES, tied Ter mp"
Il don't want to insult you," said Mr..
Erwin, bat are you connected with any
detectIve force" NO" Witness said
that Deb,' and Towards speeches in
fluenced the men to vote in favor of
strike.
II. L. Hurley, Rock Island fireman at
Kline Island ha ,x-ir, Ia
told of the meeting at Blue Island He
said Debs had told the men not to modest
mail trains, but TO prevent at all hazards
the handling of Pullmans. Witness saw
the trains deraiied at Blue Island. Seve-
raj mem bers of the American Railway
Cnion-among them Michael kilfoyle,
president OF the Blue Island lodge-were
in the crowd around the derailed train.
Witness said: I'VE had no grievance
ourselves, because we never asked any.
thing Of the Rock Island company that We
didn't GET Questioned about remark
made at the Blue Island meeting by How
ard, that all non-union men would ''have
TO walk The plank" witness said il meant
that AL who remained with the company
would be foully dealt with" Replying 20
| Erwin witness said that Mr.. Howar,. used
language that was not very nice to repeat
al court"
| John 3. Besler, general superintendent
| o. the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy
road, was next called. \ committee OF
/ the strikers called on witness and told him
| that trains would not be allowed TO go out
so long as the company hauled Pullman
! cars. One 2. II. Horace threw switches TO
! prevent the movement OF trains. \ mob
set brakes, pulled coupling pins and did
other things TO block the train. None of
| the strikers admitted to Mr.. Besley that
| they were members Of the American Rail
| way Union, but certain remarks they
made gave him the impression that they
were. They all were white ribbons.
I'VE got one train TO Clyde, when Horace
and the others told me the train could not
go out-that they would follow it for forty
1 miles / asked them what was to be done.
They said the train should 90 back TO Chi
cago. To which / agreed.
| Il told the engineer of the train 10 back
up. and then Horace told me the engineer
and fireman could not run the train back.
/ asked what was to be done, and they said
l could take the engine back myself To
/ which ! agreed.
Il told the engineer to leave the engine,
and i took 1t and started back. When the
| strikers mctioned me to stop did So and
| ] asked them what was to be done. They
told me could not take the train back,
but might leave the train there and take
the engine back. To which / agreed"
What kept you from operating your
| traius?" The mob. the strikers. We had
plenty of men. but they were afraid Tn