The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-24
BLACKLISTED.
An EX-ROadmaster's Suit for
Damages.
His Story Of His Wrongs is Re-
lated.
HE BRINGS A SUIT.
The Missouri Pacific System
Called on to Defend
A Remarkable Line of AIIega-
tiOns by Hurley.

st. Louis. June 24-David J. Hurley of
De Sofa, Mo, has filed a suit in the cir
cult court by his attorney, Senator E. F.
Stone, asking damages from the Iron
Mountain and Missouri Pacific railways,
because of losses sustained by him
through means of the blacklist.
The story of Mr.. Hurley's trials is one
of the most remarkable in the history of
corporate power in the west, and reveals
to some extent the certainty, the silence
and the relenuessness with which a great
railroad system undertakes to maintain
discipline"
Mr.. Hurley was a yard foreman in the
employ of the Missouri Pacific. He had
worked faithfully for the company for
number of years, and with his savings
had built a home for himself and family
at De Soto, on which he owed balance,
secured by deed of trust.
His personal affairs were going along
swimmingly, when one day he found a
new division superintendent in charge.
He alleges that this superintendent began
at once to harass and trouble him, and
at the end of the month he went to Cen
eraI Manager Doddridge and complained
of his superior officer, at the same time
rendering his resignation. Mr. Dodd-
AANSCs ~ Tic pGlALAOll GAetlAlISs I0IQS6Q 10
accept his resignation and persuaded
Hurley to resume his work for at least
another month so the new superintendent
might have a fair trial of his own ca
pacity.
At the termination of the ensuing
month Mr.. Hurley again resigned, de-
claring his superior officer unbearable in
his demeanor. With apparent reluctance
the resignation was accepted.
Hurley took a short vacation and then
went to the Missouri Pacific and Iron
Mountain companies for letters of recon-
mendation, so that he might apply else
where for employment. These, he says,
were readily given and were clear and
unequivocal Endorsements of his industry,
capability, trustworthiness and sobriety.
Armed with these he sought work from the
railway companies having headquarters
in St. Louis, each of which received mis-
application courteously and promised to
give it consideration. He called again
and again for period of one year, each
time being asked to 'step in later and
something might be found for him.
Two years passed by. with only en-
ployment at odd jobs In other lines of
work. Then he lost his home property in
De Soto, and one by one he parted conf
pany with lbs possessions.
With the close of the third year he de-
termined to leave the St. Louis ,ield and
go west. He went once more to MIR.
Doddridge, he says and told the general
manager of his intentions. The latter
gave him, he ayers, not only a new letter
of Endorsement, but transportation to
Denver, where he expected to get en-
ployment with the Denver and RIO
Grande road.
Then he started. On the way he
stopped off at little Kansas town to re-
new acquaintance with an old friend, the
staten agent there. To this friend Mr..
Hurley told of his purpose in going west.
The friend appeared embarrassed and
finally blurted out the inquiry:
Dave. do you know you are on the
blacklist %
Hurley was stunned. He showed rfs
transportation and letters of Endorsement
to disprove it, and was beginning TO be
angry at the charge when the station
agent produced the list. There, in I'M
mistakable writing, was the terrible in
scription:
David J. Hurley, roadmaster. Iron
Mountain"
There were several hundred names on
the list. and after each Of them were the
additional entries of the initials of those
who authorized the names placed there,
together with the cause. These were con-
spIcuously lacking in HurIey-s case. The
ex-roadmaster could hardly believe his
own eyesight. He took the next train
back to St. Louis. He went to General