The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-07
CRAVE CHARGES.
Accusation Against National
President MahOn
Of the Amalgamated AssOcia-
tiOn Of Street Car Men.
AFFIDAVITS ON FILE
Which Allege That He Secretly
COunsels Violence
While Publicly Urging Preserv-
alton of Good Order.

St. Louis. June 7.-Among the af1-
davits filed in the United States circuit
court in connection with the proceed
ings for an injunction against street
railway strikers is one signed by R. L.
Wilson and E. A. Drushel, in which
grave charges are preferred against
National President VIM. D. Mahon of
the Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employees of America, as well
as against the president of division 1O6-
The affidavit is as follows:
''R. L. Wilson and E. A. Drushel,
formerly residents of Cleveland, o., are
now employed by the st. Louis Transit
company, Wilson as a conductor,
DrusheI as a motorman. We were resi-
dents of Cleveland during the strikes
on the electric car lines there in the
year 1899. During said strikes, we be-
Dame acquainted with w. d. Mahon
and Harry Bryan, MahOn being pres1-
dent of the National Association OF
Street Railway Employees, and Bryan
president of local division No. 106. Eacn
of said affiantS were members of NO.
106, and attended most of the meetings
of said division and heard the speeches.
counsel and advice of Bryan and Mahon
and they each say that in such speeches
so made by each of them, the Sald
Bryan and Mahon, when speaking IN
public. or where the public was likely
to know of their utterances cOunseled
good order and advised against violence;
but in private or secret meetings, ,Where
the public would not know what tran
Spired. said MahOn and Bryan by their
manner, speech, innuendo and conduct,
gave the atlantis and the members OF
the association to understand they were
at liberty to indulge in any kind or
violence that would interrupt the OPP
Of lines
prevent other men from operating cars
( thereon. That as soon as these private
adViceS by innuendOeS and the like be-
came known among the men, pole cut
ting. placing obstructions on the tracks,
assaulting cars and employees with
stones, eggs and other missiles became
general and that said strike lasted for
almost four months with that character
of violence and distractions to the
tracks prevailing which your atlantis
believe was in the manner aforesaid IN
cited, counseled and advised by said
! MahOn and Bryan and others IN col
| lusion with them"
Mr.. Mahon, when seen in regard to
| these charges, said: Il deny complete
/ ly the charges of Wilson and Drushel
STRIKE SITUATION.
It is just one month lacking a day
since 1925 employees of the st. Louis
Transit company struck to secure rec
ognition of their union and an adjust
ment of other grievances, and a settle
ment of their differences does not seem
! to be in sight. The Transit company
has agreed to recognize the union and
| to allow it's employees to belong to it, but
insists retaining all the men who
| have taken the places of strikers.
Last week the company agreed to
take back 1000 men at once, 800 within
80 days and as many more as there be-
| came vacancies for. The strikers in
! sisted that all or none be taken back
| and here the matter rests. Additional
| ion Qr
| town to run the cars and the company
now claims so many places have been
filled that they can only provide posi-
| tions for less than 1000 of the old en-
! ployes Gradually the Transit COM
| pany has resumed service on all but two
| or three of it's lines, but is not running
| the usual number Of cars on any one of
| them and none at night. Six additional
! companies of deputies have been organ
lied from among the posse men sworn
| in during the past few days and plan
to divide the entire force into two di-
visions to do duty in North and South
St Louis is under discussion. About 400
deputies in squads were sent out today
to guard the following places:
Power house, Broadway and Salisbury
street; power house, Broadway and La
mie streets; power house, Prairie ave-
nue. and North Market street; power
house, Compton avenue and Papin
street; power house, Vista and Vande-
Venter avenue; power house, Clayton
|
Broadway and Gano avenue; repair
shop, jefferson and Gravois avenues;
car shed, Finney and Vandeventer ave-
nues; car shed, Newsted and Fairfax
avenues; car shed, Obear and Kossuth
avenues.
Since Sunday there have been more
assaults on women passengers on the
street cars. The police are Investigate
ing these affairs and have made severa-
arrests in consequence. Among those
arrested are three young girls who haVe
confessed that they took part in the as
sault on Miss Pauline Hesser, at Tenth
| and Geyer avenue.
President Mahon of the Amalgamatec
Association of Street Car Employees, dis
cussing the efforts to induce Governor
Stephens to call out the militia, said to-
day:
Il do not think the governor would
be justified in calling out the militia a
present. There is no lawlessness here
but the local authorities can cope
with. The Transit company are run.
ming more cars daily. 1t seems to hav,
men to run them and the strikers ar,
not interfering with them. Therefore
say do not think that the governo.
| would be at all justified in calling ou
the militia"
Since the strike began numeroui
stories of a sensational character hav
been sent out by irresponsible persons
One story to the effect that Mau,
Thomas, IT years of age, ,astride a mule
, led 5000 strikers to the Carondele
power house last night with the obiec
l of destroying that building, is who'll,
l without foundation, so investigation
made today shows.
l After several conferences held toda-
between Sheriff Pohlman, Chief of Po
lice Campbell, Police COMMISSIONS
Hawes and General Manag ger Baumhot
of the Transit company it has been de
cided to run cars tonight for the frs
time since the strike was inaugurated
Chief Campbell says:
Cars for passenger traffic will be ru
= tonight on the Washington avenue lin