Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-29
BALDWIN MAKES STATEMENT
Tells story of Transactions Leading
Up 20 Arrest Of President
Burt.

John N. Baldwin, general attorney Of the
Union Pacific Railroad company, gives out
the following prepared statement relative
TO the arrest OF Mr.. Burt:
The arrest Of Mr.. Burt was nothing more
or less than an act Of malioiousness. There
was not the slightest warrant for 1t. and
the evidence In the case will show that It
is absolutely foolish, without foundation,
and made simply for the purpose Of keep
ing the public agitated with reference to
the strike dificulties. The charge that he
is guilty Of deprlving these men Of their
liberties is preposterous and absurd. These
men we're never deprived of their liberties
for one part Of a second and President
Burt had no more to do with the trans
action than the man in the moon.
The facts are: On Sunday morning,
August "a, eighteen men arrived over the
Illinois Central for work in the Union
Pacific shops at Omaha. They had been
employed by a labor agency at Indianapolis,
Ind, which had no connection with the
Union Pacific. Immediately upon their
arrival the men were taken to the hotel
on the shop grounds and given their break
fast. After breakfast a majority OF the
men said they did not want to work in
Omaha, but wanted to go to Denver. Four
OF the men concluded. to stay. so told the
balance Of the party, and these four men
are now working for the company In the
shops at Omaha One man left the grol. ads
Immediately after breakfast. and has not
been seen there since. Thirteen Of the
party at FIRST concluded to leave the grounds
on Sunday morning and go. out into the
city. After discussing the matter among
themselves. and finding that they had no
money to pay for food and lodging. con
cluded, as they were given free food and
lodging at the hotel on the shop grounds,
to remain until Monday morning, and
then go up into the city. -f
ION Monday morning, after going out
Of the shop grounds. they went to the
company's headquarters and requested
transportation to Denver, which was re-
fused. They then went in with the strik-
ers, and ten Of them were induced to swear
out the complaints charging false Inn
prisonment, and that they were detained
upon the shop grounds during Sunday
against their Wills.
"They were told on Sunday morning by
the foreman OF the guards that there were
no strings to them and they could go out
Of the shop grounds any time they pleased
but II they did so they would probably
not get back, as strikers pickets were
standing at each entrance to the grounds
and that they would probably attack and
beat the mel II they were caught com.
ing into the grounds. After this nothing
further was said and the men remained
about the shop grounds all day Sunda!
without protest or objection.
with one exception none OF the eigh.
teen men were mechanics. and several o
them afterward said that all they pal,
| THAR pn0naU IN fba lahnr aCanou To- wau o.
get a free ride to Denver. and that the,
had no intention Of working In Omaha.
1T has been reported hat the compan,
refused to deliver their baggage to thes
men. The fact Is, that IT being Sunday
no wagons we're running, so that the bag
gage could not be delivered. It was after
ward discovered that there had been de
lay in putting the baggage on the train an
II had not arrived in Omaha and woul
not arrive until the following mornin
over the Illinois Central. The checks 70
the baggage were delivered to a man b
the name of Lord. acting as the leade
Of the discontented thirteen men, sunda
> forenoon. and a canvass was made an
> found that he had in his possession, b
: agreement. the ten checks belonging {
: the men. this being all the checks ths
. had been issued. -t..
u Several Of the men admitted to the
d companions on the way from IndianapC
lis to Omaha that they did not intend I
d work. but simply wanted TO get out ives
two Of them saying that they were CO
: punchers and wanted to get a Job on
X ranch near Denver.
= After the refusal of the company
pass these men on to Denver the ompar
n said to them that II any OF them had bee
imposed upon In any manner It would gl,
all Of them transportation from Omaha
v Chicago, so they could return that nigh
] After a consultation eight of them agre,
to accept this transportation. and 1t W,
g issued and delivered to them. They wei
to the union station. but claimed to ha,
missed their train and none Of them lie
the city"