Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-14
Gun AND Club As WEAPONS
Equipment which Former Unisn Pacific
Guard Was Given.
GUARD MAKES AFFIDAVIT TO STATEMENT
says chief EsterIine Ordered Him 60
Beat strikers without Mercy and
Company would stand
by Him.


Union Pacific strike leaders have in their
possession an afhdavit charging the COM
pany's guards with carrying firearms in
order to combat the strikers. The afndavlt
was disclosed at the Offices Of Vice Presi-
dents Conlon and Mulberry and Secretary
Grace OF the machinists last night and
purports to have been sworn to by Lewis
Leonard. a former Union Pacific guard at
the Omaha shops in the presence OF c. NJ.
Bachman, a notary public.
The af1davit states that on August 21
Leonard applied to w. H. Esterline, chief
of the company's guards. for a position
as guard. He was accepted and reported
for work the following day. Esterllnc,
the .deponent states, gave him a club and
gun. but Leonard rejected the latter
weapon. He was then sent to his post.
the document says. by a roundsman and
was instructed to not allow nonunion men
10 get out of the yards. The deponent
further states that he was told that 1t
would be necessary to use his club to good
effect and that in case he got a man, take
him to Esterline. One nonunion man, ne
says, came HE way and wanted to leave
the shops, but he was driven back. Leonard
says he went to see Esterline and that
the latter told him II the man came out
there again beat the - to death and
the company will stand between you and
the law"
This was August "a, according to Leon
ards statement. and he was further in
structed that on the advent Of a union
man. to beat the life out OF him and have
no mercy He says he was warned not
TO talk to or associate with any union men
or strikers.
This afidavit was sworn to September G.
1t is being held by the strike leaders for
future reference.
photographs of Men and Guns.
Persistent have been made for
several days past that the company's guards
are equipped with guns as well as clubs. and
within the past week photographs OF the
men drawn up in squads with their fire.
arms. have been taken. Several of the
guards have displayed these photographs,
which they prize as souvenirs and most of
the pictures are now hanging in the art
galleries Of strike headquarters. They have
been so generally distributed that there is
no further any secrecy concerning their
existence.
1t was rumored last night that the Union
Pacific would get out an injunction against
the strikers which would be Of a sweeping
character, designed to restrain the men from
exercising as much freedom in maintaining
their picket lines and keeping up other
means Of retaliation as has been done
since the strike began. .
At the meeting of the striker leaders yes
terday afternoon a joint appeal circular
was drawn up to be sent throughout the
country, to all union labor organizations
seeking financial help for the unorganized
strikers, namely the helpers. The Federated
board here has been caring for the Local
helpers and the unions have been doing
what they could for the helpers In other
cities, but no adequate or systematic aid
has been provided. The question of re-
ducing the picket force was left in abeyance,
pending the return Of Vice President Will
son who has charge OF these men. The
of1eers. did. not act finally upon the matter
OF employing an attorney. 1t was decided
at this meeting that the local field would
be given oyer to the charge Of Vice Presi-
dent Mulberry until the return of Wilson
and that Conlon would go to Kansas City
accompanied by j. w. Kline OF the black.
smiths, to direct operations on the Kansas
Pacific. division.
e Stfikers asserted last night that ten non,
Union men had left the local shops durinl
the day, that FIVE had deserted at Cheyenne
the. same at North Platte and six at Raw.
lids, -A't '.Fs'' 80 a-. t..H t' S.-
Company Defends Piece Work.
John. N. Baldwin, attorney for the UnIor
Pacific, said yesterday:
THE. public seems to have been misled
as to the effect of the adoption OF the piece.
work system in the railroad shops, state
ments having been made by those unin.
formed that II would result in lowering the