The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-31
AFFIDAVITS
 BY CAR MEN Grave Charges Against Traction Company MEN ARE GAURDED AT BARN So Declare Some of the New Corners at Strike Headquarters. Sensational Statements arc at vsri- ancs with Past Decrarations of onlcisIs and with observed
 Fscts About Condi-
MEN ARE GAURDED AT BARN

The Traction Company strike seems to have reached the affidavit stage. No less than four of the men who resentsiyss ssa of the Traeiion r Company a to take the place of the strikers went to the headquarters of the strikers last evening and signed affidavits sundrv high crimes and misdAmeanors, ranging from misrepresentation to peonage.
 Three men. ". A. Garner. J. P. before Justice of the Peace John B. Fuller. father of James s. Fuller, counsel for the strikers. asserting that not only had they been induced tho Traction Company without any knowledge of the fact that a strike was on. but that since their arrival here they have been under guard by tha deputy sheriffs to sleep at the car barn against their VIII ana wishes"
 Not only in their affidavits do the three men-make these indirect, charges of being forced to remain in the em- pioy of the Traction Company. hut at one place in the affidavit the charge Is made that "they have made several ef- forts to quit the employ of the Mont Ronery Traction Company, ana a on 4astMStAFtA ccerced by the deputy sherifs Tn the employ af the Montgomery Traction Company"
 most of their energies the past few days to the motormen and conductors who have taken their places, and 1t ts supposed that the making of these af- tdaylts Is the result of this period of
 organizer s. K. Fleming and Attor- nny James S. Fuller. called at The Advertiser office with the signed
 There are two of the adidavits that were given out The first is by Will jam Fl. Johnson, who claims he was solicited at Nashville. to come to Company. he being told by man whose name he does not know, that no differences existed between the company and It's employees: that no came here, learned that conditions were not az represented, that the rate Of pay was not as stated, worked one day, and quit the service of the Traction Com
 That portion of the statement of the Nashville man fails to bear out the statement made by the other thret men that they were not permitted tc leave the employ of the company. Messrs Garner, Hogan and smith TheS caxne from Birmingham, without be ing told that a strike was on.
 ssEscapedv from the ~1unrds'
 IJpon their arrival, they state. they were placed in the custody of deputy nheriffs land have been under guard nifEht and day since their arrival in the city" After reciting the alleged in 4irnidatfon and coercion practiced Dy the deputy sheriffs, in connection with their efforts to leave the service of the company, the affidavit proceeds:
 ssrhe affiants managed to get away from the barn tonight, have quit the service of the company. and expect to return to. their respective places or
 Tn connection with the presentation of these affidivats. the statements of President Apperson and General Man ager Ragland as to the status of the ing They have both stated the men have signed regular contracts to serve the company, at the regular scale, and pioyss i S of the company. They have said. too. that in all probability, some of the men might desire to leave, which eey would be at pT5et wSa Psrg ggesreS sG however, could have permanent posi- tions with the company.
 When the suggestion was made to to connection with the alleged intimida- tion of the new corners, and their being forced. as alleged, to stay with the left their cars at any time while pass ing through the city, if they found it fmpracticable to leave the barn at niFht, the reply was made that they we're afraid of the deputy sheriffs who nave been riding on the cars with them.
 The popular understanding has been the sole purpose in the deputies rid ing on the cars was to prevent any disturbance. So far as the public has observed, there has not been the slightest intimidation of the motormer and conductors by the officers; the new employes and the deputies havG apparently been working together very amicably.
 Organizer Fleming. when seen dur.