Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1907-05-09

Say yes"
Every one of us started. 1t was
throwing the gage of battle. Our word
had gone OUT the division was pledged
the fight was on.
Next evening the strikers through
some mysterious channel got word that
the flier was expected. About o o'clock
a crowd Of them began to gather round
the depot.
1t was after / o'clock when No. /
pulled in and the foreman Of the Oma-
ha roundhouse swung down from the
locomotive cab. The strikers clustered
around the engine like a swarm Of an
CRY bees. but that night. though there
was plenty of jeering, there was no
actual violence. When they saw
Neighbor climb into the cab to take
the run west there was a sullen ST.
lence.
Next day committee Of strikers.
with Andy Cameron. very cavalier. at
their head, called on me.
"AIr. Reed" said he officiously,
we've come to notify you not to run
any more trains through here till this
strikes settled. The boys won't stand
II. That's ALL" With that he turned on
his heel to leave with his following.
Hold on. Cameron" l replied, rails
Ing my hand as l spoke; that's not
quite all. l suppose you men repre-
sent your grievance committee?"
Yes. sir"
81 happen TO represent, in the sup
erintendent's absence. the manage
ment OF this road. | simply want to
say to you and to your committee
that take my orders from the presi
dent and the general manager-not
from you nor anybody you represent.
That's all"
Every hour the bitterness increased.
We got few trains through. but we
were terribly crippled. As for freight.
we made 10 pretense of moving X.
Train loads Of fruit ana meat rotted
in tie yards. The strikers grew more
turbulent daily. They beat our new
men and crippled our locomotive.
Then our troubles with the new men
We're almost as bad. They burned uCt
our crown sheets: they got mixed
VI on orders all the time, The ran
into open switches and into each other
continually and had Us very nearly
cray.
! kept tab on one Of the new en-
Giueer> for Week. He began ny
backing into a diner so hard that lie
smashed every dish in the Car and
ended by running into a siding Il few
days later and setting two tanks of
oil on fire, that burned up a freight
depot l figured he cost us $4,000 tie
week he ran. Then lie went back to
selling windu.iils.
After this experience / was sitting
IN my office one evening. when Il
youngish fellow in a SLOUGH hat opened
the door and stuck his head in.
What do you want? l growled.
Are you Mr.. Reed?"
What do you want?"
II want TO speak to Mr.. Reed"
well. what is it,
Are you Mr.. Reed?"
"Confound you. yes! What do YOU
want?'
Me: l don't want anything. I'm
just asking: that's ALL"
His impudence staggered me so that
took my feet off the desk.
Heard you We're looking for men,"
be added
NO" snapped. Il don't want any
men
Wouldn't be any show to get on all
engine. would there
a week earlier | should have risen
and fallen on his neck. but there had
been others.
There's show to get your head
broke" suggested.
Il don't mind that if l get my time
what do YOU know about running
an engineT'
Run one three years"
"On thrashing machine:"
ron the Philadelphia and Reading"
"Who sent you in here?"
''Iust dropped in"
"Sit down"
l eyed him sharply as he dropped
into chair
when did you quit the Philadelphia
and ReadingT
about six months ago."
"Fired!"
strike"
began to get interested. After
few more questions ! took him into
the superintendent Office, but at the
door l thought it well to drop hint.
Look here. my friend, if you're q
spy you'd better keep out of this. This
man would wiring your neck as quick
as he'd suck an orange. Seer
Lets tackle him anyhow" replied
the fellow, eying me coolly.
introduced him to Mr.. Lancaster
and left them together. Pretty sooD
the superintendent came into my Office
what do you make of him, Reed?"
said he.
What do you make Of him"
Lancaster studied minute.
Take him over to the roundhouse
and see what he lnOwSv