The Cairo bulletin., 1911-09-20
Statements from Porterfeld and
Walbridge Directly Contrary Only
Developments Yesterday in
Mounds Affairs.
SETTLEMENT IS REMOTE
Porterfeld Denies Traffic Is Delayed
-Rumor Says Clerks May BE
Taken Back II Demands Are
Modified.

The strike situation al Mounds
has slmmered down to waiting
game, apparently. with public sentl-
ment alleged to be noticeable ele-
mcut,i 80 lar as the vicinity Is con-
cerned
Two statements were practically
4 the only developments yesterday.
One was issued by Division Superin-
tcndent pcrterifeld.
1 Runner had 1t that the company
4 will take back the clerks If they
modify their demands that Wal
bridge and Taylor be re-instated. No
agreement has been reached. nor Is
there any prospect OF immediate
settlement
Superintendent Porterheld stated
| that there was no foundation for
the report that two Mounds yard
clerks were dismissed for refusing
to take the places oil the East ST.
| Louis clerks. lie said. "0ne of the
men was dismissed for creating
disturbance and attempting TO in
timidate the men working at Eas.
| pectsd 10 return to work at East ST
Louis the following morning
Neither were they refused return
4 transportation.
"The one who created the dis
.urbancc and expressed a desire 10
return was instructed to report to
his superior officer whom he OK.
pected to assist that night. Instead
of doing this he returned TO Mounds
The other clerk was not FURNISHED
return transportation because u
twas expected he would coatinue ~
work there and he did not reques,
such transportation
Says Violence Was Feared
When these men reported for
work at Mounds the officer 10
charge knew Of the dismissal of one
and, Of course, could not put the
other back to work without instruc-
tions. One OF these men then In
duced the day force to quit work
without waiting for hearing or
conference OF any kind The yard
clerks, the following night, were
Induced not to report for work and
during that night or the next morn,
ing most of the agents force and
several of the clerks in the Ma.
chinery Department were induced
to quit work principally through
fear of violennce.
There was no reason for their
spreading the trouble to the Agents
and Machinery Departments clerks.
as they were informed by me. as
was leaving on the train Friday
p M. that | would be glad to meet
and confer with them the next
morning at 10 o'clock
"Tbere is no foundation for re-
ports that traffic is being delayed
] r. Walbrldge, the clerk alleged
to have been the cause Of the walk
out, last night appeared before a
justice of the peace and swore to a
statement directly contrary In tone
to that of Superintendent Porer-
field.
While Superintendent Porter
fields statement does not mention
the name of Walbridge and Taylor.
Walbridge interprets the officials
statement as bearing on him.
Gives Sworn Statement.
Walbridges sworn statement:
Il received a message from W. M.
Callahan to come to East ST. Louis
and work Knowing there was trou-
bic there ] tried to call up Superin-
tendent Porterfeld but could not
get him. | got hold OF Assistant
Train Master McEwen and told him
over the phone could not work up
there under the conditions. He re-
piled that Mr.. Porterfield wanted to
talk to me, | then told him | had
a union card, the same as the clerks
they had discharged at East st.
Louis and also told him that II
came would have to have round
trip transportation. He told me he
could not give IL but said could get
that when got there. got my
transportation at the ticket office
for myself and Mr., Taylor. good for
train 204 only, to East st. Lois and
not return We arrived in Ea1t st.
Louis and reported to Mr.. Callahan.
He sent US to the yard office to re-
port to Porterfeld When we got