The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-15

| was awarded to the land company, and
| tHe- rest was thrown open as navigable
body Of water under the ruling of the su-
ip. ,4le court, all free to fish and hunt at
will, even the night riders, who for a
| long time stood in the shadow of the fall
lows for the hanging of Capt. Quentin
| Rankin four years ago, Captain Rankin
| having been dragged from his bed at the
| hotel IN the vicinity of the lake, along
with another lawyer. Col. u. T. Taylor.
but the latter escaped hanging by using
| They told MIR. Welch that the great
majority of our people were satisfied
and did not want to strike. They used
no threatening language but at the
same time in a very determined and
| emphatic way told him that he had
| better leave town. Mr.. Welch stated
| that he had found few people here who
| wanted to strike and that he had ala
| ready made UP his mind to leave. They
/ asked him how soon and he said that
| he was hisgusted anu intended to leave
| just as soon as he could get out. They
| told him that was just what they
wanted and that there was a train
F, leaving within short time. There were
no harsh words but some very deter
| mined ones said to Mr.. Welch.
Unions Purpose to Strike
| Il have had much experience with
street car companies and l know that
the purpose of organizing the motor
men and conductors is to strike. These
| men who went up there last night are
interested in the company; it is where
they make their living, and that's why
| they went. I'll tell you, gentlemen
| unionism Is foreign and detrimental
1 to the service which we must render
the public of this city it would be
| in the United States army. 1t would
| cause no end of trouble in Birmingham
and would involve practically every
| citizen. These men know that; that's
why they went to see Mr.. Welch; that's
| why Welch is gone, and I'm frank to
say I'm glad of it. l do not hesitate
to say that l was gratified at the sue
| cess of their mission"
well, Mr.. Ford" asked Commission
| er Weatherly, do you consider that
Mr. Welch was intimidated in any
| way"
| II do not said Mr.. Ford
Prom testimony of many of these
| other witnesses it would appear that
he was said Mr.. Weatherly, IF he
was. do you think such a procedure
would be justifiable?"
| There are cases. said Mr.. Ford. 'in
which it would. The interests of the
entire community are at stake and |
think such intimidation would be just
| fable in some cases"
Il don't agree with you" remark ed
| Mr.. Weatherly.
Some one in the crowd then asked
Mr.. Ford what would have happened
to Mr.. Welch is he had not gone and
Mr.. Ford said that he did not believe
he would have been harmed. Mr.. Ford
then left the room.
9 Pyrotechnics Turned Loose
were here turned loose with telling
| effect. Mr.. Drake jumped to his feet
Il don't think If crowd went out
here in the suburbs and stretched a
rope about citizens neck they would
be as guilty of crime Is Mr.. Ford
by his own statement" he declared.
| 'Welch is a much better citizen than
Ford and 1T is a disgrace not only
to this city but to the American ma
tion and its laws of liberty that a
man like Ford can take the law into
his own hands like that and then come
down here and to your faces congrat-
ulate himself. 1t strikes at the very
foundation of our government and |
demand that Mr.. Ford be placed un-
der arrest and behind the bars
The statement just made by the
president Of this great corporation is
the biggest stab at the vitals of our
| government have ever heard, de-
j
| to the cause of unionism that anything
have heard in years 1t is bigger
thing than the investigation now go
| ing on in regard to the trouble in
West Virginia or Lawrenceville. It is
d matter which concerns the country.
He has admitted what we would never
have been able to prove If we had made
the charges"
That statement strikes at the very
Foundation of our government" de-
clared Attorney Davis. 1T is dis
grace to corporation rule. II is the
most outrageous thing have ever
heard. He has taken the law into his
own hands and now he comes down
here and tells you that he is pleased
with the result. What is this city and
this state and this nation coming to
If an act like that Is let go unpun-
ished, That man is criminal by his
own statement"
Arrested at Law Offices
| B. W. King stated that he would stand
for the complaint against Mr.. Ford and
then Judge Lane issued the orders for the
/, arrest. Then Mr.. Drake and Mr.. Exuin
! had their little disagreement, after which
the meeting adjourned.
Immediately after adjournment Chief
Bodeker wrote out a warrant for the ar
rest of "A. H. Ford, white, male, aged 81
years, on the charge of disordery conduct.
aggravated. and conspiracy" and set the
: bond at $500. B.. w. King, James r.
Drake James W.atherly, Culpepper Ex-
um A. o. Lane and Ben Davis Were
named as witnesaas.
Mr.. Ford was arrested yesterday after
: noon at $50 O'Clock in the law offices OF
Tillman. Bradley & Morrow on the four
teenth floor of the Empire building. lis
youi name Ford:" said Detective Jones.
Yes" answered Mr. Ford.
WELL my name Is Jones, and I have
! bond for YOU and two men of property
to sigh,' answered the detective.
/ What is the charger" asked Mr.. Ford.
/ "Disorderly conduct, aggravated" said
Mr.. Jones.
> AN right, replied Mr.. Ford; II will get
T two signers.'