Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-05-12

Attorney Frank Comerford Who had
.A.,.e OF the investiGattea and pre-
-.s,,- of the case for the men on
Serike, was called to the witness s..nc
= saturday. April 10th. ana coneioaeo
f4ks-peissepx On Monday. Apr. is.n.
Chairman Wafrh: Fseas< Sa&> >s<s
49,. residence and occupation!
NJ Comerford: Frank Comerforo.
Caicaso, Illinois. attorney -at.law
CAairman Walsh: Mr.. Comerford
have you had any connection with the
HffScrlties on the Illinois Central ana
hartman Lines!
Mr.. Comerford: ] have.
chairman Walsh: What has been
'spnr connection with them. M. Com
S1oprd!
/ ~. Comerford: I have acted - a.
ICY for the Illinois CeetfA oys
- Federation and the harnmsn
Ej[11es System Federation ana tne
: S11ruad Employees Department IN
I1lcss legal capacities since Sepeem
- SOth, 1911. the day upoe whsee
aeoximately $1,000 employees n the
- Of the Illinois Central and HAT
~ Lines we're refused recognluoe
eNear rtght to organise, a.A co..
~ to Quit their jobs n protest.
- handed litieAttoa CROWNS %.
u controversy 10Th criminal Ana
-. IN both state an1 federal ooorts.
~ familiar With the cAnse q ne
~ ~ IhI,|hDsSass 4 |hsas 1tesst.si 1tes t1i'saa4f "a A2a1efl
FSInee officials In prosecuting the kscH
- campaign against the men ] nave
] Svsstisated the effect upon business
r the lock out so0e. ] have maze
eocial survey Of the effect OF the IN
Anetrial discontent upon the men
thelr wives and children and thei'
! hanes. ,..,
Chairman Walsh: Were you deleeA!
G to make that study by the organ
!; ntions involved?
Mr.. Comerford ! was.
Chairman Walsh: Please state tn
result OF your Investigations.
Mr.. Comerford: With the perm,f
s,on Of the commission ! desire U
preface my testimony by reference y
4 matter testified to by Mr.. Markham
President Markham Of the Illinois Ger
trnl in his testimony on the nrst da
a this hearing, referred to conte'
enee called shortly after the iocHou
by the Governor of the state OF MIS-
iesippi for the purpose OF or'hRih
about a settlement OF the controvers.
Among others present at TINS con's
sace was United States senator .ou
Sharp OF Mississippi. President MA, .,,
ham gave prominence to senate! VI
nams name ~ one who agreed th'
the railroad companies attitude VI
lAir.
want to correct the misrepresenti
ton made by President Markham
reading into this record . portion
q letter from Senator John Sharp W
Hams. dated August 2sth. 1914 ! q
Bow reading from Senator Wi'i'a"
letter:
Il do remember being some
what astouished at Mr.. Markham's =
position. I thought II at the time
arbitrary. I cannot answer you,
question a. to what the effect o.
the strike Was on the service OF
the operatiou Of the lines because
do not know. Was soon aHer'
wards. you remember. called away
from Mississippi by public duties
here and became not only inter
ested but absorbed In the worh
here. I remember trying my bes'
To bring about good feeling be
tween both sides and have dis
tinct recollection that you s,n'
men on strikeD seemed TO o'
ameuable 10 reason. ] am sorr'
that my letter must be unsaus
factory but the state OF my mem
ory couceruing Il all II dim. ! ~
member making . sa&sesuon, IN
detailo' Of which I do not nov ~
call, that I thought ought to De q,
copied By both sides and whic
seemed to b not favorably recei'
~ed by the railroad. have trie
H<o recall Just what the propos
.<tion was and I am not able To q
: cfso. ,...,on ,
Very truly yours.
John Sharp Williams
h The above letter 10 Senator
S,ams' recollection Of the confers
wentioned BY President Markham
IT. Illinois Central. In II you VIII
ave the Senator natly contrad
- statement made BY Presi'
Narkham 10 khis commission tnat
affltnAe Of he Illinois Central
- onl that1 Senator Williams va
tas ss'a''s AAs sh' men "''s N
H. eanssl lps tbs innsass strs
lsnvcav1na = 6ueh n dollars and