The Washington times., 1915-05-04
Had To Give Up Union.

trial Relations Commission.
Had To Give Up Union.
President Perham filed a large list of
affidavits Of men now In the employ Of
tho Pennsylvania as to its alleged
espionage system, and as to the written
notices they were compelled to sign
agreeing to give up their membership In
unions and to refrain from joining SINH
lar organizations in the future. The
witness asked that the names Of these
affiants be kept secret to protect them
from retaliation by their employers.
An association Of railway clerks on
the Pennsylvania was organized. the
witness said, with locals at Wash
ington, Baltimore, Wilmington. and
other Eastern cities. When an effort
was made to organize a local in Phila-
delphia the company broke up the
organization, he said, by discharging
men who joined. The explanation
was that slackness of work was the
cause of their discharge" Perham de-
clared. but it was always union men
who were chosen for dismissal
While refusing permission to the men
| to join the union. the Pennsylvania
Company, Mr. Perham alleged. paid
wages to telegraphers so low that they
were without parallel in the United
states. on the West Jersey and Sea-
shore division the scale of wages to
telcgraphers, he said. ranged from $50
| to 81 a month. On the Delaware divi-
| sion. he testified. the pay ranged from
1886 to $51 month.
In order to give the impression that It
was not opposed to organizations OF
| laboring men. the Pennsylvania COM
pany, ePrham alleged, had organized
/ union Of railway telegraphers. dis
patchers. agents. and signalmen. but
the Telegraphers' Union. nor by the
| American Federation of Labor.
Charges that the Pennsylvania Com
| pany agents attempted by bribery to de-
feat the eight-hour telegraphers' law
| in tho Maryland legislature we're made
| by Perham. He submitted affidavits OF
7. f. Fielder. of Lutherville. Md, who
| said he had been approached by man
| and offered employment as a union spy;
| from John J. II. Gallagher who said
| Pennsylvania special policeman: and
| by Harry f. Clark. of Cleveland, who
| said he was arrested on the charge OF
stealing tools when he attempted to
| leave the Pitcairn, Pa, shops after he
had learned that he had been tricke
| into working as strike breaker; and
w. f. Smith. who said he had been ar.
| rested while serving as doorkeeper al
| union meeting In Johnstown, Pa. a,
the instgation of railroad policemen
| Perham had not concluded his testi.
| mony when the morning session closed
He will resumed the stand after Rob.
ert L. Lincoln Is questioned ABOUT Iull.
| man car matters.
Rockefeller, Jr., To Testify.
Chairman Walsh. OF the commission
announced today that John D. Rockefel
Ter. jr., had accepted service of sub.
poena to appear before the commission
on May IS. Ivy L. Lee. publicity agcn
for the Rockefeller interests: w. l.
Mackenzie King. in charge of the Rookie.
feller investigation of industrial rela
tions, and l.. NJ. Bowers. chairman OF
| the board of Colorado Fuel and Iror
Company. during the Colorado strike
| will appear on May 10.
To Discuss Free Speech.
Later the committee will hea
| witnesses on the subject OF FREE
speech. free assemblage. conspirac!
cases, use of injunctions. the black
list and the boycott in labor dis
| putes. Former President Taft, Eu.
gene V. Dcbs, Clarence S. Darrow