The Washington times., 1915-05-07

SuuSylNdllId SyStclH III IHe last
few years.
QUIZZED ON PASTORS.
Commissioner Garretson questioned
Superintendent Creighton closely
about his efforts to induce Altoona
pastors to urge from the pulpits that
the men return to work.
He wanted to know whether a
preacher in Altoona preached the
gospel as laid down in the general
managers office or ceased to preach"
q condition which Creighton said did
not obtain In Altoona.
Would you consider it right" Mr..
GArretson asked. 'If labor organizers
had Influenced the pastors to advise
the men to Join the striker"
In such a contingency the company
would exert itself to offset this i1flu-
onoe. the witness said.
No Part In Assault.
Denial that the Pennsylvania had any
part In the assault by Constable Luther
on Organizer Gallagher was made by
Mr.. Creighton. Luther was not q COM
bany policeman. he said. though he was
employed in the shops and also served
also that company offisials had tried to
induce Mayor Howard, Of Altoona. to
let up on the prosecution of Luther by
telling him the Judge and prosecuting
attorney had been fixed"
Mr.. Creighton was being questioned
about the use of the Pennsylvania con-
stabularly when the morning session
closed. Superintendent Groome, Of the
constabuarly, will take the stand this
afternoon to explain the activities OF
Charges made by President Maurer, of
she pennsylvania Federation of Labor;
that the constabulary had exerted all
ats efforts In behalf Of capital.
Tells of Altoona Strike.
g. w. Creighton. general superintend-
snt Of the Pennsylvania. testifying about
PIT lel1. said the railroad police had been
ausmented properly to protect the
company interests.
The strike Creighton said, was called
May 81 when 802 out of 1l,515 employees
went out. Notice was served on the
lnen to return to work June 2 or lose
their jobs, and only a few remained out
Rfter June 7, he said
The witness took issue with the test.
Gponey of ex-Mayor Hoyer, who said
there was no need Of railroad police and
the city police could keep order. The
pity police failed, Creighton said. and
In addition 10 the railroad police the
hfty deputies ~ 0
Giving figures On the wages paid at
ton said that in le11 there were eighteen
division officers at Altoona who were
paid an average of $2.sI4 year: l72
fsras lssahsss ssd ana an of sss @
1.sas carpenters. sssO.3O; 6,333 other shop
men. s7SS.26; 95 watchmen, s6s7. As; 6s1
engine housemen. sSls,75; p fuel and
water station tenders. $7O6.Os; So car
cleaners and oilers. s5s1.S5; sS1 laborers.
$14S year.
Commissioner Garrettson expressed
surprise at the comparatively high
wages paid ordinary laborers in the
Altoona shops. The witness said, how
ever, his figures were accurate.
Asks About Weapons.
Reverting to the Altoona strike,
Chairman Walsh asked:
What arms or weapons did the COM
pany have on hand at Altoona during
the striker"
None, as far as I knew" Creighton
replied. My recollection was that we
secured weapons from the purchasing
agent OF the Philadelphia. who keeps
weapons stored in times of peace for
use when needed"
What did these weapons consist Off"
''Revolvers, Creighton replied. He
added that the company turned out
clubs at its shops during the strike to
"D!d you ask to have the State con-
stabulary brought in?" Chairman
Walsh asked.
~ did. I made this request of Mayor
Hogar when crowds We're surging in
the streets and car traffic was blocked" 4"
The assault on Labor Organizer Gal
lagher by Constable Luther at Altoona
in 1911. an assault which 1t developed to
day resulted in Gallagher's death, was
reviewed. Creighton admitted that
Luther was employed In the Juniata
shops while also a county consta BILE.
The attack on Gallagher. he said. was
Mrs. Luther's statement that Gallagher
insulted her. and that her husband re-
sented IT.
Creighton denied that officers of his
company had told Mayor Hoyer that
the Judge and district attorney had been
''hxed" to release Luther.
Calls Action Proper.
Commissioner Garretson questioned
superintendent Creighton about the let
ter he had written to the pastors OF
Altoona asking them to influence the
strikers to return to work
In the circumstances, Creighton ex-
planned, II felt I was acting properly
IN using any influence at my command
to end the strike
Let's follow this pastor theory fur
ther," Mr.. Garretson said In one case
before this commission it developed that
unless the preacher preached the gospel
as laid down IN the managers office he
ceased to preach, Do you think this is
a proper s'tuatlon?'
II don thInH Sc" Creighton replied
Would you consider 1t right II the
labor organizers had Influenced the pas
tors to Influence the men to striker"
1r. Garrettson asked. The witness