Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-02-03
Mr.. MARKHAM's LETTER.

. W Eo DLhoN NHA VI NNSsoWs -
Miss.
Mr.. MARKHAA'S LETTER.
From the Times Democrat, Vicksburg)
That Mr.. Markham, the president of
the Illinois Central and the Yazoo and
Mississippi Valley Railroad companies.
should take notice Of our editorial in the
issue Of January eth. last. by addressing
a long open letter to the publisher OF
this paper, which appeared IN recent is
sues Of our two daily papers. indicates
to Us that the editorial of which he COM
plains, touched this distinguished gentle
man in very soft and very tender spot,
We would wish Ar. Markham to un-
defstsnd that We have % wish OF desire
that the companies he represents should
be treated unfairly OF unjustly by the
people of this. or any other state. but
We do believe that the methods that he.
and his co-officials hare recently en-
ployed 10 mailing out pamphlets on the
eve OF the regular terms OF circuit courts
is not the proper and correct way to
deal with what they are pleased to term
the damage suit evil in Mississippi"
The trial OF every case upon the dock
cts OF our courts should be determined
by fair and impartial jury and before
. just and honesl judge. and any attempt
either BY . railroad OF an individual to
prejudice the minds Of men Who are to
act % jugogs in our courts 10 unfair.
unjust and improper. This method can
not and will not reduce the Law suits that
have been filed 10 this county within the
past two years against the iazoo Z Mis-
sis,,ppi Valley about which Mr.. Mark
ham complains. and which he says ex-
ceed the number Of suits that have been
filed in the same period Of time against
the Illinois Central in the progressive
states of Iowa and Indiana combined.
There certainly must be some good rea-
son why there have been so many suits
filed against the Yazoo and Mississippi
Valley in this county.
1t il certain, too, that there is no one
that under stands the reason better than
Mr.. Markham himself. II he - ignorant
of the cause his attention may be called
10 the facts that we're proven in the trial
of Emma Woodson against his company.
which took place in the Circuit Court
last week.
II developed in that case that the house
Of the plaintiff Vas destroyed by fire on
March 18TH, IvlJ, Hou sps'As "o~"
from an engine that vas pulling the
.Prssidsns's Special" Mr.. Markhsm's
own train. The company. IN making its
defense, proved thst the only iaspeetion
of the engine before it lett the round
house in Vicksbsrg. vas made 81 Tom
Miles, a black, busly negro. who testi-
fed that he vas boilerunaker employed
a, the shops Of the company IN V'cks-
burg. and that il VAS his duty to inspect
and repair engines IN the roundhouse at
r,sh,. and that he Inspected and made
some repairs on the engine. which the
attorney ior the railroad admitted. in his
argument, destroyed the PLAINTIFF home.
II NJ. Msrkhaa is willing to trust his
sis 10 an inspection made by an ignor-
AMI. irresponsible snd incompetent negro
thai II his own lockout. with which We
have no concern os worry. bst It 70
criminal In him. asd 10 his company, TO
plsee depeadsaes in aay inapsction made
This negro. OF loeoaOsives that pall the
nss.enees trains on this railroad. II Mr..
Warkhsm does not know Why 90 naay
.,;ts have besa filed in the courts OF
,h,s county vs BEG 10 refss him to his
shoo rolls where he vill find the names
"a other incompsssat aad unreliable ne
.,oes filline pinces Of tfsst aad respoo-
s;hi;tv o. sksllek vosknAsa. and upon
vhoss j,AGmaat a isspeetioa ths lives
- Mi oatro0e aAd emoloyes depend