Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-16

did not know what the contractors
we're talking about when they men
toned STRIKE"
II know nothing Of Strike" he
said, Il don't know what the word
means.
"Are Merely Disagreeing."
The mel. are merely disagreeing
with their employers and want more
well, everyone else calls it a
strike" observed Mr.. Brogan.
.Wrecking of jobs and intimidation
OF workmer were charged in affidavits
presented in evidence yesterday
morning.
The American Electric company, ct.
al, brought the case against the Off
GERS and members OF Electrical Work
ers' union No. q month ago. Judge
Leslie issued temporary order at
that time restraining the union from
molesting, as the contractors alleged,
men on jobs.
Allege Interference.
Thomas Pellmounter, superintend-
ent of the Johnson Electric company,
alleged in one affidavit submitted as
evidence, that conduts in the Black
stone hotel were found on April 20
to have been uncoupled, blocked by
wooden plugs or stopped up by bits
OF brick, making it impossible to string
wires through them.
Thomas Durkin told in another af-
hdavit how, on or about the night of
April 9, someone had entered the new
home of Frank Ransom and, after re-
moving lath, had cut all the switch
wires and replaced the lath. This af-
fidavit said that "the persons appar-
emily hoped the damage would not be
discovered until the house had been
plastered.
Tear Out Wiring.
An affidavit of Lee F. Lowry, pres
ident OF the American Electric COM
pany, alleged that wiring at 1913 Far
nam street had beea torn out.
AL Jensen, a nonunion electrician,
alleged in his affidavit twenty men
followed him one evening after he
had quit work at 1913 Farnam street.
He said that he sought protection of
a policeman and evaded them. Charles
w. Uric, employed or the same Job,
had a similar experience on the same
evening.
Frank P. Mueller, employed on a
residence job, said that union men
threatened to make him quit work
April 3 and again on April 6. He
said he was frightened into accom-
panying them to union headquarters.
He alleged they joined in threats to
FIX you so you can't work" if he
did not accede to their requests.
Told to Get Out.
A. S. Perry and Clyde N. Carrier,
electrical workers, made similar allie
cations, the latter relating that he
was told "he had better get out while
his health was good"
According to Melvin L. Smith, en-
ployed at Ninth and Dodge streets,
he was admonished il he didn't do
what dhe was told "he was liable to
find himself in the river, like they did
in Chicago
Contractors lawyers charged that
Raymond Cleary, national organ
izer, was here directing the strike of
the electrical workers. This Cleary
denied, but evidence was offered that
Cleary was indicted in federal court
in Chicago of conspiracy in restraint
of trade.
After New Members.
Cleary insists he was in Omaha
merely to obtain new members for
the union.
The answer OF the union men filed
some time ago charged the Business
Mems association with conspiring
with the contractors. Judge Leslie
ruled that this was not an issue in the
case for a permanent restraining or
der.
The electrical workers made gem
eral denials Of alleged intimidation OF
workmen, damage to property and
molestation Of men.