The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-05-13
SENATE COMMITTEE IS PROBING
THE OUSTING OF UNION OFFICERS
lContinued From Pace u

the NlllIenS bdUk, anu Nd'lIl'l " 81
son Of the Farmers Bank, request
ed an audience with officers and GER
tain chairmen of the striking en-
ployes. This conference was read
lily granted The strike committee
was informed that in all probability
a gathering Of what the bankers
termed "hill billies' would soon be
held in Harrison, and that the per.
sonal safety of those in charge OF
the strike was in jeopardy This
prophecy soon came true
Early on the morning Of April 3,
by direction of the receiver, dead
head trains were run in each direc-
ton from Harrison and information
was given out by the railroad offl-
Gals that it was for the purpose Of
bringing into the town indignant
citizens from the adjoining counties.
A meeting of the strikers was I'M
mediately called in their hall and
they were advised of the rumors
concerning the approaching mob.
Each striker was pledged to go to
his home and remain there until the
next morning, even though the lives
Of their officers should be endan-
gercd.
Plenty of Guns and Whiskey
About 2 o'clock that afternoon the
trains arrived in Harrison and the
citizens or "hill billies" were cor
rallied in the railroad yards. All
were heavily armed and pentifully
supplied with moonshine whiskey.
At 4 p. m. these "billies' in the
form of a drunken mob surrounded
the hotel where the union officials
were staying and attempted to force
their way into the hotel, but were
prevailed upon by the proprietor to
have a committee enter the building
and wait upon the union officials.
The spokesman of this committee
| introduced himself as Judge Hanley,
who said it was the determination of
| the mob surrounding the hotel that
| the union officials leave the state
Immediately, and that failure to COM
ply would bring condition he, the
| Judge, could not control. Realizing
the frenzied state of the drunken
mob brought in by the receiver, with
| the apparent consent of the town,
| county and State officials, and that
| there was imminent danger of blood
| shed, the union officials stated they
would leave by automobile as soon
as their personal belongings could be
| packed.
| Cross Over Into Missouri
The men droye direct to Branson,
Mo-, and next day opened strike
headquarters in Joplin, Mo-, the
northern terminus of the road.
The committee told the President
that at least one deputy United
| States marshal and several deputy
sheriffs were members of the mob.
| Receiver Phelan Issues Def
The receiver and general mana
ger, who collected the mob on trains
of a road in charge of a Federal
court, and melted them to riotous
attacks upon the union officials,
made the following statement or
April 10, few days after the de-
| portation
This railroad is an open shop.
We are under the jurisdiction of
| the Federal court and not the
| Railroad Labor Board. Judge
Trieb0r at Little Rock has APP
| proved what we have done, and
| this is sufficient authority for
our actions. We will never re-
turn to the principle of collective
bargaining. When a man wants
| work he asks for it and we tell
him what wages he sahll receive.
There is no contract, no agree
ment. He works for what we
think is just and are able to
pay. The reduction of 20 to %
per cent is now in effect and
when we get the situation well
in hand there will be another
adjustment of wages to conform
to our ability to pay, for wages
are still too high. | will stop
the operation of the road before
| will again accept collective
bargaining"
| This statement by the receiver an(
general manager, asserts the com
mittee, clearly places responsibility
on Federal Judge Triebor for viola
ton of the Transportation act, ant
this was impressed upon Presidenr
Harding.
Sample of Arkansas Justice
Local railroad unions officials, in
Guiding j. E. Queen, j. T. Venable
and Tillman Jones, residents an(
property owners of Harrison, were
called before the Protective Leagu,
on April II and told by Judge
| Worthington, acting as spokesman
to call the strike off and return t.
work under the terms laid down b!
the receiver. No discussion was
permitted and the representative O.
the unions were not even allowed tt
speak a word in defense of their pc
sition.
Il have spoken" said the Judge.
There will be no discussion of
any description, nor will there be
any remarks by any other men,
| Der of the league, nor will any
reply be expected or desired"
However, the strikers have not re
| turned to work and the few and in
frequent trains moving over part o
the road are operated by imported
strike-breakers.