Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-22
Arrested For Assault
Shopmen Got Abusive
Threw Eggs at Mason

The first local arrest In the shop
mems strike occurred Friday when
Harry Hobbs, one of the striking
shopmen, was taken into custody by
Deputy Sheriff Dutton for assault on
John w. Mason Of 3 High street. Wa
terville. The alleged assault took
place on Thursday. Mr., Hobbs had
endeavored to dissuade Mr.. Mason
from going to work. the latter having
continued his work when the strikers
left the shops on Saturday, July /.
There was an exchange of opinions
during which Mr.. Hobbs is alleged to
have used profane and abusive Ian
guage to Mr.. Mason, and finally at q
distance of half dozen PAGES he
reached in his pockets and began
throwing eggs at Mr.. Mason. He gave
bonds for appearance in municipal
court at 10 o'clock this morning.
1t is understood that two previous
egg throwing incidents have occurred,
one against an aged employee of the
road in Fairfield, and the other DEM
onstration occurred several days ago
at the home of Danforth C. Otis and
his son, William NJ. Otis, at 20 Ash
street Both acts were discounten-
anced by strike officials, who have all
along maintained that violence would
do injury to their cause.
1--WE know we can win honestly, we
know we can win fairly, and we know
we can win within the limits of the
law" said Robert Feckner, member of
the executive board of the National
Association of machinists at an open
air meeting in Castonguay Suare Fri
Cay evening. Mr.. Feckner made q
very fine impression both in personal
appearance and for the sober calm
and dispassionate way in which he
discussed the issues Of the strike. He
was introduced by F. w. Merrill and
said that he was glad of the oppor-
tunity of getting some facts concern
ing the strike before the public. He
said it would be necessary to go back
to the year 1919 when the railroads
were returned to private control. He
said that the Cummins- Esche was
passed against the opposition of the
!
able to get President Wilson to veto it
ct the time.
Particularly was the establishment
of tri-party railroad board objected
to because the railroad men knew how
such board would work through bit \
ter experience The railroad men
early realized that their only recourse
would be to submit to the decisions
of the board or strike, while the rail-
road officials would not be compelled
to carry out the decisions of the hoard.
He said that the railroad men had had
but one wage increase, which was to
IS cents an hour during the war. while
other workers for the government got
as much as dollar an hour. On March
l, 1920. the railroad labor board came
into existence. The board had handed
down three decisions. In the first
they had reduced the wages of railroad
men A million dollars; The in second
they had abolished overtime pay.
which had taken As million dollars out
of the pay of the seven-day men; ard
was recent history.
The speaker showed how Il took Is
months to get hearing on the case.
of the Indiana Harder belt lines in
their unlawful discrimination against
their workers and that the Is men who
went to the belt line officials in re-
Spouse to the instructions of the labor
board were summary discharged and
the decision Of the board was not put
into effect until Ben Hooper got down
on his knees to the belt line officials
in order to prevent the strike of the
maintenance of way employees.
He said that the attitude of Presi-
dent Harding toward organized .abor
was such that the strikers had not
felt like appealing to him TO settle the
dispute. He quoted a confidential let
ter of Thomas Gibso n Of So Park
Place. New York City, a bis broker in
Wall Street. to the effect that the rail-
roads are in better condition than they
ever have been before in their history,
In closing he urged the strikers to use
all lawful methods on the picket line to
carry out their contention and 10 inn
press :he railroad officials that while
they ht pc for a short strike they are
willing to fight II Out on tais line If
1t takes all summer. 80