New-York tribune., 1922-09-14
Judge Indicates
Strike w Writ viii
Be Sustained
Wilkerson Makes III Plain
He Regards Affidavits of
Violence Appropriate Evil
dence of Daugherty Claim
Documents Charge kidnap-
ings, Beatings and
Threats From Union Mem
gDeolar Dtsnoton to ras rrseans


CHICAGO, Sept. 13.--Judgs Wilker-
son to-day, in statement in open court,
made it plain that he regards the thou
sands Of affidavits showing violence and
threats OF violence by rail shop strik-
srs as appropriate evidence in sup
port Of Attorney General Daugherty's
claim that the strike is conspiracy
aimed TO obstruct interstate commerce.
He refused to act on requests of at
torneys for the shop workers union to
cut short the reading OF the 10000 affi-
dayits offered in the case by the govern
ment. He declared, in response to such
q suggestion by Donald r. Richberg, at
torney for the shopmen, that he be-
lieyed the government was proceeding
properly to sustain it's conspiracy
charges.
The court took occasion, however, 20
warn the attorneys for the government
that the temporary restraining order,
now in force, would expire September
22 and could not be extended, even if
the present hearing on an injunction to
replace it was not completed.
Blackburn Esterline, assistant solic-
itor general, assured the court the gov
eminent could complete its case before
the time limit expired and said he
hoped to finish the reading of the affi-
davits by Friday night or Saturday
noon at the latest.
Attorney General Daugherty in the
afternoon received telegram from
secret service operatives in Oklahoma
saying FIVE striking railroad shopmen
have confessed to the recent blowing
up of 100000 railroad bridge in that
state. The Attorney General directed
J. D. Rooney, Of the Bureau Of lnyesti-
cation, to have copies of the afidavits
containing the confessions sent to Chi-
cago for use in the injunction hearing.
Use of airplanes in spreading strike
propaganda among shop workers en-
ployed in strikers places was disclosed
in one of the affidavits read by Mr..
Esterline.
The sworn statement was signed by
E. E. Taylor and w. F. Howard, en-
ployees Of the Santa Fe Railroad at
Cleburne, Tex. They said that on July
13 an airplanc circled over the Senta
Fe shops at Cleburne and dropped
cards predicting victory for the shop
mems strike, and exhausting the vocab-
ulary of verbal abuse in describing
those at work in the places of the
strikers.
The majority of the afidavits dealt
with reports from strike headquarters
or statements by deputy United States
marshals and rail workers. The
strikers bulletins tended to show salts
faction over the breakdown of rail
equipment or the holding up of traffic.
The affidavits of the rail workers and
deputy marshals. however, we're of a
more sinister nature. They told of de-
riding shouts at them while at work,
of being kidnapped or beaten, of stones
hurled and of threat of greater vio-
lence unless they quit their jobs.
One was the story of a worker at
Slater, Mo-, who was kidnapped, flogged,
tarred and feathered. Photographs
were submitted to show his condition.
The workers named his assailants. An
other was of an employee who had been
tortured. Captured by alleged strikers,
he was held while his captors discussed
methods of punishment. Some were in
favor of placing pebbles IN his shoes
ard forcing him to walk before an
automobile. Others wanted to tie a
rope around his neck and drag him
with an automobile. Still others
wanted to beat him. The last pre-
vailed.
Despite the predictions that Mr..
Daugherty would move for modifica-
tion of the injunction he has given no
sign of such intention, and it is now
forecast he will demand the injunction
as originally issued be made perma-
aent