Evening journal., 1922-09-13
SHOW STRIKE
INTIMIDATION
Government Has $4,000 AT
hdavits of Violence and
Sabotage
CITES DANGER
TO THE NATION

shopmen's strike is in effect a 81
gantic conspiracy against inter
state commerce was offered b,
Government attorneys again toda,
at the strike injunction hearing be-
fore Judge James II. Wilkerson II
the United States District Cour'
here. The Governments testimony
up TO this time shows:
One-third Of the country's loco
motives and Is per cent. of the tota
supply of freight cars out OF com
mission because of the strike.
Violent intimidation, OF non-unior
workers prevalent with several out
breaks In Chicago since the temper
ary Injunction against interference
with railroad operation became effec-
tive.
Coal famine threatened in rural
districts and harvest transportation
handicapped.
No fewer than 10000 afldavits are
in hand, alleging criminal acts OF
varied form in nearly every section
of the country. Their number and
volume are so gigantic that lawyers
for both sides are in conference to-
night as to how the Federal case can
be adequately presented without
Keeping Judge wiikerson's court in
session for months.
While pending proceedings range
nominally around the injunction, all
Concerned are conscious OF the far
deeper issue involved. They are
aware, from Attorney General
Daugherty's plea. that nethinE more
or less is at stake than the principle
OF the open shop and the Govern
ment's determination to uphold It..
For that reason counsel for the de-
fendant railwaymen and their unions
are bitterly contesting every inch Of
ground at Chicago.
An informal ruling by Judge Will
kerson yesterday afternoon is re-
garded as having given their case a
serious setback at the outset. Donald
r. Richberg. of Chicago. and Frank
L. Mulholland, OF Toledo. who led
the railwaymen's battalion OF law
yers, objected TO the Governments
affidavits on the ground that they
consist mainly of "hearsay."
Judge Wilkerson retorted that Il
is always difficult to establish a case
of conspiracy by direct evidence"
On that account, he declared Il suf-
fees TO produce "a chain OF circurn-
stances" Indicating concerted ac-
tion" In the direction OF a conspiracy.
The Judges observations suggested
that he considers the Government is
proceeding consistently along that
line.
Attorney-General Daugherty re-
mains in command OF the Govern
ment's operations. but Is conducting
them like a field marshal, remote
from the scene Of actual activities
His headquarters are at the Drake
Hotel. on the Lake Shore drive.
where, amid the cooling breezes. he
receives shorthand transcripts Of
proceedings every two hours. How
long the Attorney-General will stay
in Chicago was undetermined to-
night.
Proceedings yesterday were in
charge of Blackburn Esterline, as
sistant TO the Solicitor General. Mr..
Esterline brought them TO a
dramatic close at o'clock by pre-
senting the affidavit Of Clifford Keil.
supply man employed by the Chi
rago and Alton Railroad at Slater.
Mo.
keil testified that at midnight on
July %. after he had been sent into
the railway yards TO take spare parts
to damaged locomotive, he was
suddenly pounced upon, smuggled
into waiting automobile and taken
10 woods mile away. where he was
tarred and feathered.
Before being tortured Keil waa
hailed before a man his cantIva a.
dressed as chairman" who, Keii
says. he is ready TO identity as head
OF the Slater, Mo-. shopcrafts' local
union.
The affidavit was accompanied nv
photographs showing the upper nor
lion OF Keil's body tarred and feath-
sred. He suffered agonizing injuries
ma was given TO understand he had
been punished as "a scab." After
orturing him, Kell said, his assau-
Ints warned him TO leave town be-
ore daylight.
Evidence submitted by the Cow
rnment consisted of affidavits Of
Western railroad officials and work
nen. It began with allegations OF
awless acts by striking railwayrnen
nd their sympathizers. In Colorado.
'alifornia, Utah, Arizona and Okla !
oma.
A. G. Wells. vice-president of the :
-tchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail- 1
ray, along whose lines numerous /,
ases OF sabotage against workmen \
nd property have occurred, recited :
hat such acts of vandalism were .
ractically unknown" prior TO the !,
utbreak Of the shop crafts strike on
uly 1, 1922. Since then, he testified.
mployes or those who sought work
'ere continuously and persistently =
moved threatened and abused" a
wives and children were the OBJ .
eets Of frequent assault, and men =
Ieeking jobs were so intimidated y
nat they Were afraid to leave their
homes Often homes would be p
threatened with destruction IL their y
occupants became strikebreakers
Ar Wells said the Atchlson railway n
vas constantly having airhose cut P
on trains, foreign substance placed h
n journal boxes, bridges DESTROYED ST
md bombs exploded in the vicinity Il
IF buildings where employees were N
Other bombs have been "
ound in trains and along tracks. e
"Oflcials and employees have been c
idnaped. abused and beaten" he a
aid. "Many have been left in out q
f-the-way places after being rob Il
ed of their valuables and in some
ases OF their clothing. Language II
as been used against workmen. jr
Ia, II, tho r,racanca Of their. r.-l,-o.- | u