Evening star., 1923-01-27
MOB TRAIN RUSHED
! AGAINST STRIKERS
Brotherhood Official Asks
! Arkansas Governor to In
ix vestigate Lynching.
$4,000 VOTED FOR RELIEF
Widow of Machinist Hanged by
J "Citizens'' Committee" Given
/ $500 by Union.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, January 2..-Charges
that a mob special" carrying armed
men, was run over the Missouri and
North Arkansas railroad for the pur-
pose of inficting punishment upon
'the striking employees of the railway,
were made in a statement made puo-
Slic today by Z. B. Robertson, presi-
dent of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen and Enginemen
; Mr.. Robertson has communicated
with the Governor OF Arkansas. ask
ing an investigation OF the recent
trouble at Harrison and Heber Springs
Involving the lynching of - striker
by unidentified men and the expul-
sion of a number OF other strikers
by a citizens committee" He has
promised the governor his organiza :
jrion would cooperate with the state
in bringing to justice all guilty
be.
The brotherhood directors have vot-
ed $4,000 for the relief of striking
hremen on the Missouri and North
voted to the widow of E. c. Gregor,
the union machinist, who was hanged
at Harrison.
!. An armed mob was carried on a
North Arkansas railroad for the pur-
pose of infiicting punishment upon
employees and their families. VINO,
about two years ago, left the service
OF the railroad and engaged In le-
gal strike in protest against an ar
bitrary and excessive reduction in
their wages made effective by the
management in violation of the trans
portation act" said the statement
"EntitIed TO Persaasion."
While in aid of a lawful strike,
labor unions. their officers and mem
bers are entitled to use peaceful per-
.suasion and argument to procure
others to quit working for, or not
to accept employment from, the party
against whom the combination Is de-
signed to operate, the use Of force,
violence or intimidation to obtain
these ends is not permissible. and II
is not material that the workmen who
are subjected to these acts are not
bound by contract to enter into or
continue In the employment OF such
party.
I'VE appreciate. however. that the
certain rights which should and will
be recognized so far as the brother
hood is concerned. AS citizens OF
Arkansas our members are entitled
TO certain protection from the state
authorities. to the end that the safety
not be placed in jeopardy"
Mr.. Robertson said 1t seemed un-
believable the railroad management
knew nothing of the running Of what
he termed the mob special"
Says Mob Spirit Ruled.
THE spirit of the mob seems 10
have ruled the entire situation from
bo
mission until it reached Harrison.
Ark. and the striking members un-
mercifully beaten. one of their as
sociates hanged from railroad
strikers separated and driven into
the woods of Arkansas without food
or shelter.
Our records show that the wives
members were forced to travel
through the woods day and night.
carrying the smaller children in their
arms until they were completely eX-
hausted. They are now being shell
tered and provided for temporarily
sections OF the state. while number
Of them were unable to find shelter
within the state. and are now being
cared for by friends in bordering
states"
Mr.. Robertson said that the rail
road brotherhoods had "endeavored
TO enlist the cooperation of the
President Of the United States, and
the Governor of Arkansas to the end
that our members may be accorded
that protection that their rights as
citizens command" but that very
little had been accomplished along
this line"
THE Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen," he declar-
ed, is determined ito carry this mat
ter to a final conclusion"