The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-02

varona, president Of one of the di'
visions of the railroad brotherhood,
on the Cuba railroad. was slain in
his home town Of Moron.
varona was an outstanding leader
among railroad men. He was ar
rested, as were seventeen other
brotherhood officials. He spent three
months in Jail in Camaguey. Finally
orders came from Havana" to turn
him free. He returned to his home
town. The local movie house ar
ranged a celebration. Varona went,
with his wife and baby, to receive
the acclaim of his fellow workers.
Police Ignored Staying
Coming out of the theater, with
his child in his arms, he was SHOT.
The assassin was followed to the
headquarters of the rural guards'
his friends told Inc. A slightly
different version was given in the
brief and cautious report OF the
murder in Heraldo de Cuba: "A wit
ness, by name Villafuerte. told the
Judge and the police that he was
present at the time of the murder
and that he himself asked the rural
police officer, who was very near, TO
arrest the man who killed Varona,
but the rural police did not pay airy
attention and let the murderer
escape"
The rural guards. or rural police,
are part of the national army So
strongly entrenched are they as
part of the politico-military machine
of today that Colonel Rangel, in
command at Camaguey, has at his
disposal a private railroad car for
his travel. He lives at the Hotel
Camaguey, railroad-owned hotel or
the first class.
Thomas Grant, an American, was
a railroad brotherhood officer at the
little town of Ciego de Avila. He
was a brakeman. In broad daylight
he was shot while returning to his
caboose after having had a cup of
coffee at a nearby lunchroom. Two
brakeman, who were with him when
he was shot were advised by the
Judge at the subsequent hearing that
they hadn't seen anything" The
military captain announced at the
same time that he had orders to
"clean things up"
Domingo Dumanigo. treasurer OF
the railroad brotherhood at Glen
fugos, a man of exceptional stand
ing, was among the railroad workers
arrested. He was released on $4,000
bail. While thus at liberty, he was
shot through the head when return
ing to his home from a drugstore
with medicine for his sick boy.
Augustin Perez, who was general
president Of the Railroad Brother
hood, before the organization was
destroyed and reorganized on what
were intended to be more tractable
lines, is today at liberty on bail. 1t
was not possible for me to see him,
though he lives in Cap1aguey, where
l went to get at the story of these
cases-fourteen hours from Havana
by train. 1t was conveyed to me
many times that if it were later dis
covered that I had come to Cuba
to make inquiry into these matters,
those seen with me might also dis
appear. So l did not see former
President Perez-nor could I blame
him.
Authorities In Fear
Salvatore Torres. young brake
man at Camaguey, was discharged
when he reported back to work after
the strike was broken. He went to
find out why. He was refused a rea'
son. Again he set out to get the
reason. He told friends he WAS go
ing to find out why" He was shot
while on the way home in the eve
ming. His father is a high Mason
with strong friends and for time.
it was said, the authorities feared the
Staying of young Torres had carried
matters a little too far.
have records of other assassina-
ons of labor leaders. There is
Iodesto H. Wilson (perhaps an
merican>, who was hanged Carlos
Padre, slain on the railroad tracks
Of the Sugar Central (refinery). Sag.
uanias, near Santiago de Cuba; Ce-
clio Sanche, railroad worker, killed
near La Esmeralda Aurelia Ferrer,
killed near Cabaiguan- and so on.
All workers; no murderer punished,
none even arrested and tried.
La Discussion, Havana newspaper,
was so moved that it exclaimed, His
majesty, the death, is ruling. The
blue sky of our country has been
transformed into a red tragedy, in
which there is no struggle for ideals
or ideas, put instead only hatred
cowardice. dishonor and crimes, that
are perpetrated in the darkness OF
night
La Discussion was suspended by the
Government