Q. Had you stopped work before you called that meeting?

A. There was a meeting—a preliminary meeting—there was some of the mines idle for want of cars.

Q. Take the company that you were working for—the men that you were working with—did they strike, or were you stopped for want of work to do?

A. I could not state positive with regard to the whole mines. Part of the mines stopped for want of cars.

Q. I am asking whether yours stopped for want of cars?

A. At that time I was unable to attend to my work on account of sickness.

Q. Then you had not been at work for several weeks?

A. I was only working every other week. I could not work on account of sickness at the time.

Q. What day did they hold that meeting and agree to join hands with the railroad employés?

A. I am not positive of the date of that?