Q. Did they say anything to you or did they expect to ally other classes of laboring men with them?
A. No; they did not care about having any help from outside parties; at least if they did, there was no intimation of that kind to me. They expected to accomplish it themselves. I have no knowledge of their making any effort whatever to induce other trades unions—I do not know that they made any effort to have others coöperate with them; if they did, I do not know of it.
Q. This intercourse you had with the men, and from talking, led you to be apprehensive of the results?
A. Yes; I felt very confident——
Q. Did you communicate that very freely to your acquaintances here?
A. With my more intimate business acquaintances the matter was talked over pretty freely.
Q. Did you have any communication with the railroad officials in regard to it?
A. No; I supposed them capable of taking care of their own business. I fortified myself in regard to the strike. I have occasion to have a great deal of freight moved, and I put myself in a condition against any strike.
Q. In what way?
A. In getting in a good supply. If the strike had continued a month it would not have hurt me, anything more than I could not have shipped anything away. I had plenty of raw material on hand—it answered a very good purpose, too.