Mr. Howard: "Yes, sir, and returned without an answer further than a statement that the General Managers' Association had no business to transact with the American Railway Union or its representatives."
Mr. Kernan: "It is charged that your organization, like others, encouraged its members to persistently interfere with and prevent unorganized labor from taking positions given up by their striking members. Is that charge true?"
Mr. Howard: "It cannot be shown in one instance that anything of the kind has been done."
Commissioner Kernan: "You won't go so far as to say that no interference of the sort alluded to has ever been engaged in?"
Mr. Howard: "Certainly not. I mean that such interference was not authorized or countenanced by the union."
Commissioner Kernan: "Did you take any steps to prevent such interference?"
Mr. Howard: "We have taken the ground that when we go out on strike not to interfere with any of the new men the companies may employ."
Commissioner Kernan: "You do countenance advice to such men not to take the places of strikers?"
Mr. Howard: "Oh, yes. We claim the right to ask new men not to take our places."
Mr. Kernan: "Is it not a fact that such interviews usually result in violence?"