Salisbury, N.C., Aug. 23—The introduction of 72 new employes in the Southern Railway shops at Spencer, without molestation, bringing the total number of new men there to 500, and the issuance of a warrant charging James. Fl Barrett of Charlotte, editor of the Charlotte Labor Herald, and former president of the state federation of labor, with being drunk and disorderly, were the outstanding events of the strike situation in Salisbury and Spencer today.
Absolute quiet is being maintained about the Spencer shops. The new men who arrived today from New York, walked into the enclosure without interference, while a score of strikers looked on. They were accompanied into the shops by a dozen guards.
The walkout of the Big Four brotherhood men and the clerks, settled at noon Tuesday by the removal of troops from the shop premises, has been almost forgotten and train service has been restored. Col. Don Scott, in command of the national guard troops, encamped three miles from Spencer, today tendered the militia as a guard for the home of Rev. Tom Jimison, Methodist minister, who was the victim of an alleged assault by John Sloop, postal employe, Monday. The strikers, who are maintaining a 24-hour guard over the minister’s home, following receipt of threatening letters by him, have not yet accepted the offer.
The warrant against Mr. Barrett was issued by County Prosecuting Attorney Ben D. McCubbins, and sent to Charlotte for service. Mr. McCubbins stated he also was issuing a warrant charging Mr. Barrett with carrying a concealed weapon. Mr. Barrett came to Salisbury, it was said, to tender any assistance he could to his friend, Rev. Tom P. Jimison, following the alleged assault on Mr. Jimison by John Sloop, post office clerk, Monday.
Monday night while three companies were guarding Sloop, Barrett, in some manner, got by the guard lines, and succeeded in getting into the post office, where he was stopped by Postmaster Boyden. Later he was escorted out of the building. Tuesday night he was advertised to address a mass meeting of citizens, presumably in the interest of the strikers. The audience gathered in the courthouse and a squad or two of soldiers began marching in front of the building, but Mr. Barrett did not appear. Another speaker announced that he was unable to get there. Later in the night he was said to have gone to Charlotte.
From the front page of The Wilmington Morning Star, Thursday, August 24, 1922
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