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uneasy. Then I said, “I understand there was a very interesting letter in circulation somewhere around town.” They all just looked as though they would die. I saw at once from the looks on their faces that they knew about it. I said, “Of course I haven't seen it. I just heard a rumor. Rumors are rumors.” Silence fell upon them. I said to myself, “This is true. These grown men - at least two of them were men of the world, while the others were kind of country men - wouldn't be so paralyzed, wouldn't be struck dumb if they didn't know about them too.” I said no more about that, just passed it over, thinking I'd hold it for later consideration.

I held one hearing that day in the late afternoon. I held a hearing because I knew the situation was restless. The other two Commissioners weren't going to get there until morning. I held a hearing which we called a preliminary hearing to lay the facts before us. I persuaded these employers - after they knew I knew about the letter - to sit in the courtroom. They weren't meeting their employees. They were just sitting in the courtroom. I said, “You know I have the power to subpoena you, but I'm not going to do it. I don't want to use such drastic means. I just want you to hear what these people say. Then if you have any comments you may make them.”