The Indianapolis journal., 1886-05-02

| five or six years-and everything indicated an
unusually successful and useful spring trade
| Mr. Simmons further stated in answer to q
| question to what the difference in the volume
/ Of business was this year. as compared
with the corresponding time of last year
taking that part of the year covered during the
existence of this strike, that he thought the vol
ume Of business had not been more than half
| from the 9th of March to the lst of May He
| also stated that in their business they had the
privilege. by having taken out a license,
TO-. to use the .,.r transfer company and that
Louis for goods that were shipped to
them from the East, and that Ieamsters had
been prevented from going there for goods by
| the mob on that side of the river the parties
they call strikers. by threats that violence would
be done them. Mr.. Simmons also testified to
the fact that st. Louis was great distributing
center; that goods were shipped from the East to
this city and then distributed to all parts in the
Southwest and Northwest. thus establishing the
fact that interstate commerce was greatly af
fectec by the strike.
Eugene F. Williams. of the Hamilton Brown
Boot and Shoe Company, testified that their
business had been greatly interrupted; that, in
order to fill pressing orders, they were compelled
to get their stock from the East by express and
pay the difference in freight themselves that they
shipped boots and shoes in large quantities in all
rectons-from Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico
and in all sections of che country West, and that
reports from twenty statesmen they had on the
road were that customers would not purchase
large quantities. because of the uncertainty of
the goods being delivered in time. and went else
where to have their orders filed; that, in this
manner. their business fel. of, at least, % per
cent during the month of March. It was, also,
proven by Mr. Williams that the strike affected
interstate commerce.
j. Hil president of the Cotton Exchange, tes-
titled that the cotton trade was very much in
| terfered with by the strike because the cotton
could not be shipped.
w. H. Swift testified that the building inter
ests have been seriously affected from the lack
of confidence caused by the strike, and that there
had been great falling off in the amount of
material wanted for building.
Gen. d. p. Greer testified that great damage
had been done his business and that it extended
| to all the various branches of the business in
which he was engaged. which is the commission,
| grain and produce business
Ex-Governor Stanard, an extensive miller; G.
| c. Rainwater, wholesale merchant. and Gerard
| B. Allen, large manufacturer. testified that the
strike had seriously affected their respective
| businesses.
Mayor Francis was examined as to the manner
the strike had affected the business of the city,
but more especially as to the part he had taken
officially in keeping down and subduing riotous
| mobs. He stated that at local points where this
| strike existed it was impossible to receive any
supplies whatever from such places for fifteen
to twenty days; that at about the end
of twenty days traffic was resumed.
The strike began on the 9th OF March, and
no trains were taken out of the city on the Mis-
souri, Pacific or Iron Mountain roads from that
time till Wednesday, March "a, when one freight
train was started ont; another the following day,
and the third day two trains were rum and the
number increased from that time until the
full quota of trains were moving and
within two weeks after the Oath of March the
railroad people claimed that their trains were
running regularly. The railroad company noti-
| fed him they were contemplating moving trains,
and asked him for protection. He gave 1t to
| them, and on the Oath of March there was a
| force of one hundred police detailed to protect
the company; they protected it through the city;
that an attempt was made to move train in
charge of a sergeant of police at the yards, and
whilst the switching was being done, some cars
were uncoupled and one or two derailed,
when the superintendent remarked to
the sergeant that he would abandon
| it; that he, the sergeant, didn't have men
enough The sergeant replied he could have an
additional detail of twenty-fiv one hundred
| men in fifteen minutes, but the superintendent
said it was not necessary; that he would not at
tempt to run the train. The regular police force
had always been sufficient to protect the prop
erty here without the aid of any additional force,
and the night trains are running out OF East
St Louis now since the military had been sta
toned there.
William McMillane testified that he had been
| and was Row engaged in the car and foundry
business, doing business a corporation under
the name of Missouri Car and Foundry Com
pany;" that the company employs about one
thousand men. but now only employs about 250,
all told in consequence of the strike of their
ployes; that the strike in his shops was direct
result of the strike the Gould system: that
their men cid not strike at the time the railroad
strikers did, but that the Knights of
Labor connected with that strike caused
their men to strike; that on the
1st of April we were waited upon
by committee of three knights of Labor in
way connected with concern, who made
demand on US that we should stop furnishing
pairing material to the Gould system. and, upon
our refusal to Go So they ordered our men out
on strike. The witness then entered into de-
| tailed statement of the strike of his
men; how he met and talked with them
ard with committees. three different times. and
how they persisted in carrying out their purpose
of crppling the Gould railroad system, if posi-
BILE, all of which has been fully published The
witness then continued I'VE have peen
greatly damaged, as we have
| number of contracts for cars that should be
| filled now and are entirely dependent on the
good nature of the railroad companies with whom
we have contracts to wait on us till we can get
men to do the work. If they should not wait the
| injury done would be irreparable."
The committee then adjourned, to meet at the
call Of the chairman.
The Firemen's Grievances