Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-23
STRIKE COMMISSION.
They Hear the Views of Different
Persons on the Late Trouble.
KELIHER'S idea ON The SUBJECT.
The Government Ownership Of Railroads,
II Is Thought, Would Solve the Prob.
lem-Testimony Of the President
Of the Girls Union.

CHICAGO, Aug lT-The first witness
called before the government strike
commission yesterday was w. IL. Low e.
Joy, Rock Island employe, from La
Sale, Ill. Lovejoy was questioned as
to the cause of the strike at La Sale,
and declared that the men went out
at that point because he was unjustly
discharged. Secretary kelliher, Of the
American Railway union, succeeded
Lovejoy on the witness stand. lie
entered into detailed statement
of the troubles leading up to the strike,
and was questioned closely regard
ing the convention at which the boy
colt was declared. When asked for his
views as to the best method for prevent
ing strikes, said that he firmly be-
lieved government ownership of rail
roads would solve the problem. Next
to that he said, 81 think compulsory
arbitration would answer"
"IIow would you force the railroads
to abide by the arbitrators' decision?"
asked Commissioner Wright.
"By law" promptly responded the
witness. "Let the law be such that in
case Of trouble with It's employees the
railroad be compelled to submit the
matter to arbitration Then let it be
understood that If the railroad will not
accept the terms upon which the arbi-
traitors decide, the company is COM
PEELED to 60 out of business. In other
words, the railroads should be com
PEELED to abide by the decision, and as
to the employees, If they are not suited
by the decision, let them leave the en-
ploy of the company"
B. B. Ray, of Rock Island, ILL.,, was
next called. He stated that the strike
at Rock Island was caused partially by
the Pullman strike and partially be-
cause of treatment they had received
at the hands of the Rock Island com
pany,
II had gone west to visit my rela-
tives, he said, "and when returned
was told by the Rock Island officials
that | had been discharged. asked
for reason and was told ii was be-
cause | was member of the A. R. U.
General Superintendent Dunlap said
that would be blacklisted, and never
again get work on his or any other
road. Twas not n member of the A. K.
U. at the time of my discharge, but
have since joined that union"
Ray agreed with kciher that govern
ment ownership of railroads would
prevent strikes
Chairman IIeathcote, of the Pullman
strike committee, was on the witness
stand during the afternoon session.
lie showed table of the Pullman COM
panys wages and claimed that wages
have been cut 60 per cent in the last
two years. Mr. lIcathcote also ex-
hibited what he claimed was black
list issued by the Pullman officials, re-
questing other institutions to refuse TO
employ the men whose names appeared (
thereon.
Miss Jennie Curtis, president of the
Girls union, at Pullman, testified in
the afternoon. Her father had been
in the employ Of the Pullman company
for fifteen years, until shortly before
his death last year lie was dein-
quent in his rent to the amount
Of 500. The company compelled
her to assume the debt and sign
a contract to pay it out of her wages
at the rate of Sl a week, Some
weeks she had so little left from her
wages that she could not pay board.
Al