The Helena independent., 1894-10-18
Tho Causes Loading Up 10 the Pull
man Strike Told by Eloo
BeOh- Meyer
Corporation Greed and Oppression
Ably Set Forth in Narra-
two Form.
II u Dedicated Ia the WACO Farmers Of
AinoFioa aud Teaches More
Lsssons Than One.

tory M memorable one Throughout the
nation tho irropTesaibls conflict between
human Tiohts aud ''yea,sd rightG" has been
growing more intente Upon the town Of
Pullman all eyes Lava beon focused, for
here the national struggle has been repro
duosd In miniature, - oproduoed In n fash-
ion 90 concrete that ths dullost minds havs
understood. Dnt II 10 In The shaps OF q
book that the history OF the events leading
up 10 that memorable struggle Of 1894 10
told In way that makes the underly Ing
cause OF il nll-ths greed tnd oppression OF
the Pullman compnsJ-olear TO even tho
most oarelssa reader. Rarely has 90 grand
a theme been found ready 10 tho a'tiaps
hand, and never has the artis, sppsarsd so
promptly.
Tho name OF the book 10 "A Story From
Pullmantown," and the vritof IL Niso
Bech. Msye'. Though a Norswsmsn by
birth. Mfa. Nico Boeh- Meyer 10 an Amer.
ioon by adoption and loyalty. She has as-
quired mastery OF the English lsnau ,as
that mest native authors might we'll ,nvT.
But she does not often lot the reader stop
story 10 TOO rapid. Very srtistieally Jet
simply she diselosos. as hsr story proceeds.
the insuifersbls expressions of The Pullmau
oomrany; she lntSTIrsts ths msAtsl strug-
Gle OF the worhlng people; she closes her
book With thslr hnal decision 10 begin the
strike. and every reader knows what fol
lowed. The book 10 dedicated 10 the wage
Gamers Of Amsries.
Tho story begins with the hdvsnt into
Pullman Of Henry Wright, Who had been
and buy ont store In Pullmnn. Grade
allY he and his wife learn the ways OF the
places the exsetions Of tho owners In the
matters Of rentals; the gradual bat steady
decline In wages under q system frem
which th0fe Was no escape bnt 10 60 slse-
where 10 work lni live; tho suffering which
was part Of the sreat machine, etc. The
suffering appeals TO the tender sympathies
Of Mra Wright A msstinR composed OF
all the prominent women OF the town ex-
oept the wives Of the supsrintsndentp,
manages and agents Of the eompanr 10
held. Correspondence was had With The
Ladies' Aid society OF Chicago" and Q
branch Of that soeisty vac established In
Pullman.
"Rumors OF these rroeesdinss." con-
tinues tho sto y, 'cama TO the ears OF tn,
wife OF one OF the managers, and infofma-
tion about the was enfrioi to Nj. HOatd
In his prinosly mansion In the sAsL
short tims after the ladies' were info med
that II was absolutely against the wish o.
M. Hoard 10 havs Q society BY that nan'
established In Pullmnntown. His work
ingmen wee NOT destitute, and he voult
nos tolerats any such thing as au aid
society on his premises. The ladies diS
| .lx n. h,a ,ka - ~
name 10 Tho Ladies' Aissisn,' ana afte
this tholr doings were tolerated or iRnorst
by the higher au,horltiss." Nr. Hoard, I
may be stated, 10 the name Riven 10 th
head of this great eonc,rn. AZ the mtan
OF tho soeistr became exhausted with th
inc easing suffering the mission bad, littl
By little. 10 sivs mp Its volk. Then Oh
matter Of organization was taken mp. Thi
had boon tried before. bu, the bosses hs,
had their s.lss amonR Oh, working pso u,
and their efforts wsrs reported to hsnd
quartert, and br laying Of the ls'ders' 70
GOOD tho unions wets broken up or crippled
Bot this time tho Organization 10 per
footed, quietly and slowly. but nons th
les, surely. Committees p eaent the!
grievances and end no redress
IL Ia the story not onl
OF Polimantown, but OF Homestead
and OF every other community which exist
through the arsnos Of one powsi ful In
dustry. Tho strike 10 called, ana thee th
storr ends.
This book 10 full OF inspiration for thos
who are tempted 20 think OF thu st'ik, a
only failure. "Ncvsr yet hevs erea
changes been effected without birth pains
There nre walls which must lie torn dowr
and old stuff which must bs th own ont.
There Is q lssson 10 II for ihoss 10 stud
who in a Rrsnt state OF the union would do
liberately and knowingly deliver over TO
corporation AZ great md even greater thh
that which rules Pullman the capital O
that atAte; who would make IL possible
rs-enaot 70, q whole commonwealth tn
stoiy OF Pullmsntovn, the story Of Home
stead, or the story OF the Black Hills.