The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-24
He Says that Under Their Contracts
Railways Are Not Compelled to
Haul Pullman Coaches.
NO GENERAL BLACK LIST
But Few Of the A. r. L. Strikers
Are Being Re-EmplOyed.
Wages Likely to Be Cut as a Result of
the Decrease in Earnings-Glass
Workers and Employers at Outs.

CHICAGO. Aug. 2S.-General Manager E.
Ut. John, Of the Rock Island road, was
called before the strike commissioner to-
day. Mr.. ST. John had prepared a history
Of the strike as it affected his road. and
read to the commissioners a detailed ac-
count OF the troubles. When he had fin
ished he was asked if his company black
listed men.
NO in the sense that the word is gener-
ally understood" said the witness. when
a man is discharged from one of
our divisions we send a statement
to our other divisions that he may
not be re : employed, but no such
statement is sent to other roads. unless it
is requested.
"Can you show US a copy of your con-
tract with the Pullman company" asked
Commissioner Herman.
Il can show you the contract if you will
regard it as a private matter. L do not
wish to have it published in the newspa-
pers."
This proposition was refused. and Mr.. ST.
John was asked if the contract compelled
his company to haul Pullmans on all pas
senger trains.
NO" was the answer. I'VE can haul
Pullmans on any trains we choose. and
need not haul them unless we wish"
Then you were not compelled TO haul
Pullmans during the striker
No., We were not"
Mr.. st. John was asked as to the number
of strikers that had been taken back by his
company.
Most of our men," he said, quit work
through fear, but of the 522 actual strikers
only seventy-four have been taken back"
The witness said that their relations to la
Dor unions were regulated by the number of
men on their lines belonging to the unions.
When a union has 80 per cent. or more of
our men," he said. 1--WE. as a general
thing, treat with its representatives. We
had no dealings with the A. r. L., as it
had less than five hundred of our en-
ployes."
this SUMMER asked Commissioners Wright.
wages"
Has your road advanced wages within
Yes; we have frequently made individual
advances, but no general increase that L re-
How much did the strike cost the Rock
Il cannot give exact figures without ref
erence TO data, but l should say that the
81 LOCO, eco"
Mr.. st. John emphatically denied the
tldL AAAC oNdlGS iSitlS
used during the riots were controlled by
the railroads. I'VE asked for protection,
and furnished many of our employees. VINO
were sworn in as deputy marshals,'' he
said. But after being sworn in we had
nothing more TO do with them. They were
commanded and controlled; L suppose, by
the United States marshal"
The witness said that many of the rioters
who overturned and burned cars were
strikers. He knew this IL be a fact, he
said. because many of them were recog-
niZed by Rock Island employees who wit
messed the lawlessness.
The commissioners questioned Mr.. st.
john very closely regarding the control of
the deputy United States marshals, as the
statement had been made by Chief Deputy
Donnelly that the railroad companies took
charge of the forces during the riots.
In the afternoon Mr.. st. John gave a his
tory of the formation of the General Man.
ayers Association, which he denied had its
inception from any desire to reduce the
wages of the men. He said further: ''The
schedule of wages we have compiled seems
TO have been misunderstood. 1t is a tabu-
lation OF railroad wages all over the coun-
try. 1t was impossible to have anything
like equality OF wages for the same class
OF service without some such tabulation. 1t
had nothing to do with an intended reduc-
ton of wages and was not followed by re-
auctions. Two or three Southern lines
found they were paying wages considerably
In excess OF wages paid by their COMPETE
tors. and naturally reduced them to an
equality. | do not say that there will not
the schedule. The Rock Island has so far
made it's economies in the reduction of
force and the shortening of working hours.
j fear very much. however, that unless a
change comes in the situation something
will have 70 be done. / speak of the COM
pany'S financial affairs with the greatest
reluctance in public, but it's earnings have
suffered a decrease of $S00,0 zoo in three
months. and some method will have to be
devised of changing that result. Some of
the companies have had their earnings de-
creased at the rate of $4,000 a month";"
Mr.. st. John, in answer to a question.
said the story that General Miles had
called at association headquarters was pos
itively absurd.
Questioned as to the best remedy for
strikes, MIR. st. John said he had no sug-
gestions to make. although he had given
the matter much thought. That a way
would eventually be found, he firmly be-
iieved, but he could not form any idea now
as to what that way will be.
Mr.. Herman asked the witness if he did
not believe a system of government license
applied to railroad employees would be a
good thing.
Mr.. st. John said he thought the plan had
merit if it could be kept out of politics.
The government might establish the sys-
TEN on some Of its subsidized roads and
try il.
Mr.. ST. John will be on the stand again
tomorrow morning.
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