Evening journal., 1894-08-22
PlBjitltFitsall PITT a. PeaLeD T0|
Governor Altgeld Asks Him to
Pity His Starving Workmen.
PROCLAMATION ASKING FOB AID.

represented ana Refuses TO Help Them.
Altseid's Proposal r jacted.
CHICAGO, Aug Ex-Governor Altgeld
spent several hours in conference with o
committee Of citizens Of Pullman, who
were called upon to give him information
regarding tho starving strikers. He was
told that 2.a3G families have been helped
since tho beginning Of tho strike and that
about $50, 0oo has been given the relief
committee, all Of which had been ex-
pended
Altgeld Issues Proclamation.
Governor Altgeld has issued the follow
ing proclamation address:
ITO the People Of the State OF Illinois,
Especially Those Of the City Of Chiongo:
"Ihere is great distress growing out Of
the want of food in and around the town
Of Pullman. More than 900 families,
or in the neighburhood of 5000 people,
are utterly destitute Nearly four-dftbs
Of them are women and children. The
men have endeavored to get work, but are
unable to do 80.
Al a rule, the men are Of q superior
class Of laboring people. industrious, capa-
bic and steady, and some Of them have
worked for the Pullman company for
more than Q years Those who have beon
given work can get food, but are still in
such an impoverished condition that they
cannot help their neighbors il thoy would.
The relief society is unable to get more
supplies. On last Saturday it gave to
each family two pounds OF meat, but 1t
then suspended operations, leaving the
people in an absolutely helpless condition.
Tho county commissioners Of Cook county
and overseers Of the poor have rendered
some assistance, but owing TO limited ap-
propriations they can furnish relief but
for short time.
I'VE can't now stop to inquire the
cause of this distress The good people
of this state cam allow women and chill
dren by the hundreds to perish Of hun ger
| therefore call upon all humane and
charitably disposed citizens TO contribute
what they can toward giving relief to
these people,
Tho governor has also called upon the
commissioners Of Cook county to do all
in their power In the matter
The correspondence between Governor
Altgeld and Mr. Pullman began last Sun
day when, in response to a number Of APP
peals made to him by Pullman strikers
for assistance, Governor Altgeld sent a
lengthy telegram TO Mr., Pullman calling
his attention TO the situation as set forth
In the appeal and saying Of the strikers;
Tho Governor TelsRraphs Pullman.
"It is claimed they struck because after
years Of toll their loaves We're SO reduced
that their children went hungry. Admit
ting that they were wrong and foolish,
they had yet served you long and well,
and you must feel some interest in them.
They cannot stand on tho same footing
with you, for that much must be over
looked. The state of Illinois has not the
least desire 60 moddle in affairs Of your
company but it cannot allow a whole
community within its borders to perish
Of hunger. The local overseer Of tho poor
has been appealed to- but thore Is a limit
70 what he can do.
81 can { help them very much at pres
emit SO unless relief comes from some
other source l shall either have to call AM
extra session Of the legislature to make
/ special appropriation or else issue an APP
peal to the humane people Of this state to
| give bread to your recent employees.
It seems to me that you would prefer
60 relieve the situation yourself, especial
iy as it has just cost tho state upward Of
$50, 600 to protect your property, and as
both the state and the public have suffer
cd enormous losses on account of disturb
ancos that grew out of the trouble between
your company and its workingmen.
After making a personal visit to Pull
man Governor Altgold addressed a letter
TO Mr. Pullman, saying;
!" II you VIII allow me, will make this
suggestion
III you had shut down your works
last fall whom you say business was poor.
you would not have expected TO get any
rent from your tenants. Now while a
dollar is a large sum to each Of these peo-
pie all tho rent now due you Is COM
paratively small matter TO you. If you
will cancel all ront to Oct l. you would
be as well off as II you had shut down
This would enable those who are at work
to meet their most pressing wants.
"Then il you cannot Give work to all,
work some half time, so that all can at
least get something to eat for their fami-
lies This will give immediate relief to
the whole situation, and then by degrees
assist as many TO go elsewhere as desire
20 do SO and all TO whom you cannot give
work. Then In this way something like
a normal condition could be ere-established
at Pullman before winter, and you would
not be out more than you would have
been had you shut down year ago"
Pnllmans Defense.
Mr.. Pullman replied at length, making
reference to Governor Altgolds declina-
tion Of the escort Of Vice President