The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-25
DEBs AND GaMPERs.
They Both Testify Before tle I',rlis.sssn
strike CotaInisaion-

strike Commission
CHICAGO. Au4. -J- rrrssuenr Dele ~
the = ulcr.ca.a itaI,sas ii4sil Nns exam
inru .Ouay - me e.rt41c cO4uiii.ss.., 4.l
reply ~ the Question ne statsd tnat ha
did not favor compulsory Arbitration Ia
settlement of labor Lr1ublea he did not
believe, he said, that such "a method
would prove universally successful
Mr.. Deus WAS asked Il he knew Of any
dissatisfaction among the Rock Island
employees previous to the strike. lie aaid
that there had been trouble among thn
telegraphers and there was much disaat-
isf4clion. Questioned AS 10 the state
ment that there were not more than 2Do
A. X. l. men on the Rock Island, wit
ness sad the statement was absurd w it-
ness said that the fact that the railroad
WAS completely tied up, ehectually dis
proves such story.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation OF Labor, WAS ia
next witness. lie prefaced his teaEi-
mony by brief outline OF the aims aud
principles Of the federation. and gave
figures showing the membership Of the
organization.
The witness told Of the calling Of the
conference of the heads of labor 0rgan-
izations, which was held at the BuRgs
house in Chicago. He said that after
long deliberation the delegates decided
to request President Cleveland to At
tempt 10 settle the strike.
"We thought" Mr. GUmpers said, s4that
il Dir. Gladstone could do so much good
service in the English coal strikes such
attempt would not be beneath the
dignity Of the president Of the United
States Accordingly a telegram WAS
sent 10 Mr.. Cleveland asking his aid. TO
that message he did not deign 20 reply;
in fact he took not the slightest notice
of It
Air. Debs was then called upon and
gave history Of the boycott, the Pull
man trouble and the railroad strike. We
considered the matter carefully and
finally decided we could not order gen
eral strike. That would be a usurpStion
of power and would for many reas0na bo
unwise. The delegates expressed their
sympathy with tho movement and soon
afterwards We adjourned"
Mr.. Gompers then read from the sec
retary's report, a detailed. statement ~
the proceedings OF the conference.
Mr.. GOmpers explained that 10 effect
general strike all the unions participat-
ing must agree on the action and aaid IL
would have been impossible for the
Briggs House conference to declare
general sympathetic strike. lie wits
asked for his opinion as To the methods
for preventing strikes
81 do not condemn strikes as heartily
as do some men" lie said. II believe
that so long As present conditions exist
they are necessary, aud j believe that all
strikes do good in calling attention to the
fact that iAboring mens will not he driven
further down into poverty. think the
action OF the strikers ia paraiyzing tla
railroads of the country WAS 1ustifinbls."
The witness was rather frankly uDcofu-
plimentary regarding the strike commi.-
sion. Il think this thing Is rather iats
in the day." he said. "Ihis examination
by the commissioners is rather Ia the ua-
ture OF an inquest on dead body; 1un
anticipate great good from the prs4ant
investigation"