The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-19
PULLMAN STRIKE.
LECTURE BY LABOR COMMITS
SIONER WRIGHT.
Railroads Driving the People To.
wards Socialism.

New Haven, Conn. Dec. 1O.-Carroll
ID. Wright, commissioner Of labor. lee
tured before the students of Wesleyan
university in Middletown, under the
auspices Of the Citizenship club. He
met one Of elective classes in political
economy, with several of the profess
sors and other students Col. Wright
talked nearly two hours, making his
principal subject the Chicago strike.
lie began his discourse by first giving
the condition of affairs in Pullman.
He illustrated the situation by four
piles of pins-one representing the
S}6,00o,000 capital Of the Pullman capt.
tai and the managing ability of Mr.
Pullman, the second representing the
S26,000,000 surplus of the Pullman
company, the third the capital Of the
workingmen-that is. their skill,
ability, and strengthened the fourth
the surplus of the workingmen-that
IS, their savings-some 100000.
Nov the condition of affairs" he
said, sis this: The labor of the work
ingmen in Pullman in connection
with capital has amassed their sur
plus Of $780, 10000 Everything is run
ming along smoothly until their comes
time of stress, when the managers
Of the company are obliged to take
contracts at loss, if they can get
them at ALL
They find that their expenses must
be cut down, and they reduce the
wages of the workingmen. With re-
duced wages the workingmen are
compelled to fall back on their re-
serve, and their savings are wiped out.
Then comes an impairment of health
and earning ability through insuffi-
cient nourishment caused by low
wages. Now the question arises:
Why should labor be compelled to fall
back on a reserve of savings to tide
over the depression?'
THE Pullman company has sur
plus of 724 cents for every dollar of
capital, and yet in it's last period of
depression it was enabled to keep that
reserve unimpaired and at the same
time continue to pay dividends Of 8
per cent on the capital Of $4,000, 0OO."
Would there be a $26, 100000 sur
plus if it were not for the enterprise
and ability of Mr.. Putnam" was
asked.
Col. Wright replied, NO, and neith-
er would it be there if it were not for
the skill and ability of the working
men. One man is essential to the
other. The mutual Independence of
labor and capital is easily understood.
Both are necessary, and without one
the other is pOwerleSs. Now, why
should one be compelled to bear all
the burdens Of mutual distress and
the other escape free?
'This strike is an epoch-making
episode. In feudal times physical
might made right. We have out
grown that stage and are advancing
toward higher plane. The laws, Gus
tom, and public opinion of today up
hold the Pullman company in it's
course of action. Will it continue to
dose? Have we not come to the point
when we must recognize more fully
the right Of labor? Again, the Ques-
ton is ethical and not economical"
AS far as the actual condition Of at
fairs go Mr.. Wright is of the opinion
that the strike was wholly unwarrant-
cd on the part of the workingmen. 1t
was not only not justified, but it
showed extreme lack of wisdom and
foresight.
THE question again isl he said,
'have we not reached such a plane
where we must adopt the higher
standard and rule of action. l think
in all cases a company that intends to
reduce wages should show the books
to a committee of workingmen. The
workingmen recognize the fact that
their employers will always reduce
wages when the economic conditions
require it, but they seldom or never
will raise them when the conditions
warrant the increase"
The question was asked: "DO not
the competition of labor and the
natural laws of economics work to
regulate the advantage for each
Side?"
"They do not" he replied. "The
mobility of la Dor is fiction. Men can
not go somewhere else and go into
other business. The strike of the
Michigan Central switchmen some
time ago illustrates this point. The
switchmen's union asked for an in
crease of wages. Instead of settling
this question for themselves the Michi-
gan Central road brought the question
before the General Managers associa-
tion of "a roads centering in Chicago.
THE general managers decided
against the increase in wages. Now,
an economist would let these switch
men give up their positions and go
somewhere else. Yes, but they simply
couldn't do it. The other roads In
Chicago would not employ them.
Switchmen can only find. employment
in large railroad centers, but If they