River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-08-30
THE LATE STRIKE.
Repre- sentatives of Labor and
Capital Tell Their Stories.
Employers Are Heard-Generai Manager
81. John Takes the stand-Egan and
His Niews-President Gompers ON
Strikes in General.
CAPITAL HAS IFS say.

OF the trouble on his road and denied the ex-
lstence OF blacklist so far as that road is con-
cerned Mr.. st. John refused to allow the
commission 70 publicly examine or make part
Of its records the contract between the Rock
Island and Pullman companies. he answered,
however, all questions put concerning the con-
tract Witness said the company was obliged
TO use the Pullman cars. He said 522 employees
were engaged ia the strike the others going
out through intimidation; seventy-four had
been reinstated; all had been taken back ex-
cept those against whom there were charges.
he SAID the exact cost OF the strike had not
yet been ascertained. but thought it would
reach 100000 or 81 10000
He said that the purpose to put into effect
schedules OF wages was one OF the most remote
objects Of the association.
q "a answer 10 a question as to its idea con-
corning the remedy for strikes, he said that it
seemed To him that the government control OF
railroads involved possibilities that might
prove dangerous to the government itself. Ar
bitration, IL seemed to him. could not prove ef-
fective in all cases, for, II applied TO wages, IL
would naturally be found very difficult TO en-
force its decisions; nor could it hardly prove
effective II it was Objectionable TO the en-
ploye. To many minds, he said, the law of
supply and demand must still govern.
Being asked why an association such as the
one he repre- scented should refuse to treat with
one of employees such as the American halfway
union, he said the union did not represent as
it claimed the employees OF the roads. An
other reason might be that the association did
not think there was room for such an organi-
zation. I'VE never question" he concluded,
"a man as 10 whether he belongs to any union
Or not so long as he is competent
Manager Egan Heard.
CHICAGO, Aug. 27-The General Managers
association, represented by General Manager
John NJ. Fgan. submitted ITS views OF the
strike to the labor commission at Fridays
session
IN. illness told the story of the prop sed
conference to be held by the mayor,
representatives OF the American Railway
union and OF the managers association.
He said he had no authority TO take
part in such a conference. He had re-
turned the document left at his ONCE by the
mayor because the managers association
had directed him to return It, He
would not state whether the docu-
ment in question was offensive and
insulting to the association. Witness said
that at that time the strike had not been
settled so far as the American Railway union
was concerned IL was settled" on the part
of the railroads because they had employed
other men in place of those who went out The
General Managers association had refused to
recognize the American Railway union.
When the mayor presented the document
signed by Messrs pebs, Howard and Kehher
Mr.. Egan said to him that he thought the
mayor should not act as a messenger boy for
such parties" He (Egan) had advised all in
dividual strikers coming TO him to go back to
work He had had no negotiations with the
strike leaders. He had authority to make all
arrangements to fight the strike, but did not
consider he had any authority to confer with
the mayor or others regarding an amicable
settlement, therefore he declined 10 do so.
In answer to questions Manager Egan stated
he had made no effort to effect an amlcable
settlement OF the strike that il was the policy
of the railroads to crush the strike; that he
had refused TO treat with the American Rail-
way union in any way. but that he did not know
that IL was the policy of the companies to
crush the American Railway union. though he
admitted that the companies would have moth
ing to do with American Railway union people.
Being confronted with the charge made that
he had furnished money to be paid to men for
Overturning and burning cars, and for doing
overt acts. in order that prejudice against the
strikers might be created. Mr.. Egan replied:
My attention was first attracted to state
ments by what / read In the newspapers Con-
sidering the source from which it came
think all need say is tn 1t il is the veriest rot.
1t is on a parity with numerous other state
ments of Debs, Howard and other leaders of
the American Railway union to influence the
men they had duped.'
The mayor, he said. directed him TO dis
charge Immediately any policeman who was
found lukewarm or inefficient. Several officers
were suspended on complaints, but when he
came TO investigate he could find no respon-
sible author
so far as have been able to learn, the rail-
road men had very little to do with the dis
turbances ana destruction of property. The
rioters we're h0odlums mixed in with crowds
of women and children 1t was the opportu-
nifty of the tough element, and they took adj
vantage OF IL. do not think the average daily
arrests during the strike was any larger than
mn
along tracks or held in reserve at stations, and
SO did not paw as much attention to the Grim
inal classes of the city as usual
The chief said many of the complaints made
against the police were made by deputy mar
shals, who we're more in the way than OF serv-
ice. 20 show the character of some of these
men the chief offered to introduce the records
OF three deputy marshals who had been ar
rested for highway robbery TIE commission
excluded the records as irrelevant.
John T. Norton, q locomotive engineer re-
siding in South Chicago and formerly en-
ployed by the Illinois Central railroad. gave
his experience with the blacklist" After the
strike he secured position with the Calu-
met & Blue Island road, which was to run
over the Rock Island tracks part Of the way TO
get out OF South Chicago. He made one
TRIP and on his return was informed that the
Rock Island officials had barred him from their
tracks, and he was therefore discharged He.
lap of the Rock Island system, and was told
that he could not run on their tracks because
he belonged to the A. X. L.. and for no other
reason.
says strikes DO Good.
CHICAGO Aug. 2s President Samuel A.
Gompers, of the American Federation of La
Dor. being called to testify told the commits
sion about the Briggs house conference OF July
- at which there were present representatives
OF all the prominent national labor organiZa-
tions. This conference was called upon by a
committee from several Chicago unions asking
that a general strike be ordered as sug-
gested The request was considered care
fully and the. conference of the American
Federation OF Labor came to the conclusion that
the president Of the United States should be
called upon TO do whatever there was in his
power to bring the great labor trouble to an
amicable settlement To that end telegram
was sent TO the president asking that he either
come to Chicago or send some one to act for
i'm in conference with the executive
council of the American Federation OF Labor.
The president did not reply TO the telegram.
The council decided that it would be detri-
mental 10 the cause to indorse general strike.
as the American federation had no such au-
thority, even were its members so disposed.
Mr.. Gompers said he had no scheme for the
abolition OF strikes. boycotts and industrial
disturbances he said that he did not join IN
the denunciation of strikes. So long
as the present system Of labor and
trade exists there would be strikes. The
strike shows that the workingman has
left vet some honor, manhood and courage.
Strikes have forced the employing classes and
the rest OF the world 20 pay some attention TO
the labor auction Strikes were not the fall
ures they were usually written down to be.
More than two-thrds OF the strikes were victo-
ries for the la borers involved. Mr.Gompers said
that strikes bettered the condition OF the people
rnll xOha bav
OF railroa strike The corporation hires
other men. These new men certainly elevate
their economic condition. else they wouldn't
make the change. Mr.. Gomi,vr said his obser-
vations had led him 10 believe that the men
who strike are not lowered; do not take rela-
tive positions with the other men. so that
even failing strikes benefit the community.
He did not advocate strikes where il was pos
sible to do without them. He believed in vol
untary arbitration.
He was not prepared to say that tate social
ism would be the remedy: he did believe in the
government ownership OF railways aud all
means Of transportation and communication.
He said:
The government already operates great
number OF railroads. fit can operate bank
rupt road do not see ny it could not operate
IL before il becomes "a 4krupt
Mr. Gompers thought tbs beneficial outcome
OF the recent strike was the appointment Of
the commission before which he was testify
ing only Il would have been better II The com
mission had been sent to Chicago ear ier-dur-
ing the strike. He thought that IL would have
been able 10 bring the General Managers assoc
citation and the leaders Of the labor organiza-
tions together.
The witnsss had some things he wanted TO
say about the injunctions issued by court. He
held that these injunctions were not rightly
based on the inter state commerce law, that
st.s. A.aa arsrafrr