Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-24

Did Not Call on the Assooia-
tion-Has No Cure for Strikes.
Blacklists Men Only on It's Own
Road.
CHICAGO, August 23.-Gsneral Man
ager f. ST. John Of the Rock Island
railroad was called before the strike
commissioners to-day. Mr.. ST. John
had prepared history OF the strike as
IL affected his road and read 20 the
mmIssloners detailed account Of the
troubles. When he had finished he was
asked II his company olscklIsted men.
Not In the sense that the word Is
generally understood" said the witness.
"When a man is discharged from our
divisions we send statement 10 our
other divisions, that be may not be re-
employed, but no such statement Is sent
TO other roads unless It Is requested"
"Can you show US copy OF your
contract with the Pullman Company"
asked Commissioner KernGn.
al can show you the contract II you
will regard It as private matter. do
not wish TO have it published In the
newspapers.
This proposition was refused and
Mr.. ST. John was asked II the contract
compelled his company TO haul Pull
mans on all passenger trains.
NO" was the answer. 1--WE can
haul Pullmvns on any trains we choose
and need rot haul them unless We
wish"
'Then you were not compelled to
haul Pullmans during the striker"
"No, we were not"
ONLY sEvENTY.FoUR GOT BACK.
Mr.. st. John was asked as 10 the num-
Der OF strikers that had been taken back
after the strike.
Most OF our men" he said, "quit
work through fear, but OF the 552
actual strikers only "a have been takon
back"
The witness said that their relations
TO labor unions were regulated by the
number OF men on their lines belonging
70 the upions.
"when p union has so per cent or
more of our men" he said, ''we, as =
general thing, treat with It's represent
atlyes. We had no dealings with the
American Railway Union. as IL had less
than 500 of our employees"
"Dld your road cut wages last spring
or this summer" asked Commissioner
Wright.
mo, sir. We cut our force, but not
wages"
HAS your road advanced wages with
in the last ten years?"
"Yes; we have frequently maze indi-
vidual advances, but no general Increase
that remember of.
"How much did the strike cost ths
Rock Island road2' asked Mr.. hernaD.
AZ cannot give exact figures without
reference TO data, but should say thai
the strike cost our road between $780,
600 and 81, 600. 000.'
MIR. ST. John emphatlcally donied the
statement that United states Marshall
used during tho riots were controlled
by the railroads.
1--WE asked for protection, and fur
nished many OF our employees who were
sworn In az deputy marshAls, but Aftei
being sworn 10 we had nothing 20 Dc
with them. They were COMMANDED
and controlled, / suppose, by th'
United States Marshal"
SAYS THEY WE'RE STRIKERS.
The witness said that many Of th'
rioters who overturned and burned car
wers strikers. lie knew this 10 bo ;
fact. he said, because many OF then
were recognized by tho Rock lslanS
employss who witnessed the lawiess
ness. The commissioners questioned
Mr.. s.. John very closely regarding th'
control Of the deputy United State
marshals az the statement bad beer
made by Chief Deputy DOnnelly ths
the railroad companies took charge 0
| the forces during the riots.
In the Afternoon Br. 81. John gave
bi,tory OF the formation OF the Genera
Managers Association. which he deaie'
had lts inception from any desire 10 re
duce the wages OF the men. He saic
| further: "Tne schedule Of wages ~
have compiled seems 70 have been mis-
understood. II Is a tabulaiIon OF rail
road WAGES al over the country
II was impossible 10 have anything liz
eouality OF wages for the same class o
| service without some such tabulation
| II had nothing TO do with an intsnde'
reduction Of wages and was not follow
ed BY reductions. Two or three South
ern lines found they were paying wage
considerably In excess OF wages paid b
their competitors and naturally reduce
them 10 an equality. do not say TIA
| there will not
BE A REDUCTION or WAGES
and 4 revision OF the schedule tar. TIL
Rock Island 30 far has made us ecof
omles by reduction Of force and "a
shortening Of working hours fea
very much, however, that unless
| change comes To the situation SONS
thing will have 10 be done. / spea
OF the com mpany's financial affairs Wit
the greatest reluctance In public, bl
its earnings have suffered decrease Q
1900. 600 10 three months and SON
method will have TO be devised Z
changing that result. Some Of ID
companies have he'd their earnings d
creased At the rate Of 100000 pc
month"
Mr.. Kernan asked the witness IL ,
did not believe a system OF goysrnme'
license applied TO railroad employ
.onid he a good ,hing. Mr. ST. job
/ said be thought the piau hao merit
is could be
r.-- orr oy poIfTIC9