The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-21
DEBS ON THE STAND.
The President of the American Rail-
way Union Appears Before the
Commission.
PULLMAN CAUSED STRIKE,
Though the Railroad Men Had Griev-
ances of Their 0wn---Pullman
Summoned.

DuRAfllUMCue
CHICAGO, Aug. 2l. by far the largest
audience which has yet been in attend
ance upon the strike commissions ses-
sions was present during the day, at
tracted by the appearance as witness
of President e. " Debs OF the A. r. u.
The court room where the commission
ers sit was crowded from the bench TO
the doorways. President Debs took the
witness chair.
Now tell as, in your own way Mr..
Debs, said Commissioner Wright,
what you know of the Pullman strike
and its results"
Leaning forward in his seat, the tall
leader of the great strike began in low
clear voice, recital which gradually
became more earnest and forcible as he
proceeded, untilit developed into almost
an oration. He told of having received
word that strike i'm Pullman was inn
minent and of his coming to Chicago to
investigate.
What Debs Found.
81 found" he said, s'that the men
Were working for the Pullman COM
pany at wages upon which they could
not live. found that salaries had
been cut time and again until skilled
mechanics were working their lives
away for wages not sufficient for day
laborer. That the town OF Pullman
with its shops, its houses and its stores
were 90 schemed that every penny the
workingman made found it's way back
into the company's Golfers. In fact,
found the workingmen Of Pullman in Q
pitable condition and determined /
would do all In my power as president
OF the A. r. o., to improve the condi-
tion of these men. The strike followed,
ordered by the men themselves. Then
came the boycott ordered by duly elected
delegates TO our convention and then
followed the railroad strikes, ordered by
the varions local unions, each Of which
had grievances Of it's own.
MIR. Debs then told of the strike, his
account differing but little from that Of
the other A. r. 81. officials who had
preceded him on the witness stand.
Would the railroad strikes occurred
If there had been no Pullman trouble2''
asked Commissioner Wright.
PulIman Strike the Prime Canse.
mo, the Pullman strike was the
prime cause. we decided to stop Pull
mans cars and shnt on his income,
thus forcing him to arbitrate. But the
railroad men had grievances OF their
own. The General Managers associa-
tion had been organized with the
avowed intention of giving assistance TO
railroads in labor troubles. The evident
aim was to drive organized labor from
existence No sooner had this associa-
tion been formed than a systematic re-
duction OF railroad wages all over the
country began. The cuts were made on
one road at o time, and in one depart
ment at q time, but the systematic reg
ularity with which they appeared was
sufficiently significant. The men were
ready to strike and felt they had cause
But the trouble would not have come
when it did had it not been for the
Pullman matter. The time was unpro-
pitious. business was depressed and
money was scarce. ] did not order the
strike, | had not the power; the men did
that themselves. But do not wish to
shirk any responsibility, and am willing
TO say that heartily commended. con.
CURED in and approved Of the action
taken by the men.
Always Condemned Violence.
AS to violence, ! always condemned
it. have written and spoken against
1t, believing and knowing that strike
cannot be won by violence. As To tele-
grams sent from our Office counselling
violence, know or no such epistles."
What about the 'buy q gum tele-
gram, = asked Commissioners Herman.
s'That Is easily explained. The tele-
gram was.sent by private secretary TO
friend In Butte, and was merely q
playful expression. It was sent as such
and was 50 understood"
Mr.. Debs then said that within fiye
days after the strike was declared the
union had the railroads beaten.
They were paralyzed. z he said, ssbut
just 81 that time injunctions were sown
broadcast, aud shortly afterwards the
officials of the IA. r.. II. were arrested
z 10I CUAbSAAE9 0A C1UEbs nat OG&E US.
It wasn't the railroads or the army.
hut the
Power Of the DATED states Courts
that beat us. About that time d thinr
occurred which desire to mention.
General Miles came to Chicago, called
ON the General Managers association.
and the next day he was quoted IN an
interview 10 saying that he had broken
the backbone of the strike. Now L con-
slider that call on General Miles as vul-
carly ont Of place. He had no more
right to consult with the Cen
eral Managers association than
he had 70 consult with the
men Of our union. ! might sat, too.
that Il seems strange that all of our
letters and telegraans were made public