The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-09-11

l could see my way clear to more con-
genial employment. 1t was just as we
had arrived at this conclusion that the
foreman came to me again. Said he:
The tendency from now on is to run
slack and there will be a reduction of
hands shortly in this department., you
had better look out for another open
ing" / replied that it was unfortunate
as I was preparing to move into Pull
man and had intended that very day
to rent a house. EUnder those circum
stances" he replied, lit is possible we
can keep you going as we are desirous
of aiding those who patron.z4 ua."
go this far into detail as I wish to
impress upon your mind the fact that
q Pullman employee, if a married man,
was forced to rem a company house,
Notwithstanding other statements to
the contrary. Were the space given
me I could cite a score of instances
where men with whom have been per-
sonally acquainted have lost their en-
ployment solely because they would
not succumb to the dictatorship of the
Gar Of Pullman.
So we commenced our housekeeping
in Pullman with a suite of 6 rooms at
a rental of $22 per month, exclusive of
water tax. Don't think for a moment
that this excessive rent entitled us to a
home in the o select portions of
Pullman. l had previously examined
similar accommodations in Kensington
the rent of which ranged from SO to
$12 so per month. But what was I to
do9 could not throw up my employ
ment until I could see my way clear to
another position; and so I did as hun
dreds were forced to do-grin and
bear it.
Thus began our slavery, for I know
of no other name more fitting. Once
settled in Pullman it did not take us
long to find that our trade was expected
at the Pullman stores. This introduces
another phase of the source of Pull
mans revenue. It has been said that
it is not compulsory to trade in these
stores, and that they are not owned by
the Pullman Company. 1t is true that
the names appearing over the various
stores suggest the idea of Individual
ownership, but that is as far as it goes.
They are as surely under Pullman con-
troll as the shops themselves. Do you
want proof9 Suppose you run out of
ready money between pay days, and
you want a bill of goods from the
grocer. You go to the Arcade, which
is the building containing the stores of
Pullman, and explain that you desire
credit for a certain amount of goods.
Thereupon the clerk will call up the
pay masters office of the Pullman Co.,
and ascertain if you have an amount
of money due you large enough to pay
for the goods you desire. If so, you
get the goods and there is a charge
ticket made out for the amount, which
goes to the Office and a duplicate given
to you. This duplicate reads:
Bought of the Pullman Palace Car
Co., with the name of the party ap,
pearing on the store as manager. Is
not this conclusive proof that you are
trading with the Pullman Co., and that
the name of the individual who appears
to be the owner is merely a figure-head3
The public do not see these charge
tickets, and a visitor going through
the town and seeing the stores run ap-
parently by disinterested parties, does
not realize the systematic working of a
philanthrophy which brings back to
it's protector the money disbursed as
wages.
As to the amount of liberty given you
to trade where you see fit, it is, to say
the least, limited You may SUCCEED
in getting supplies from Kensington OF
Chicago a few times, but the limit will
soon be reached, and if afser being ap
preached and warned in an off hand
way, you continue to trade elsewhere,
you need not be surprised to find il
your pay envelope g. slip of paper notify
ing you that through incompetency OF
lack of work, your services are nc
longer required. How long do you
think you could remain passive and
content under such forms of oppres
sion9
The year 1892 brought three reduc
tions in wages, bringing my work tc
2Oc. per hour. The causes assigned fol
these reductions were competition and
increase in the price of material. Now
I would like to ask any fair minded
man with whom the Pullman Car Co