Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-21
A Clergyman Denounces Conditions
at Pullman.
HEARING OF TIE STRIKE COMMISSION
Testimony Of Newspaper Reporters
Regarding Violence.
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION

CHICAGO. August 2I.-M. j. Carroll,
editor of the Eisht-Hour Herald, was the
first witness called by the strike commits
sion today. Mr.. Carroll told of the efforts
of the civic federation, of which he Is a
Member, to settle the Pullman strike
He was informed by the Pullman officials,
he said. that they had nothing to arbitrate
and for this reason the federation accom-
plished nothing The witness said that
hard times were the cause of the railroad
as well as Of other strikes. and that the
manufacturers in times of business depres-
sion should give their employees the benefit
of the profits reaped in good times He
said that n, believed compulsory arbitra-
tioE applied to quasi public Industries would
be beneficial. and read a letter from a
friend IN New Zealand showing the bene-
fetal effects Of government ownership of
railroads and telegraph.
Malcolm Mcdowell. a newspaper reporter,
toll OF the overturning of cars at Pullman
He said that the mob at that point was
composed of outside men. mainly foreigners
and that there were no railroad strikers in
the disorderly crowd.
Rev. NJ. L. Wickham, pastor of the Swed-
ish Methodist Church at Pullman, was EN-
phatic in his denunciation of the methods
OF the Pullman company.
When business gets slack,' he said, "the
company's employees living outside of Pull
man are ordered to move into the compapy's
houses on peril of losing their positions
Some Of the men have attempted to buy
houses on the instailrient plan. but this Is
discouraged, as such men are always the
,nrst to be laid off when the force Is cut
down. The men are unfairly treated in
various ways. 1 know of one instance
when man was injured in the shops. and
a
for damages.
The man was taken tC the hospital. and
later L saw a sworn statement. purporting
TO be signed by him. In which he said the
accident was entirely unavoidable. / know
that paper to have been a forgery for on
the date on which 1t was made the man
was unable to write and could not have
sign ed his name.
''One of the worst features Of the Pull
man system of house renting is the immor-
ality which 1t encourages. Many of the
iworkmen are compelled to rent rooms to
help out their meager incomes. The houses
are so arranged that the roomers must pass
through the family sleeping apartments,
and. as a result, the morality of Pullman
Is much below that of surrounding towns
There Is no way for the working man to
avoid this, as many of them are practically
compelled to live In the company's houses"
Roy Baker, a Chicago reporter, was call
ed upon for an account Of the riot at Ham,
mond. Mr.. Baker stated that he was In
the center of the mob and saw no A. r. L..
men OF railroad strikers. the crowd being
made up Of toughs and outside men, He
said that shortly before the United States
troops fired a small body of men, sur
, rounded by women, children. and other
Pullman cars Without warning. the wit
ness declared. the troops fired. killing and
wounding several people. all of whom were
innocent spectators.
Mr.. Baker said that at no time during
the trouble did he see railroad man or
member of the A R. L. In the mob.