Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-20
STRIKE INVESTIGATION.
Large Crowd Assemblies in Anticipa.
ti0n OF n Peep at the A. IL. U. Lead
er-Detailed statement of
their Grievances.

Chicago, Aug. 2O.-By far the larges
audience yet is in attendance at thu
strike commission session to-day, at
tracted by the appearance as witness
OF the A. R. U. president, Mr.. Debs.
"Now tell us in your own way Mr.
Debs," said Comr. Wright, "what you
know of the Pullman strike and results
The leader of the great strike began in a
low, clear voice the recital which gradual
ly developed into almost an oration
lie told of his having received word that
strike in Pullman was imminent and
of his coming to Chicago to investigate.
81 found" he said, "that men were work
ing for the Pullman company at wages
upon which they could not live.
found salaries had been cut time and
again until skilled mechanics were work
ing their lives away for wages that were
not enough for days labor. That the
town of Pullman was so scheemed that
every penny the workingmen made
found its way back to the company. In
fact, found the workingmen at Pullman
in a pitiable condition and determined I
would do all in my power as president of
the A. r. U. to improve the condition of
those men. The strike which followed
was 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 various local unions, each of
which had grievance of its own"
"Would railroad strikes have occurred
if there had been no Pullman trouble?"
asked Comr. Wright.
"No, the Pullman strike was the prime
cause. We desired to stop the Pullman
cars and shut off his income, thus forcing
him to arbltrate, but the railroad men
had grievances of their own. The Cen
eral Managers association had been or
ganized with the avowed intention of
giving assistance to the railroads in labor
troubles and with the evident aim of
driving organized labor from existence.
No sooner had the association been
formed than a systematic reduction of
railroad wages all over the country be-
gan. I did not order the strikes, as l
had not the power. The men did that
themselves, but | do not wish to shirk
any responsibility, and am willing to say
that | heartily approved of the action
taken by the men. As to violence, |
have always condemned it. As to the
kilograms sent from our Office council
ling violence, | know of no such
eplstles."
"What about the buy gun telegram p"
asked Commissioner Herman.
"That is easily explained. A telegram
was sent by the private secretary to
friend in Butte, Montana, and was merely
a playful expression. 1t was sent as such
and so understood"
President Debs then said that within
five days after the strike was declared the
union had the railroads beaten. They
were paralyzed, he said, but injunctions
were sown broadcast and shortly after
ward officials of the A. r. U. were arrested
for contempt of court. Gen. Miles came
to Chicago and called on the General
Managers association anG the next day he
was quoted in an interview as saying he
had broken the backbone of the strike.
Now consider that cali of Gen. Miles MS
vulgarly out of place. He had no more
right to consult with the General Manag-
ers' association than he had to consult
with our unions. might say too that it
seems strange that all our letters and
tclegrams were made public property,
while not a line of railroad correspond
ence was published. If it had been I
think we could prove that the general
managers. at special meeting, declared
that they would stamp the A. r. U. out of
existence"
The strike commissioners have notified
Geo. M. Pullman to appear and testify
and will also call for several members of
the General Managers association.