The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-08-21
DEBS ON THE STAND.
The A. R. U. Leader Tells of
The Great Strike.
HE WAS EARNEST AND FORcIBLB
George NJ. Pullman and Members of the
General Managers' Association
WIN Appear as Witnesses

CHICAGO. Aug. 20.-President Z. V.
Debs, of the American Railway Union,
was witness before the strike commits
sion today. The courtroom was crowded
from bench to door@ays. ''Now tell as
in your own way, Mr.. Debs, !" said Com
missioner Wright, what you know of
the Pullman strike and results"
Leaning forward in his seat, the tall
leader OF the great strike began in clear
voice a recital which gradually became
more earnest and forcible as he pro-
ceeded, until it developed into almost
an oration. He told of having received
word that strike in Pullman was inn
minent, and of his coming to Chicago
to investigate. ''I found, "Rhe said, the
men were working for the Pullman
company at wages upon which they
could not live. l found salaries had
been cut time and again until skilled
mechanics were working their lives
away for wages not sufficient for day
lsborers; that the town of Pullman was
so schemed that every penny the work
ingmen made found its way back to the
company. In fact, I found the work
ingmen of Pullman in pitiable condi-
ton, and determined would do all in
my power as president of the American
Railway Union to improve the condition
Of these men. The strike followed, or
dered by the men themselves. Then
came the boycott ordered by the duly
elected delegates to our convention, and
then followed the railroad strikes, or
dered by the various local unions, each
of which had grievance of its own"
Would the railroad strike have oc-
Cured if there had BEEN no Pullman
trouble" asked commissioner Wright.
''No, the Pullman strike was the
prime cause. We desired to stop Pull
mans cars and shut off his income, thus
forcing him to arbitrate, but the rail-
road men had grievances of their own.
The General Managers Association had
been organized with the avowed inten-
ton of giving assistance to the railroads
in labor troubles. It's evident aim was
to drive organized labor from existence.
No sooner had this association been
formed than systematic reduction of
railroad wages all over the country be-
gan. The men were ready to strike and
telt they had cause, but the trouble
would not have come when it did had it
not been for the Pullman matter. The
time was unpropitious. / did not order
the strikes; had not the power. The
men did that themselves, But do not
wish to shirk any responsibility, and am
willing to say heartily cencurred in
and approved of the action taken by the
men. As to violence, have always
condemned it, 1 have written and
spoken against it believing and know
ing strike cannot be won by violence,
AS to the kilograms sent from our Office,
counseling violence, know of no such
epistles."
"What about the ''buy gun tele-
grAm?'' asked the commissioner.
''That is easily explained. The tele-
gram was sent by the private secretary
to friend in Butte, and was merely
playful expression. 1t was sent as such
and so understood
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
wards the officials of the American
Railway Union were arrested for con-
tempt of court. That beat us. About
that time General Miles came to Chicago
and called on the General Managers
Association, and next day was quoted in
an interview as saying he had broken
the backbone of the strike. Now. 1 con-
slider that call of General Miles as vul-
carly out of place. He had no more
right to consult with the General Man
ayers Association than he had to con-
suit with our unions. might say. too,
it seems strange that all our letters and