The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-21
DEBS ON ThE STAND.
The Strike Leader Before the
National Commission.
WHY THE STRIKE WAS DECLARED.

Suffering Pullman Workers, After Other
Efrorts sFaiIed-Governmsnt Ownership /
of Railroads Preferable to Railroad
Ownership OF Government.
CHICAGO, Aug 21.-President Eugene
v. Debs, of the American Railway union,
testified yesterday before the national Ia
Dor commission. He said, in answer to a
question, he was 3s years old, and In addi-
tion to being at the head of the American
Railway union, was editor of The Loco
motive Fireman's Magazine.
He testified tsat from the beginning he
was opposed to strike and SO told Vice
President Howard. He then continued:
81 twice went to G. NJ Pullman and to
the town of Pullman to thoroughly in
vestig ate the conditions existing at the
carshops found the employees were not
only not getting wages enough to live,
but were daily getting deeper into the
debt of the Pullman company. No mat
ter how offensive the conditions were
there, the men we're obliged to submit to
them.
when found out all these things
Immediately determined that the A. II. U.
should go to the assistance of these un-
fortunate people. We believed that any
fair board Of arbitration would have de-
clueu III laNOT Oh tu6 eUlplOytS, anu MI
we asked was arbitration. This the Pull
man company arbitrarily refused. Not
only this, but hen we asked them to ex-
anime into the question to see whether or
not there was anything to arbitrate, they
also refused this
"Very much has been said about an al
legged conspiracy against the railroads and
against hauling the mails. | want to call
the attention of this commission to the
fact that every meeting of the A. X. U.
was held with open doors, and that re-
porters Of the press were allowed to he
present. II there had been any conspiracy
contemplated We certainly would have
been more secret about it,
"Not only did the employees of the var
ious railroads strike because of the in
Justice being done to the Pullman en-
ploycs, but because the various roads had
grievances of their own, which shall pro-
coed In time to show. We used our in
fuence to prevent strikes during the
Worlds fair, as we did not believe it just
to the public to inaugurate II strike at such
time. 1t was all that could be done by
the leaders of the labor unions to prevent
strike. In view of the mems working
throughout the fair, the railway man
ayers on many Of the roads promised an in
crease of wages after the fair was over
Instead of doing this they began immedi-
ately after the fair closed to begin II sys-
tsmatic reduction Of wages throughout
the country
President Dcbs saitl, moreover, no rail-
road reduced the wages of all its men at
the same time, but reduced them by sec
ii ons. lie declared the A. X. U. viewed
these reductions with the greatest appre-
bension. The organization felt that the
time had come to act.
The witness enumerated the failures Of
the old labor organizations to gain redress
for the grievances of the employees, and
asserted they felt their only hope lay in
the A. r. u, to which they finally turned
for help.
II would like to state" said Mr. Debs,
'that the railroad companies have never
raised wages of their own accord. Every
increase In wages has been wruug from
th EN- by organized labor"
"Do you claim" asked Mr.. Wight, that
the railroads were responsible for the
strike because they insisted on hauling
Pullman carsY
"No, sir. The American Railway union
was responsible for it, but under aggrav-
ating circumstances. The general man
agsrs are united to reduce wages. The
employees are united to resist such reduc-
tons. In case of reduction that leads
to a strike we think the company respon-
sible."
what is your opinion as to methods Of
sYerting strikesf" asked Commissioner
Worthington.
"My own idea, nnd 1t is the idea Of the
American Railway union, is to unity all
the railroad men of the country. A power
like that prudently managed, would
avert strikes. The railroad managers
wpuld recognize the wisdom of treating IT
fairly and meeting 1t in a conciliatory
spirit"
"Do you believe n strike is justiflable
that interferes with public conveniences''
II believe striking is justihable, no mat,
ssr what the result, when it is to resist
degradation.
DO you believe in government owner
ship Of railroadsf" asked Mr.. Herman.
"Yes, sir; l believe that government
ownership of railroads is decidedly better
thAn railroad ownership of the govern
ment."
There was the heartiest Of laughter and
applause at the epgram, and it was som,
time before quiet was restored.
In conclusion the witness said he be
hsVed that the A. r. U. was stronger
numerically and in every way than it had
syer been.
Debs was followed by P II. Morrisey, frs
Vice grand master of the Brotherhood .
Railroad trainmen. and E L. Clarke
grand chief OF the Order OF Railway Con
Aactors Both told of hostility between
kheir brotherhoods and the A. X. U.