Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-21

NhAOAbOg
largest audience which has yet been In
attendance upon the strike commission
sessions. was present to-day, attracted
by the appearance, as q witness OF
President f. V. Debs, of the American
Railway Union. The court room was
crowded from the bench to the door
ways. when President Debs took the
witness chair.
NOW tell US, in your own way, Mr.
Debs," said Commissioner Wright
"what YOU know OF the Pullman strike
and its results"
Leaning forward in his seat. the tall
leader of the great strike began in low
clear voice a recital which gradually be-
came earnest and forcble as he proceed
ed, until it developed into almost an
Grafton. He told OF having received
word that strike in Pullman was immi-
neut and of his coming to Chicago TO in
vestigate.
81 found" he said, that the men
were working for the Pullman Company
at wages upon which they could not
LL,,yr,- | found that salaries had been
cut tirae aud again, until skilled me-
chanics were working their lives away
for WAGES not sufficieat for common
laborer: that the town of Pullman, with
it's shops, it's houses and stores, was so
scHEMED THAT EVERY PENNY
the vorkingmen made found its way
back into the company's Golfers. In
fact, found the workingmen OF Pull
man in a ptiable condition and deter
mined to do al in my power as president
OF the American Railway Union to I'm
prove their condition. The strike fol-
lowed, ordered by the men themselves.
Then came the boycott, ordered by duly
elected delegates to our convention, and
then followed the railroad strikes, or
dered by the various local unions, each
of which had grievances of It's own"
Mr.. DebS then told OF the strike, bis
account differing but little from that OF
the other American Railway Union Of
ficials who had preceded him on the
witness stand.
"Would the railroad strike have oc-
Cured II there had been no Pullman
trouble?" asked Commissioner Wright.
mo, the Pullman strike was the
prime cause. We desired TO stop Pull
mans cars and shut of 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 ayowed in
tenton of giving assistance to railroads
in labor troubles. The evident aim was
TO drive organized labor from existence.
No sooner had this association been
formed, than systematic reduction OF
wages all over the country began. The
cut were made on one road at time
and in one department at a time, but
the systematic regularity with which
they appered were sufficiently Sig
nifcant. The men were ready
to strike and felt they had
cause. But the trouble would not have
come when IL did bad it not been for the
Pullman matter. The time was unpro-
pjtious; business was depressed and
money was scarce. 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 that | heartily con-
Cured in and approved OF the action
taken by the men. As to violence | al
ways condemned II. | have written
and spoken against 1t, believing and
knowing that g strike cannot be Won by
violence.
As TO TELEGRAMs SENT
from our Office counsellng violence, l
know nothing Of any such epistles."
What about the buy gun tele-
pram?" asked Commissioner Herman.
That is easily explained. The tele-
gram was sent by private secretary to
q friend in Butte, and was merely
playful expression. 1t was sent as such
and was so understood.
Mr.. Debs then said that within FIVE
days after the strike was declared the
Union had the railroads beaten.
They we're paralyzsd." he said, "but
lust at that time injunctions were sown
DTOdQCGSt, duu chOl Wy oAsUi "oANo VIZ
officials OF the American Railway Union
were arrested for contempt OF court.
That beat Us. 1t wasn't the railroads,
nor the army. but the power OF the Uni
ted States Courts that beat US. About
that time a thing occurred which de-
sire to mention. General Miles came TO
Chicago, called on the General Man
ayers Association and the next day was
quoted in an Interview as saying that he
bad broken the backbone OF the strike.
Now | consider that call Of General
Miles as
vULGARLY OUT OF PLACE
He had DO more right to consult with
the General Managers Association
than he had TO consult with the men Of
orr unioo.
Irnight say, too. that II seems strange
that all OF our letters aud kilograms
were made public property. while not a
line of the railroads ee<respondence
was published. If it hH been, think
we could prove that th3 general mana
gers at one Of their secret meetings de-
cIared they would stzknp the American
Railway Union out o1existence."
In reply 10 questiAn Mr.. Debs said
that the Union had kaken every possi-
be means to presen ri0ting and disor-
der. ave objected the presence Of
Federal troops. but { 30 State tro9R
and police. II ! RED mDsr rlgna4