The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-16
How ARDON 'THESTAND.
The Investigation Into the Recent
Strikes Begun BY the Presi-
dents Commission
HoWARDTHEFIR WITNESS
He Ii Questioned Closely BY Mr.
Kernan---Some Queries I'M
answered.

CHICAGO, Aug. l6. The strike CONF
mission appointed by President Cleve-
land to investigate the Pullman and
railroad strike, has begun its work.
The sessions were held I'M the govern
ment building, in court room, and at
tracted many spectators. After pre-
liminary wsfk Vice President 8. W..
Howard OF the American Railway
union was called as the first witness.
Mr.. Howard began his statement by
expressing the hope that the commission
would use every effort to get at the bot
tom of the matter. Commissioners ker-
nan assured him that the investigation
would be thorough, and asked the wit
numerous questions as to his part and
present occupation, and the nature Of
his official position in the A. r. y.
Howard's Opinion Of strikes.
.sNow, !" said the commissioner, ''tell
MS what, in your opinion, caused the
railroad strikes =
The strikes were caused, " answered
Mr.. Howard, .sby the statement Of the
general managers that they would back
mp Mr.. Pullman during the strike.'
who told you thats'
THE newspapers printed the state
ment, crediting it to General Managers
Egan and Sc. John. z
Mr.. Howard then entered into an ex-
haustive recital Of the troubles leading
up TO the original Pullman strike. The
men had announced their intention 60
strike, he said, but ON being assured by
the company's officials that the em-
ployes grievances would be investigated
he Ind urged the men to return I'd work.
This they did ON the promise Of the
company that the committees who han-
died the trouble wouldnot be discharged
or otherwise injured because OF the part
they had taken In the matter.
The committeeman Were Discharged.
s'And after that promise. Z continued
the witness, three OF those committee
men were discharged. Then the men
struck Our union. aktek having failed
to ret any satisfaction from the Pull
man company, then endeayored by boy
cotting the cornpany's cars, 10 bring the
matter 10 d satisfactory termination.
We ordered no strike. We simply de-
sired that the Pullman cars be left of
Of the trains AT this point we were
again met by the General Managers
association. They refused to haul mail
cars unless the Pullmans were attached
TO the trains. Such action was entirely
uncalled for. The Pullmans were in NO
wise necessary for the transmission OF
the United States mails. can cite va.
rious cases when mail trains are run
without Pullman coaches or other pal
ace car equipment.
Howard told the commissioners that
he had received communication from
the state committee of safety telling Of
O conversation between two rioters
which had been overheard. The conver
sation. he said, was q dispute over
money which, the men claim, was re
ceived from General Manager Egan fol
overturning and burning railroad carr
during the strike
Some Questions Not Answered.
Commissioners Herman questioned ths
witness closely ON the powers of th,
American Railway Union, and Mr.
Howard at Last stated he would not an
swer explicitly until the United States
court cases pending against him wer,
decided He reluctantly admitted tina
the fact that lawless men frequenti,
seize the opportunity to riot during
labor troubles, ID an argument agains
strikes. Mr.. Towards examination
continued during the afternoon.