The herald., 1894-08-22
DISTRESS At PULLMAN.
Governor Altgeld Trying to
Alleviate 1t.
An Appeal to the State for
Assistance.
Hundreds Of Families Absolutely
Destitute.
Fruitiess Appeals to tho Company to
Assist In the Work of
Relief The Strike
Investigation.
BY the Associatad Press.

my eeil, halu 0OV6TuOr hitSclu touuy,
''and il anything considerable were to
be done, the money wonld have to come
out of the governments financial re-
servoirs. Knight convene the legisla-
ture for the purpose of making an ap-
preparation, or I might make an appeal
to the people of the state. l think we
have gene to the bottom of things now
and can proceed intelligently and 1t re-
mains to be seen what can be DONE"
The governor used these words as the
cloee Of the meeting respecting the
Pullman strike issue. At the invita-
tion OF the governor, the committee met
at his Office to give information regard
ing the strikers.
He Was told that 24S6 families had
been helped.
II do not know just what method l
shall take with these men," said the
governor, 'but something must be
done. have written George M. Pull
man."
The governor tonight issued the fol-
lowing proclamation:
pecially those OF the City OF Chicago:
There ia great distress growing out OF
the want Of food in and around the town
of Pullman. More than thousand
families, or in the neighborhood of 5000
people, are destitute-nearly four-fifths
OF them are women and children. These
men have endeevored to get work, but
were unable to do go.
Aa q yula tho man ora a N rior nj
liberal, industrious capable and
steady--and some of them have worked
for the Pullman company for more than
10 years. Those who have been given
work can get food, but are still in such
an Impoverished condition that they
cannot help their neighbors it they
would. The relief society is unable to
get more supplies. On last Saturday
they gave to each family two pounds OF
oatmeal and two pounds of corn meal,
and having nothing left, have suspend
cd operations, leaving the people in an
absolutely helpless condition. The
county commissioners of Cook county,
as overseers OF the poor, have rendered
come assistance, but owing to the linn
tied appropriation, they can furnish re-
lief but for short time.
We cannot now stop to inquire into
the cause of this distress. The good
people OF this state cannot allow women
and children by the hundreds to perish
from hunger. 1 therefore call upon all
humane and charitably disposed citizens
to contribute what they can towards
giving relief to these people.
The governor has also called on the
commissioners of Cook county to do all
in their power in the matter.
The correspondence between Governor
Altgeld and Mr.. Pullman began last
Sunday when, in response to an appeal
made to him by the Pullman strikers
for assistance, Governor Altgeld sent @
lengthy telegram to Pullman, calling his
attention to the appeal, and saying:
1.-THE strikers, it is claimed, struck
because after years of toll their wages
were go reduced that their children went
hungry. Assuming that thev were
wrong and foolish, they had vet served
you long ard well, and you muet feel
some interest in them. They do not
stand on the same footing as
you, so that much must be over.
looked. The state of Illinois has not the o
least desire to msddle in the affairs OF
the company. but it cannot allow a
whole community within its borders TO
perish of hunger. The local overseer of
the poor has been appealed to, but there
is limit to what we can do. We can
not help them very much at present.
Unless relief come from some source |
shall have to call an extra session OF the
Legislature to make special approprie.
tions, or else issue an appeal to the hu-
name people of the state to give bread to
nj or1ly MIR
that you would prefer to relieve this sit
uation yourself especially as it has cost
the state upwards of $4,000 to protect
your property, and as both the state and
public have suffered enough loss on &C.
count OF the disturbances that grew out
OF the trouble between your company
and it's workmen."
After making personal visit to Phil
man, Governor Altgeld today addressed
personal letter to Mr. Pullman,
eaying:
II examined the conditions at Pull
man yesterday and visited even the
kitchens and bedrooms of many of the
people.
81 learn from your manager that last
epring there were 1850 people on the
payrolls. Yesterday there were 222O at
Ii.
go that only about 1900 of the old EN-.
ployees have been taken back, leaving
1000 OF the old employees who have not
been taken back. A few hundred have
left. The remainder have applied for
work, but they were told that they
were not needed. These are destitute.
The relief committee has exhausted
its resources. 1t seems 10 me your
company cannot afford to have men
appeal to me for charity. and the hn.
manly OF the state to save the lives of
your old employees. Four-fifths OF the
people are women and children. No
matter what caused this distress, it must
be met"
He then proposes that the rent of all
the unemployed be remitted until Octo.
ber let.
Mr.. Pullman replied at length. He
said: While it has not been reported
TO the officers Of this company BY any