The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-22
THE STRIKE INQUIRY.
Testimony of "a Pullman Divine-A Re-
nOrfer on the Riots.

CHICAGO, Aug. H.-M. ]. Carroll editor
of the Eight Hour Herald, the first
witness called by the strike commission to-
day. Mr.. Carroll told of the efforts OF the
Civic Federation, of which he is a member.
to settle the Pullman strike He was IN
formed by the Pullman officials, he said,
that they had nothing TO arbtrate, and for
this reason the federation accomplished
nothing. The witness said that hard times
were the cause of the railroad as well as
of other recent strikes, and thought that
manufacturers. In times OF business depres-
sion, should give their employees the benefit
OF the profits reaped in good times. lie
said that he believed compulsory arbitra-
ton applied TO quasi-public industries would
be beneficial, and read a letter from
friend in New Zealand showing the bene-
fetal effects of government ownership Of
railroads and telegraph.
Mr.. Mcdowell, newspaper reporter, told
of the overturning of cars at Pullman. He
said that the mob at that point was COM
posed of outside men, mainly foreigners.
and that there were no railroad strikers In
the disorderly crowd
Rev. w. l.. Wickham, pastor of the Swed-
ish Methodist Church at Pullman, was en-
phatic in his denunciation Of the methods
of the Pullman company. when business
gets slack, he said, the company ; EN-,
ployes living outside of Pullman are ordered
to move into the company's houses, on
peril of losing their poSiJTons. Some OF the
men have attempted to buy houses on the
installment plan, but this is discouraged,
as such men are always the trst TO be laid
off when the force is cut down. The men
are unfairly treated in various ways. L
know of one instance where a man was in
jured in the shops and unfair means were
taken to prevent a suit for damages The
man was taken to the hospital, and later
saw a sworn statement purporting to be
signed by him in which he said the acci-
dent was entirely unavoidable. i know the
paper to have been a forgery, for on the
date on which IL was made the man was
unable TO write and could not nave signed
his name. One of the worst features or the
Pullman system of house renting Is the i'm
morality which il encourages. Many OF the
workmen are compelled to rent rooms 10
help out their meager incomes. The houses
are so arranged that the roomers must pass
through the family sleeping apartments. and
as a result the morality OF Pullman Is
much below that of surrounding towns.
There is way for the workingmen to
avoid this, as many OF theIn are praS-
tically compelled TO live in the companys
houses"
Roy Baker, a Chicago reporter. was
called upon for an account of the riot at
Hammond Mr. Baker stated that he was
i'm the center OF the mob and saw no a. X,
L. men or railroad strikers, the crowd Delng
made up of toughs and OUTSIDE men. de
said that shortly before the United States
troops fired a small body of men, surround
ed by women, children and other spectators
attempted to overturn some Pullman cars.
Without warning, the witness declared, the
troops fired killing and wounding seVeral
people all OF whom were innocent spec
btators. Mr.. Baker said that at no time
during the trouble did he see railroad man
member of the a. r. l. in the mob
A PROCLAMATION.
The Governor tonight issued the follow
ing proclamation, addressed ITO the people
of the State OF Illinois, and especially those
of the city of Chicago"
dfSfr
the want of food in and around the town
of Pullman. More than a thousand faml,
lies or i'm the neghborhood OF six thousaro
people are utterly destitute-nearly four
fifths of them are women and children. Inc
men have endeavored 10 get Work, but were
unable to- do so. . As rule the men
are a superior class of Iaboring people
Industrious capable and steady, and some
Of them have worked for the Pullman com
pany for more than ten years. Those who
have been given work can get food. but
are still in such an Impoverished condltlon
that they cannot help ei their negne9Ts s gn ~
get more supplies. On last Saturday II gave
to each family two pounds or oatmeal and
two pounds of cornmeal, and, having MOTH
ing left il suspended operations. leaving
the people In an absolutely helpless condi-
ton. The County Commissioners OF Cook
dered some assistance, but. owing TO linn
tied appropriation, they can furnish relief
but for short time We cannot now stop Srp
good people Of this State cannot allow
women and children by the hundred to per-
ish OF hunger / therefore call upon all hu-
name and charitably disposed citizens to
contribute what they can toward giving
relief to these people" The Governor has
also called on the Commissioners or Cook
county 10 do all in their power in the mat
ALTGELD TO PULLMAN.
The correspondence between Governor
Altgeld and Mr.. Pullman began last sun
day, when, in response TO number OF ap-
TDr,l1r -fr
assistance, Governor Altgeld sent lengthy
telegram to Mr.. Pullman. calling his atten-
ton TO the situation set forth in the
appeal and saying of the strikers
"It is claimed they struck because. after
years OF toll their loaves were so reduced
that their children went hungry; Admit
ting that they wrong and foolish.
they had yet served you long and well.
and you must feel some interest I'm them.
They do not stand on the same footing
with you. that much must be overlooked.
The State of Illinois has not the least de-
sire 10 meddle in the affairs or your COM
pany. but IL cannot allow whole COM