The Washington times., 1894-08-26
STRIKES ARE NECESSARY
President GOmpers, Of the Federation
Of Labor, So Declares.
THEY CONSTITUTE A PROTEST
Call Attention to the Fact That La5oring
Men Will Not Be Driven Further Into
Poverty-He Does Not Think the Present
Investigation VIII Do Any Good

CHICAGO. H.. Aug. 25.-President Debs, OF
the American Railway Union. said before the
strike commission that he did not favor com
pulsory arbitration in settlement Of labor
troubles: He did not believe, he said, that
such a method would prove universally satis-
factory
Mr. Debs was asked il he knew OF any dis
satisfaction among the Rock Island employees
prior to the strike. He said that there had
been trouble among the telegraphers Of the
road and that there was much dissatisfaction.
Questioned as 10 the statement that ther9
were not more than $50 American Railway
Union men on the road, witness said the
statement was absurd. "The fact that the
road was completely tied up, Debs added,
''effectually disproyes such a story"
Samuel GOmpers. Of the American Fedora
tiOn Of Labor, was the next witness. Mr.
GOmpers prefaced his testimony bv a brief
outline Of the aims and principles of the Fed
Grafton, and gave figures showing the mem
bership OF the organization The witness told
OF the calling of the conference of the heals
Of laboz organizations. which was held in the
Briggs House IN Chicago. de said that after
long deliberatiOn the delegates decided 70 re-
quest President Cleveland to settle the srtike.
DIDN'T DEIGN TO REPLY
eve thought, sad Gompers, that n Mr..
Gladstone could do such service in the Eng
Iish coal strikes such an attempt would not be
beneath the dignity Of the President Of the
United States Accordingly. a telegram was
sent 20 Dir. Cleveland. asking his aid. To thar
message he did not delgn 10 reply. In fact,
he took not the slightest notice Of IT, Mr.
DebS was then called in and gave q history OF
the boycott, the Pullman trouble, and the
railroad strike. We considered the matter
carefully. and finally decided that We could
not order a general strike. that it would be a
usurpatiOn Of power, and would for many
reasons be unWise. The delegates expressed
their sympathy with the movement, and soon
afterward we adjourned"
Mr.. GOmpers then read from the secretary's
report a detailed statement Of the proceed
lngs of the conference. Mr.. Gompers ex-
planned that to effect a general strike all the
unions participating must agree on the action,
and said that It would have been impOssibls
for the Briggs House conference 20 have de-
clared a general sympathetic tie-up. He was
asked for his opinion as TO the methods for
preventing strikes.
Il do not condemn strikes as partially as
do some men, he said. Il believe that so
long as present conditions exist they are
necessary. and believe that all strikes do
good III calling attention to the fact that
the laboring man will not be driven further
down into poverty. think the action Of the
strikers in paralyzinS tue railroads Of the
country was iustifabic.'
LIKE Az INQUEST on A CORPSE.
The witness was rather frankly uncompH-
mentary in his opinion regarding the striks
commission.
Il think this thing is rather late in the
day" he said. this examination by the CON-
missiOners is rather in the nature Of an in
quest on dead body. l don't anticipate
great good from the present Investigation
The witness had something he wanted 70
say about the iEjUnctions issued by court.
He held that these injunctiOn5 were not
rightly based on the interstate commerce law:
that law was not intended TO apply 10 labor
organizations. He held the iniunctIons were
based OF court-made law upon decisions
given in the absence Of law. When Mr.. Com
pers finished the commission adjourned until
Monday.
An error crept into last nights report Of the
proceedings before the commission inTesti-
eating the Pullman strike The statement
was made that Mr.. ST. John. general manager
of the Rock Island road, testified that a list
of names had been prepared for the General
Managers Association containing the names
Of the most active strikers.
Mr. st John made no such statement, but
testified that neither the Chicago. Rock Isi-
and, and Paciic Company. nor the General
Managers Association had ever kept q black
list or that they had such list ar this time.
He testified thar he had secured information
regarding the strikers from detectives. who
were employed and who attended the strikers
meetings and reported 10 the various compa-
MES matters OF interest TO them.