Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-08-23
WHY THE MEN STRUCK.
Investigation at Chicago Into the
Causes of the Recent Labor
Troubles.

Chicago, H., Aug 15.-One of the
most important inquiries in the history
of the labor movement of this country,
and which will attract more international
attention than the recent English royal
commission ON labor, opened here today.
1t is the initial meeting of the labor COM
mission composed of Carroll D. Wright,
United States labor statistician; John ID.
Herman of New York and Judge Nicholas
E. Worthington of Peoria, Ill, and ap-
pointed by President Cleveland to inquire
into the cause of the recent labor
troubles The sessions were held in the
government building, in the court room,
and attracted may spectators.
After preliminary work, Nlce-Presldent
S. W. Howard of the A. 4. Y. was
called as the first witness. MI. Howard
began his statement by expressing the
hope that the commission would use
every effort to get to the bottom OF the
matter under consideration. Commls-
sioner Herman assured hiIl that the IN
vestigation would be thorough ana asked
the Witness numerous questions as 10 MS
past and present occupations ana the ma
ture of his official position III the "A. II:
u. Now" said the commissioner, tell
us what, in your opinion, caused the rail-
road strikes
"The strikes were caused answered
Mr. Howard, "by the statement OF the
general managers that they would back
up Mr.. Pullman during the strike
who told you that?''
1.-The newspapers printed the state
ment, crediting it to General Managers
Egan and st. john
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 to strike,
he said but on being assured by the com"
pmDiOVQS
ances would be investigated he had urged
the men to go back to work. This they
did on the promise of the company that
the committees who had handled the
trouble would not be discharged or other
wise injured because of the part they had
taken in the matter And after that
promise" continued the witness, three
of those committeeman were discharged.
Then the men struck. Our union having
failed to get any satisfaction from the
Pullman company then endeayored, by
bOycotting the company's cars, to bring
the matter to satisfactory termination.
We ordered no strike. We simply de-
sired that the Pullman cars be left off of
the trains AT this point we were again
met by the General Managers associa-
ton. They refused to haul mail cars I'M
less the Pulmans were attached to the
trains. Such action was entirely I'M
called for. The Pullmans were in no wise
necessary for the transmission of the
United States mails. | can cite various
eases when mail trains were run without
Pullman coaches or other palace car
equipment.
'sWas the action of your union in the
strike asked Commissioner Wright,
merely for the protection of the interests
of the Pullman employees
mo, not entirely" said Howard, "the
general managers had organized against
us and we had to protect ourselves
n of
you believed that the railroads had on
their side an organization with exactly
the same purposes in view as your union
on your side?
Yes, sir; that is just, what they had"
Were you aware" asked Judge Worth
ington that the railroads had contracts
with the Pullman company?
I'VE were, and we We're also aware
that those contracts were violation OF
the interstate law. They allowed the
carrying of none but Pullman sleepers,
direct discrimination against the Wagner
cars In other words, the railroads were
enforcing the same sort of a boycott on
the Wagner cars that our union was on
the Pullmans."
Mr.. Howard was closely examined as
to the rules of the A. Il. u, and prom.
Used to give the commissioners copy of
the constitution and bylaws Of the union.
He told the commissioners that he had re-
ceiyed a communication from the state
committee of safety, telling of conversa-
ton between two rioters which had been
overheard.
The Conversation. he said, was dis
pute over money which the men claimed
to have received from General Manager
Egan for overturning ard burning rail-
road cars during the strike.
Commissioner Herman questioned the
witness closely on the powers OF the A.
r. IT,. and Howard at last stated that he
would not answer explicitly until the Uni
ted States court cases now pending against
him were decided. He reluctantly adj
mitted that the fact that lawless men fire.
quently seize the opportunity to riot dur
ing labor troubles is an argument against
strikes. Mr.. Towards examination con-
tinued during the afternoon session.