The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-21
Gives His Version of the Recent Trouble 10
the National Strike Commission,
SCORES Chicago newspapers
The President of the American Rail-
way Union Denies That He Ordered
the Strike--Will Take Steps to Unity
All Railroad Labor Organizations
but Does Not Care to Accept an
Official Positon-Thinks the Courts
Are Against Labor.

~ va huS <AhiVllSah NNhiiNhJ
occupied the stand for nearly
u four hours tolay before the ma
tional strike commission. He advo-
Gated cooperative commonwealth,
the abolition of the wage system and
the goverum mt ownership OF railroads.
He told his side of the strike as u con-
neeted narrative, which was frequently
interrupted by applause from the la
boring element present.
7. H. Morrissey, first vice grand
master of the Order of Railway Train
men, and Grand Chief Clark, of the
Order of Railway Conductors, also tes-
tifi,d.
Il had no voice in ordering this
strike myself" said Mr. Debs in giving
his testimony, but l had had u
voice in it would havs ordered 1t, |
have no desire to shirk any responsi-
tility. Ny record will show also that
have always counseled against vio-
lence. The telegram attributed 10 me
wSieh read Have your money and buy
guD,' though sent over my signature,
! never saw it. |. WAS sent by our
stenographer to his superior in Mon
tana and was not intended literally. 1t
was merely playful expression cur
rent in Mon;ata'
The witaess claimed that the men
would hsye\won the strike had not the
court intsffAed He charged General
Miles wilRs kiug ,ip league with the
railroad mstDgsrs. TO suppress the
strike. Mr.. DsEs denied that thA Amer
lean Railway uaiRp had any antipathy
for the old orgeTN ,tions.
REoRGANizATIoN PLAN.
"Within the next three days" said
the witness, eve are going to take
steps to unity all railroad labor organ
izations. We are willing to give up
our o, sitions and sacrifice the Amsri-
can Railway Union to accomplish this
result, and agree not TO accspt an Of
fetal position at the head Of the new
organization.
Mr.. Debs testified that from'the be-
ginning the American Railway union
and the strike leaders had been badly
treated by the Chicago press. Inter-
views had been distorted and many
lies told. Mr.. Debs esp. cially scored
the Western Associated Press which be
asserted had taken its color from Chi.
cago railroad organs and had misrep-
resented the strikers in every way.
President Debs said if there had been
n revolution it would have been
directly chargeable to the pr-ss Of
Chicago rather than to the American
Railway union, Editorials had been
written all over the country, us as
serted, based on matter sent out by the
Western Associated Press. the editor
ials in every case attacking the Ameri-
c,n Railway union on information
which was absolutely false.
'Do you charge the General Man.
ayers with being responsible for the
striker asked Commissioner Wright.
GENERAL MANAGERS NOT RESPONSIBLE.
well, | could hardly go as far as
that. l believe however,the had much
to do with keeping it mp" How
would you gain the demands of labor
ers on public corporations?' asked
Jndge Worthington. There are two
ways One is the way adopted by the
old brothcrhoo Is. That is getting n
schedule of wages gradually from the
companies, mere mas Ueell iltb0 BOOi
in this mode Of proceedings, Ii
takes a strike 10 win sometimes,
but | don't believe the railroad EN-
pluyes Of this country will win a strike
today IL they were all organized in one
brotherhood. because thu courts are
against labor l can show in twenty
years of writing that l have always
been opposed to Strikes but l think
there are times when they are Justifi.
able. no matter how much the public
is discommoded.
Mr.. DAbs said he did not think the
general managers were always to blame
In reducing wages, because their or.
ders came from higher source. He
believed that the American Railway
union could never be crushed, and that
the spirit OF organization among labor
ing men would always be strong. He
predicted that more serious troubles
would occur than ever before.