Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-17

Assume Her Fathers Debts.
CHICAGO, August l5.-The first wit
ness called before the Government
Strike Commission to-day was w. II.
LOvejoy, Rock Island Railroad e1-
emploYe from La Sale, III. Lovejoy
was questioned as to the cause OF the
strike at La Sale, and declared that
the men went out at that point because
be was unJustly discharged. Secretary
Keliher, Of the American Railway
Union, succeeded Lovsioy on the stand.
he entered into a detailed statement Of
the troubles leading up to the strike.
and was questioned closely regarding
the proceedings OF the convention 81
which the boycott was declared.
Secretary Kelher, when asked for
his Views as TO the best method for pre-.
venting strikes, said that he firmly be-
lIeved government ownership OF rail-
roads would solve the problem.
Next to that" he continued. 81
think compulsory arbitration woul Id an
swer."
How would you force the railroads
TO abide by the arbtrators' decIsion2"
asked Com mmissloner Wright.
"By law" promptly responded tho
witness. Let the law be such that 10
case OF trouble with It's employees the
railroad will be compelled To
SUBMIT THE MATTER TO ARBITRATION.
Then let 10 be understood that n the
railroads will not accept the terms upon
which the bitrators decide. the COM
pany be compelled 90 20 0out OF business.
In other words the railroads should be
compelled to abide by the decision, and
as TO the employees, II they are not suit
ed by the decision, let tuem leave tho
employ OF the company"
Mr. y. B. Ray, OF Rock Island, H.,
was next called. He stated that the
strike at Rock Island was caused par
TALLY by the Pullman strike and par
TALLY on account OF the taea tment no
had received at the hands OF the Rock
Island Railroad Company.
"I had gone west 20 visit my rela-
tIves," be said, "and whom returned
was told by the Rock Island officials
that had been discharged. asked
for reason. and was told that it was
because was a member OF the Ameri-
can Railway Union. General Super
Iutendent Dunlap, OF the railroad, said
that ! would be black.Isted, aud
could never again get work on his or
any other railroad. l was not n mem ber
OF the American Railway Union AZ the
time OF my discharge, but since then /
have Joined that Union"
Ray agreed with Keliher that govern
ment ownership OF railroads would pre-
vent strikes.
Ray favored law. he said. com pell.
ing railroads TO give their discharged
employees a document setting forth the
seasons for their discharge. AZ the
conclusion of his examination, recess
was taken.
The commission had larger audience
to-day than that which met yesterday.
The court room was filled with men
who listened attentiyely 10 the testi-
mony.
The commission has the power 20
summon witnesses, bat cannot compel
them 10 answer questions. There Is no
doubt that George M. Pullman, Vice
President Wickes, General Manager
Egan. st. John and other corporation
officials will he called. Whether they
will testify or not is quite another mat
ter.
Chairman Heathcote, OF the Pullman
strike commission, was on the witness
stand during the afternoon session. Ho
showed a table OF the Pullman
company's wages and claimed that
wages had been cut 60 per cent
in the last two years. Mr.. Heatbcoto
also exhibited what be claimed was
black list issued by the Pullman OIL
cIals, requesting other institutions 70
refuse 70 employ the men whose names
appeared thereon.
Miss Jennie Curtis, President OF the
Girls Union at Pullman. testified 10 the
afternoon. Her father had been in the
employ OF the Pullman Company
for fifteen wears, shortly before
his death last year. He was
dellnqusnt In his rent 10 the amount Of
sixty dollars. The company compelled
her TO assume the debt and sign q con-
tract 10 pay IL out OF her wages al the
rate OF So a week. Some weeks she had
80 little left from her wages
that she could not pay board. 10 1898
the company was paying It's girls 225I
cents an hour for sewing. and the poor
es, seamstress earned SLIGO day. Be-
fore the strike the best Of them bad got
down to 20 or so cents a day, while the
poorer ueedle women could make only 40
TO 50 cents,
Theodore Rhode, representing the
painters department had worked Tor
~ wears and lad been gradually cut
down until be could OF make Sl.25
day. The iOremsn abused the men and
the MANAGEMENT sIperlmentsd with
the materials until piece work
ers could make nothing.
DE had not applied for work since the
strike, because the company com PEELED
every man 20 surrender his card OF
mem bership 10 the Railway Union and
sligo an agreement TO have nothing 20
do with any labor organization for I've
years.
z. w. Combes, OF the freight car
shops, had been In the employ Of the
company for ten years. Where men In
that department were able TO earn
s.. 25 day. piece work, they were not
able 70 make more than 65 cents . day
in March OF this year.
After hearing the evidence OF Comoes,
the Commission adjourned for the day.