The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-25
NATIONAL STRIKE COMMISSION
Mr.. st. Johns Testimony Continued
Strikers Counseled Violence.


Chicago, Aug. 24.-General Manager
st. John resumed the stand at the opening
of to-day's session of the national labor
commission. Questioned as to the exist
ence of a blacklist, MIR. St. John said the
General Managers Association had never
kept a record OF the men who took part in
the late strike. That was matter for each
individual Pie read a certificate report
made by the Rock Island roads detec-
lves. The assertion is made in this re-
port that Vice President Howard of the
American galway Union openly couu-
selea Vlole nee at mass meeting of rail
road employees at Blue Island.
IN one place the report reads
Howard said he would like to
see Pu imam hanged; that he was the
worst eAemy the laboring man ever had.
lie ais referred to him in obscene Ian
guage~ In another place the report de-
clare a Howard cOunseled his followers,
TO - use the round end of a coupling pin. "
These things are sufficient said Mr..
81. John, Ito show that the strikers coun-
s.eled violence. 1t is with great regret
that / read this report, but IL had to be
{ done in order to give our side fair show
ing"
Mr.. ST John then submitted a set of
books, complied for the General Man
ayers Association, showing the wages
paid men on each road. He testified that
only once had common wage schedule
been prepared by the association. This
had been presented and was not accepted.
| 1t only attempted to fix the question of
what would be far under certain
conditions
John Egan, who was strike manager
! for the General Managers Association,
| took the stand and corrobOrated Mr.. st.
! Johns statements. In an explanation of
| overtures made by the American Rail
! way Union through the mayor not being
! received he said:
II told the mayor that did not think
/ he ought to be messenger boy for such
! people and | did not think the general
managers should receive such communl-
cation. | thought it great piece of cheek
on the part of the American Railway
! Union people after they were whipped to
dictate the terms of their surrender"
"Was it not matter of general concur
renee among the general managers that
the strike should be crushed out rather
than settled peaceably}"
Il could not say as to that"
Mr.. Egan did not know of his own
personal knowledge, whether strikers
took part in the riots or not. In his re
| port he had always designated them as
| strikers, or their sympathizers. .
Mr.. Egan thought as solu-
tion of the railroad problem that
licenses should be issued by the United
States to employees. He wanted these
employees uniformed. He thought bott
employees and railroads would be
benefited by this plan. The railroads
would also insure their men, and at the
end of a certain time pay over to then
their money with interest. A heavy
penalty should be imposed on railroads i
they broke their agreement, and in cas-
of employees doing so they should forfei
their license.
''It is charged, ;" said Mr.. Herman, "tha
you have used money to employ men t.
| burn cars"
considering the source from which
that statement came, it is the vilest kline
of lie. / consider it ON parity witt
other statements made by Debs, Howard
| and Others