Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-20

common loborer; that the town Of Pull
man. with its shops. its houses and its
stores. was 50 schemed that every penny
which the workingman made found its way
back into the company's Golfers. In fact.
] found the workingmen Of Pullman in
pitiabie condition, and determined to do all
in my power as president Of the American
Railway Union to improve their condi-
ton The strike followed. ordered by the
men themselves Then came the boycott,
ordered by duly elected delegates to our
strikes. ordered by the various local unions.
each Of which had grievances Of it's own"
Mr.. Debs then told of the strike. his ac-
count differing but little from that of the
had preceded him on the witness stand.
would the railroad strikes have occurred
there had been no Pullman trouble?'
asked Commissioner Wright
No The Pullman strike was the prime
cause. We desired to stop Pullman's cars
and shut on his income. thus forcing him to
arbitrate. Bat the railroad men had griev-
ances OF their own The General Managers
ayowed intention of giving assistance to
railroads in labor troubles. The evident aim
was to drive organized labor from existence.
No sooner had this association been form
ed than a systematic reduction of railroad
wages all over the country began.
The cuts were made on one road at a
time. and in one department at a time, but
the systematic regularity with which they
appeared was sufficiently significant. The
men were ready to strike. and felt they had
cause But the trouble would not have
come when IL did, had II rot been for the
Pullman matter.
The time vas unpropituous; business
was depressed and money scarce. did not
order the strikes. 1 had not the power
The ren did that themselves But / do not
wish to shirk any responsibility, and am
willing to say that heartily concurred in
and approved Of the action taken by the
men: As to violence. I always condemned
It. / have written and spoken against 1t,
believing and knowing that a strike cannot
from our office counselling violence, 1 know
nothing of any such epistles."
What about the 'buy-a-gun' telegram
asked Commissioner Herman.
That Is easily explained The telegram
was sent by a private secretary to a friend
In Butte and was merely a playful express
Sion 1t Was sent as such and was 50 under
stood"
Mr.. Debs then said that within five days
after the strike was declared the union had
the railroads beaten.
They were paralyzed." he said. but jus,
at that time injunctions were sown broad
cast, and shortly afterward the officials OF
the A. r. U. were arrested for contempt of
court That heat -. It wasn't the rail-
roads or the army, but the power of the
United States courts that beat US.
About that time a thing occurred which
I desire to mention Gen. Miles came to
Chicago, called on the General Managers
quoted
an interview as saying he had broken the
backbone Of the strike. Now / consider that
call Of Gen. Miles vulgarly out of place
he had no more right to consult with the
General Managers Association than he had
to consult with the men of our union.
might say, too. that 1t seems strange
mat all OF our letters and kilograms were
made public property, while not a line of
the railroads correspondence was publish
ed II II had BEEN think we could nrove
mat the general managers, at one of their
secret meetings. declared they would stamp
the A r. U. out of existence"
IN reply to a question, Mr.. Debs said
That the union had taken every possible
means to prevent rtoting and disorder.
we objected to the presence Of the fed
erai troops. but not to state troops and
ponce III Il remember rightly, no serious
outbreak occurred until the federal troops
men"
The witness then told of the trouble with
the railroad brotherhoods.
Inc brotherhoods have outlived their
usefulness" he said. and for that reason
left the firemen's organization. They
were. i fear Jealous of the American Rail
way Union. and helped to defeat US. There
Is now a movement on foot to form a grand
and united railroad labor Organization.
Within three days a proposition will be
submitted to the other railroad orders
whereby all present officers of the A. r II
and other unions shall resign, with no nos
sibility of election to office. The principal
cause of strife thus being removed, an or
gan:zation will be Effected, IL the brother
hoods will consent. which shall include all
railroad employees"
Mr.. Pullman Summoned.
The commissioners have notified George
n. Pullman to appear and testify and will
also call for several members of the Cen
eral Managers Association. The date for
Mr.. Pullman's testimony has not yet been
set but il Is expected that ne will appear
Tuesday or Wednesday.