The herald., 1894-08-17
THE STRIKE INQUIRY.
FEDERAL COMMISSION TAKING
TESTIMONY.
Secretary Kellhsr OF the A. X. U. Gives
His Views as to the Best
Method of Prevent
ing Strikes.

OHlCAGO, AuRs lO.-1He Hr6b Wlth6Ht
called before the government strike com
mission today was w. II. Lovejoy, o
Rock Island railroad employee from Ls
Sale, III. Lovejoy declared the men
at La Sale went out at that point be-
cause he was unjustly discharged.
Secretary Keliher of the American
Railway union succeeded Lovejoy ON tn G
stand. He entered into detailed state
ment Of the troubles leading up to the
strike, and was questioned closely re-
garding the convention at which the
boycott was declared.
Secretary Keliher was asked for his
views as to the best method of prevent
ing strikes. He said he belived govern.
ment ownership would solve the prob
lem.
"Next to that" he continued, ~
think compulaory arbitration would
anawer."
"How would you force the railroads to
abide by the arbitrator decision ?"
asked Commissioner Wright.
''By law" promptly replied the wit
ness. LET the law be such that in case
of trouble with its employees the rail-
road will be compelled to submit the
matter to arbitration. Then let it be
understood that If she railroad will not
accept the terms upon which the arbi-
traitors decide the company be com.
PEELED to 60 out of business. In other
words, the railroads should be compelled
to abide by the decision; and as to the
employees, If they are not suited by the
decision, let them leave the employ oi
the company"
B. b. Ray Of Rock Island. ILL.,, was
next called. He stated that the strike
at Rock Island WAS caused partially by
the Pullman strike and partially be-
cause OF the treatment they had re.
ceived a. the hands OF the Rock Island
company.
II had gone west to visit my rela
tives," he said, land when l returned
was told by the Rock Island officials
that was discharged. asked for q
reason. and was told that it was because
was member of the A. R. U. Gen.
eral Superintendent Dunlap said
would be blacklisted and never given
work on his or any other road. was
not member of the A. r. U. at the
time Of my discharge, but have since
joined that union"
Ray agreed with Keliher that govern.
ment ownership of railroads would pre-
vent strikes. Ray favored law, hi
said, compelling railroads to give dis
charged employees document setting
forth the reasons for their discharge.
At the conclusion of his examination
recess was taken.
Chairman Heathcote. of the Pullman
strike committee. was on the witness
stand during the afternoon session. He
showed q table of the Pullman com
pany'H wages. and claimed that wagsl
have been cut go per centin the last two
years. Mr.. Heathcote also exhibited
what he claims was blacklist issued by
the Pullman officials. requesting othe
companies to refuse to employ the mer
whose names appear thereon.
There is no doubt that George M
Pullman, Vice President Wickes, Gen
eral Managers Egan, st. John and othel
corporation officers will be called, bu
whether they will testify or not is an
other matter.
Miss Jennie Curtiss, president OF the
girls union at Pullman, testified ir the
afternoon. Her father had been in the
employ OF the Pullman company for II
years until shortly before his death last
year. He was delinquent in his rent tc
the amount of $66. The company COM
PEELED her to assume the debt and Higr
a contract to pay it out of her wages a
the rate of So week. Some weeks she
had go little left from her wages that she
could not pay board.
In 1898 the company was paying it's
girls 221s cents an hour tor sewing. and
the poorest sesmstress earned $3.50 8
day. Before the strike the best o.
them had got down to 70 or so cents q
day. while the poorest needlewomen
could make only 40 to so cents.
Theodore Rhodes, representing the
painters department. followed Miss
Ourtiss. He has worked for the com.
pany for IL years. and had been grad
ually cut down until he could not make
$l.25 day. The foreman abused the
men, and the management experimental
with the materials until piece workmen
could make nothing. He had not ap-
piled for work since the strike, because
the company compelled every man to
surrender his card of membership in the
Railway union and sign an agreement
to have nothing to do with any labor
organization for Eve years.
r. w. Coombs of the freight car shops
gave similar statement to that oi
Rhodes.
After hearing the evidence of Coombs,
Al IA IL \ 4