St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-21
DEBS ON THE STAND.
President of the A. R. u.
Questioned by the Strike
Commission.
CAUSES OF THE STRIKE
Succinctly Stated and Action
Of the Authorities Sharp
ly Criticised.
CAUSES OF THE STRIKE
ALTGELD AT PULLMAN.
The Governor Finds a Horri-
BILE Condition Of DeStitu-
tion Existing.

CHICAGO, Aug. 2U.-By Tar the largest
audience which has yet been i'll atterd-
ance upon the strike commissions ses-
sions was present today, attracted by
the appearance as a witness or Presl-
dent E. V. Debs, OF the A. X. u. The
court room. where the commissioners
sit, was crowded from the bench to the
doorways. President Debs took the
witness chair.
Nov tell US. In your own way, Mr..
Debs," said Commissioner Wright,
what you know of the Pullman strike
and its results"
Leaning forward in his seat, the tall
leader of the great strike began in
low, clear voice, a recital which grad
ualy became more earnest and forcibie
as he proceeded, until it developed into
almost an Grafton. Ho told of having
received word that strike in Pullman
was imminent, and of his coming to
Chicago 10 investigate.
II found" he said. that the men
were working for the Pullman company
at wages upon which they could not
live. l found that salaries had been
cut time and again until skilled me-
chanics were working their lives away
for wages not sufficient for a day
laborer. That the town of Pullman,
with its shops. Its houses and its stores,
was so schemed that every penny the
Workingmau made found its way
Back Into the Company,s Golfers
I'm fact l found the workingmen of
Pullman in pitiable condition. and
determined l would do all in my power
as president Of the A. r. U. to improve
the condition of these men. The strike
followed. ordered by the men them
selves. Then came the boycott, ordered
by duly elected delegates to our con-
vention, and then followed the railroad
strikes, ordered by the various local
unions, each of which had grievances of
its own"
Mr.. Debs then told of the strike, his
account differing but little from that of
the other A. R. U. officials who had pre-
ceded him on the witness stand.
Would the railroad strike have oc-
Cured if there had been no Pullman
trouble?" asked Commissioner Wright.
NOi lllC L ullilldu SlIlhC was luc
prime cause. We decided to stop Pull
mans cars and shut off his income,
thus forcing him to arbitrate. But the
railroad men had grievances of their
own. The general managers associ-
alton had been organized with the
avowed intention of giving assistance
to railroads in labor troubles. The
evident aim was to drive organ
lied labor from existence. No sooner
had this association been formed
than 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 signifi-
cant. The men were ready TO strike, and
felt they had cause. But the trouble
would not have come when it did had it
not been for the Pullman matter. The
time was unpropitious, business was
depressed and money was scarce. did
not order the strike. L had not the
power; the men did that themselves.
But do not wish to shirk any response
bility, and ain willing to say that
Heartily Commended,
concurred in and approved of the action
taken by the men. AS to violence, [
always condemned it. / have written
and spoken against it, believing and
knowing that strike cannot be won
| by violence. AS to kilograms sent from
our Office counseling violence, know
of no such epistles."
"What about the buy a gum tele-
gram" asked Commissioner Herman.
THAT is easily explained. The tele-
gram was sent by private secretary to
a friend in Butte, and was merely
playful expression. 1t was sent as
such, and was so understood.''
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
just at that time injunctions were sown
broadcast, and shortly afterwards the
officials of the a. K. U. were arrested
for contempt of court.
That Beat Us.
ut wasn't the railroads or the army.
but the power of the United States
courts that beat us. About that time a
thing occurred which desire to men
:ion. General Miles came to Chicago,
called Oh the general managers
association, and the next day was
quoted in an interview as saying
that he had broken the back
bone of the strike. Now, | consider
that call of Gen. Miles as vulgarly out
of place. He had no more right to
consult with the general managers
association than lie had to consult with
the men of our union. Knight say, too,
that it seems strange that all of our
letters and telegrgms were made public
| property, while not line of the railroad
correspondence was published. II 1t
had been, l think we could prove that
the general managers, at one of their
secret meetings, declared they would
stamp the A. R. U. out of existence"
In reply to question, Debs said that
the union had taken every possible
means to prevent riotIng and disorder.
1--WE objected to the presence of the
federal troops, but not to state troops
| and police. Ii l remember rightly, no
serious outbreak occurred until the