The Washington times., 1894-08-16
THE INVESTIGATION BEGUN
Presidential Commission Starts It's
Labors Concerning the Late Strike.
LEADING LABOR MEN TESTIFY
way Union and Grand Master Workman
Sovereign Tell What They Know Of the
Causes Leading to the Action Taken.

CHICAGO, Aug. 15.-The strike commission
appointed by President Cleveland to investi.
gate the Pullman and railroad strikes began
its work to-day.
Vice President Howard, OF the A. R. o.,
was the first witness called, and after receiv-
ing the assurance that the investigation
would be made very thorough, stated, in re-
ply to a question, that the recent railroad
strikes were caused "by the statement of the
general managers that they would back up
Mr.. Pullman during the strike"
"Who told you thst?"
"The newspapers printed the statement
crediting 1t to General Managers Egan and
| st. John"
Mr.. Howard then entered into an exhaustive
| recital OF the troubles leading up to the orig
inal Pullman strike. The men had announced
their intention to strike, he said, but on be-
| ing assured by the companys officials that
| the employees grievances would be investi-
gated, he had urged the men to 60 back to
work. This they did on the promise of the
company that those who had had hand in
the trouble would not be discharged or other
wise injured because Of she part they had
taken in the matter.
witness. three Of those committeeman were
discharged. Then the men struck. Our
| union. after having failed to get any salts
faction from the Pullman Company. then en-
| deavored, by boycottins the company's cars,
to bring the matter to a satisfactory termina-
ton. We ordered no strike. We simply de-
sired that the Pullman cars be left of of the
trains.
''At this point we were again met by the
General Managers Association. They re-
fused TO haul mail cars unless the Pullmans
were attached to the trains. Such action was
entirely uncalled for. The Pullmans were in
no wise necessary for the transmission Of the
United States mails. can cite various eases
when mail trains were run without Pullman
coaches or other palace car equipments"
ACTED FOR THEIR PROTECTION.
"Was the action of your union in the
strike" asked Commissioner Wright, "merely
for the protection OF the interests of the Pull
man employes!"
mo; not entirely" said Howard. 'The
general managers had organized against US,
and we had to protect ourselves"
in other words" said Mr.. Wright, "you
believe that the railrord had, on their side.
an organization with exactly the same pur-
pose in view as your union on your side?'
Yes, sir: that is just what they had "
Were you aware" asked Judge Worthing-
ton. '';hat the railroads had contracts with
the Pullman Company
I'VE were. and we were also aware that
those contracts were violation of the inter-
state commerce law. They allowed the car
rying of none but Pullman sleepers and were
discrimination against the Wagner cars.
In othor words, the railroads We're enforcing
the same sort of a boycott on the Wagner
cars that our union was on the Pullman's."
Mr.. Howard was closely examined as to
# thA Dali VTt,t~
and promised to give the commissioners a
copy of the constitution and bylaws.
In the afternoon, with Howard on the
stand, Chairman Wright opened the inquiry
with n question as to whether the A. r. U.
had suggested a strike on all the roads, in
order to compel pullman to come to
terms. The witness hesitated a moment
and said: ut was left to the
discretion of the employees on each road be-
longing to the general managers. The reso-
luton of the convention was intended TO cover
every road connected with the general man.
ayers association. whether it handled Pull
mans or not did you ask all labor unions
in this country to striker" "No; we asked
them to meet here and consider the matter
At this conference Mr.. Debs simply presented
the matter and when the delegates asked
what they should do. he said: L am not here
to advise you. / leave it to the conscience of
each man."
Mr. Herman asked If the railway union or
other labor organizations had ever permitted
or encouraged its members to work against |
non-union men. Mr.. Howard said it was a |
principle of the union to allow any and every |
man TO work as he pleased.
''What is the effect OF a strike when there is |
violence and destruction of property?'
1T invariably ends in the defeat OF the |
men. because it gets public sympathy against |
them
When he was invited to suggest a way to |
end the troubles Mr.. Howard said the only |
practical solution was in government owner /.
ship and operation of railroads.
Mr.. Howard said he would like time to |
consider the question as to what remedy |
could be applied to labor troubles in the en- |
ployments outside of the railways. He was |
excused and will appear again.
SOVEREIGN ON THE STAND.
Grand Master Workman Sovereign, of the |
Knights of Labor, followed. He said he |
knew little of the grievances of the Illinois |
Central employees and comparatively little |
about the Rock Island.
THE American Railway Union and the |
Knights OF Labor" said Mr. Sovereign. "are |
so closely affiliated that they may be regarded |
as two divisions of one army. When tho |
trouble came up here, the convention at Des |
Moines considered whether any action should |
be taken. That was suggested by a circular |
from Eugene v. Deus. IL was ltIt 10 vote |
of the men on each road. Chicago, and Great |
Western men voted to strike because of local
grievances, and SO did the Rock Island
men,"
Considering the violence and destruction
of property. Mr.. Sovereign said he believed
tine burning of cars was the work of United
States deputy marshals. He had read infor-
nation fled with the Mayor of chicago by
the police department, which justified the be-
lief
Il do not believe arbitration will avoid such
strikes" he said in conclusion. voluntary
arbitration is too slow and compulsory arbi-
tration is not a remedy. 1 think the laws
should recognize laborer's right-his equity
in his position. The employers equity is in
his plant the product of his plant The dis
charged laborer, if discharged without just
cause, should have the right to 90 into court
and establish a claim for damages The
remedy for trouble with railway employees is
he government ownership and operation of
ALWAYS"
A Much Wanted Man Found
JACKSONVILLE, Fla:, Aus. 15.-Jim Sum-
ners, a negro, who is wanted at Ozark, Ala,