The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-08-30
AN APPEAL TO CHARITY,
Blk Thuusand Souls at Pullman in Noed
OF Broad,

Six Thousand Souls at Pullman in Noed
OF Broad.
CHICAGO, Aug. 21.-Atter making
through investigation of tho conditions
existing among the ex.employes of the
Pullman Company, who participated in
the recent boy cots and otrike, Governor
Altgeld, tonight issued the following
relief appeal: TO tho people of the
State OF Illinois and especially to those
OF the city of Chicago:
There is great distress growing out
of tho want of food in and around the
town Of Pullman. More than 900 fam
lilies, or III The neighborhood Of 6,000
people aro utterly destitute. Nearly
four lifths OF them are women aud chill
dren. The men have endeavorel to
got work, but were unable to do so. |
have made personal examination Of
the county and learn from the ofi;ers
Of tho Pullman Company, that PRIOR to
the strike they had $500 names on tho
roll. Yesterday they had 2 800 people
at work, but over GOO Of thom are new
men, 40 that they have only about l 600
Of their old employees NJ work, leaving
about lego that have not been taken
back. Several hundred of these have left :,
but the remainder are unable to go away
and have nothing TO eat. liud that
Immediately after the beginning of tho
strike relief association was formed TO
provide for the needy and The books of
this associations shows that 2,4G3 appli-
catious wcte mado by the Pullmau EN-.
ployes, mostly heads OF families to this
association for aid. In fact, nearly all
Of the employees, except the few hundred
who left have been supported by charity
| for nearly three months. AS rule they
are superior class oflaboring people IN
dustrIous, capable aud steady, and some
of them have worked for the Pullman
Company for more than ten years.
Those who have beep gwen work eau
get food, but are still in such au impovor.
ished condition that they can't help their
ueighbors if they would. Rslief society
is unable to get more supplies. Ga last
Saturday 1t gave TO each family two
pounds of oatmeal and two pounds OF
corn meal aud having nothing left, il
suspended operations, leaving the poo
ple In M absolutely helpless condition.
The county commissioners OF COOK
county as overseers Of the poor have
rendered some assistance, but owing To
limited appropriations, they can furnish
relief for a short time only. We cannot
stop TO inquire the cause OF this distress
The good people Of this State cannot al
low women and children by the hun
dred to perish by hunger. |, therefore
> call upon all humane and charitablY dis
posed ciLiZ ons TO contribute what the
can toward giving relief TO these people
[ am satisfied that any contribution
| - D.,1i - 1taf W, fAn
l<ensington will be .judicinusly distribute
find thor treasurer has given bond &
properly account for all moneys re
cejved.
| (Signed) JOHN p. ALTaELD,
Governor.
The Gov :rnOr also sent com mum
Icltion to the comm 3sioners Of Cool
county, appealing to them as tho Off
GERS upon whom davolved a duty O
providing for cases nj this kind TO tho
utmost in their power to furnish imms
diate assistance to shs people IN distre Js
The correspondence between Governor
a ltgeld and George M. Pullman, in rala
liOn to tha dcsLitution :. the towo wa!
gwen TO tho press by tho Governor. |
began last Sunday, when the Governor
ssnL Il tele gram Lo NJ. Pdllmnn from
Sprln@lie(h. in rcspoAan 10 MI nbor O
appeals made 10 him by strikers for n,
sistaRce. In this dispatch, the Governor
tells Mr.. Pdllman that although the
J Slate of Illinois has not the least desr,
to meddlo in the f1'4irs of the company
il cannot allow whole communit,
within its borders to perish Of hunger
and informs the president Of the com
panY that unless relief comes he would
either have to call special session
OF ths I.,sIslature to make an appropria
ton Or else iseuo an appeal to the h,l
manc people of the State to give broat
TO the compnny's former employees. II
adds: "lL seems to me you would pro
fer to reliYe the situation yourself, especi
ally as it has Just cost tho State UP
, wards of $50, 900 TO protect your proper
ty."