Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
MR.. DEBS RECALLED.
He Reasserts That lie Didn't Recommend
Gun-DuyinS.
GOMpERS ON THE STAND.
aFailure-Government Owner.
ship of Railroads.


OF the American Railway Union, was
recalled at the beginning OF to-day's ses-
sion OF the National Labor Commission.
lie produced a letter substantiating his
statement that the now famous express
sion. Save your money and buy a gum"
was not his, but that Of his photographer.
l.. i. Benedict. and was by the latter
used only in a spirit OF badger. The let
ter declares that the expression was
common one IN the Office at Butte. Mont.
from which Mr.. Benedict came.
Mr.. Debs was then asked the question:
do you believe II justifable to tie up tho
commerce OF the country In order 10
obtain redress for a comparatively small
body OF men?' He replied: THAT de-
ponds. For small grievance L do not
think It would he justihable: for one az
feciing a large number Of men i think 1t
would"
"DO you think railroad company
would be justihable in teng up COM
mcrce In order to resist demand made
on one rOad?"
"Wen. that IS the way the general
managers do the thing"
Commissioner Wright then read Mr..
Debs = communication which suggests
that labor and capital each be required
20 file Il bond 10 be forfeited in case Of
q refusal to submit any question TO ar
btrauon. The witness did not Ike the
plan. IIe said he was opposed TO any
thing Ike compulsory arbitration.
President Dcbs said he had no personal
knowledge Of a black -list He then de-
voted his attention 10 denying statements
made by General-Manager st. John, first
denying that there were only 200 members
OF the American Railway Union on the
Rock Island system. I'VE had larger
membership than that" he said.
PRESIDENT GOMPERS.
Samuel Gompers president OF the Fe1e-
ration OF Labor. next took the stand. lie
said the membership was 5jC.O0o Mr.
Gompers told in detail about the meeting
at the Briggs House. at which action was
taken on the American Railway Union
Strikes.
I'VE decided ut this meeting" said Mr..
Gompers. that since the Prime Minister
Of England had deemed It expedient to
use the great power OF England TO end
coal strike. # would not be beneath the
dignity Of tho President OF the United
States to take some action in this I'M
happy crisis TO this end we telcgraphed
him asking him either 70 come to Chicago
or send representative. To this tCie-
gram the President did not deign 10
reply. The American Federation OF Labor
deemed 1t ineXpedient at this time 10 re-
commend n strike"
Mr.. Gompers read an address to the
public explaining why the organization.
Of which he Is president. refused to order
81 strike. lie referred to the town OF Pull
man as "Pullman's Pharasaical Para
disc"
1t would be a very difficult thing for
the American Federation Of Labor 10
declare a strike" continued Mr.. G0mpers
I'VE could only do 1t in some matter OF
general iutcrcat-such, for instance, aS
the establishment Of an elght-hour day"
When asked If he thought a strike iusti-
fable at any time. Mr.. Gompers said: Il
believe that labor has the right at all
times to better its condition. II COM
merce or industry Is incidentally para
lived 1t Is not the fault Of labor. but Of
the corporations which refuse to grant
its just or reasonable demands"
STRIKES not FAILURES.
Asked how no would solve labor prob
l,lns. Mr.. Gompers said: $50 long "a the
present conditions exist there Will DO
strikes. | 90 not join In the general
deuunCiation OF strikes. ] regard the
strike as the protest OF labor against
being bound IN slavery. Blu; for the
strike labor would never have been given
a second thought, except for the amount
OF work ii can produce.
strikes arr not the failures that they
are usually written down 10 be- Labor
statistics demonstrate that majority 81
the strikes are won. The reports in New
York show that two thirds OF the strikes
in that STATE have been gained BY the
strikers. Some time ago | sent cut re-
Guests for reports on strikes by the trades
unions affiliated with the American Fedc
ration Of Labor These reports show tina
50 Der cent. Of the strikes We're won
per cent. compromised. and 16 per cent
lost.
"Eycu when strikes are lost, they have
thor good effect. They show employers
that a. they attempt TO push their mon
further down it viii be resisted, and Will
at least. prove very expensive. The .dcl
that this honorable commission was called
70 meet shows that Il public strike had
a beneficial eject. 1t at least called the
attention Of the public TO the grievances
Of labor. believe. however mat TINS
meeting should have been called durins
the strike instead Of after IT. 1t Is more
| like n cOrOIeTS jury now 10 me tHdl
anything else"
/ Nlr. Gompers stated that the Brother
! hood Of Locomotive Flremen would short
! ~ affiliate with the American Federation
! Of Labor, and hc believed the other rail-
road organizations would soon follow suit
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
az think the government ownership 81
railroads practicable. II the goveTnmen
! can operate u bankrupt railroad-a thinf
/ that il has frequently doue-it can Ger
! tainly operate Il railroad which is not
/ bankrupt. Bat | DO not believe any one
! plan can solve tho labor-problem. NaS'
! workers are just like other persons-thel
! viii always ask for more. no matter how
/ much they ore Getting y man carn.ni
/ 81 a day will be satisfied for while
! hut he win soon want $3.50 day. =
man who earns SO a day viii not be sat
/ isfed with an increase Of 10 cents; ~
VIII want $50 or $50 a day. If he earns
! 5000 year he viii want an increase o
! 81 900 "A year, and If he gets 5000 ne VII
/ want the caT.n.'
! Ar Gompers presented many objection
! 70 arbitration. lie under TO circumstance
favored compulsory arbitration. In r.
/ gard TO iujuuctions by courts, Mr. Com
rers thought the courts often made l"'
} where the statutes were silent. Ihtse he'
laws were afterwards called precedentS
In this way an injustice VIII sometime
I've worked on the laboring classes by N
I courts. The witness thought the la'
should rather conform to present condl
lions than present conditions 10 the law.
Mr.. Gomperss views were clearly ap
/ distinctly stated. and seemed to produc
a profound impression. When he had nm
isbed the commission adjourned until Mon
day. .r
commissioner Herman was not presen
to-day 1t was given out that he ma
/ gone 70 Milwaukee on visit and woui
| return Monday.
NEW BEDFORD SITUATION.