The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-21
Saws He Did Not Order Men TO Quit,
Scores Railway Managers and
Criticises General Miles.
ALTGELD VISITS PULLMAN
Governor Investigates Reports
of Distress Among Strikers.
He Refuses to Permit Mr.. Wickes to Ac-
company Him-Great Strike Of
Spinners at New Bedford.

audience which has yet been in attendance
at the sessions of the strike commission
was present to-day. attracted by the APP
pearance as a witness of President f. V.
Debs. of the American Railway Union
The court room was crowded from the
bench TO the doorways when President
Debs took the witness chair.
Now tell US in your own way, Mr..
Debs." said Commissioner Wright. what
you know of the Pullman strike and its re-
suits"
Leaning forward IN his seat the tall leader
of the great strike began in a low voice A
recital which gardualy became more
earnest and forcible as he proceeded, until
il developed into almost an Grafton. He
told of having received word that strike
in Pullman was imminent and OF his COM
ing to Chicago TO investigate. II found"
he said that the men were working for
the Pullman company at wages upon which
they could not live. 1 found that salaries
had been cut time and again. until skilled
mechanics were working their lives away
for wages not sufficient for a common
laborer. That the town of Pullman, with
it's shops, it's houses and its stores. Mas SO
schemed that every penny made by work.
men found its way into the companys cof-
fers. In fact, i found the workmen OF
Pullman in a pitiable condition and L de-
termined to do all in my power as pres
ident of the American Railway Union TO
improve their condition. The strike fol-
lowed, ordered by the themselves.
Then came the boycott ordered by duly
elected delegates to the convention, and
then followed other railroad strikes. ordered
by the various local unions, each Of which
had grievances of it's own"
Mr.. Debs then told of the strike, his ac-
hut laf of nf
A r. L. officials VINO had preceded him on
the witness stand.
Would the railroad strikes have occurred
if there had been no Pullman troubleT'
asked Commissioner Wright.
PRIME CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
mo; the Pullman strike was the prime
cause. We desired to stop Pullman's cars
and shut off his income, thus forcing him
to arbitration. But the railroad men had
grievances of their own. The General Man.
ayers Association had been organized with
the avowed intention Of giving assistance
to railroads in labor troubles The evident
aim was to drive organized labor from ex-
istence. No sooner had this association
formed than systematic reduction of rail-
road wages all over the country began.
The cuts were made on one road at time
and in one department at time, but the
systematic regularity with WHICH they APP
men is were ere ready to strike and felt they had
cause. But the trouble would not have
come when it did had it not been for the
tious, business was depressed and money
scarce. i did not order the strikes. / had
selves. But / do not wish to shirk respon-
Sibility and am willing 10 say that hearth
ly. concurred and approved of the action
condemned it. 1 have written and spoken
against it, believing and knowing that a
al A.
teiegrams sent from our office counseling
violence, know nothing of any such epis-
ties"
asked Commissioner Herman.
THAT is easily explained. The telegram
was sent by a private secretary TO friend
in Butte, and was merely a playful express
sion. 1t was sent as such and was so UNI
derstood."
after the strike was declared the union had
the railroads beaten. They were par
ingl1netions g @ we're etu sown broadcast and shors-
ly afterwards the officials OF the A. r. L.
were arrested for contempt of court That
beat us. 1t was not the railroads or the
army but the power OF the United States
courts that beat About that time a
thing occurred which / desire to mention.
General Miles came to Chicago, called on
the General Managers Association, and the
next day quoted in interview
saying that he had broken the backbone OF
the strike. Now L consider that call OF
General MileSs as vUlgarly out OF place.
He had no more right TO consult with the
General Managers Association than he had
to consult with the men OF union. L
might say that it seems strange that all
Of our letters and kilograms were made
railroads correspondence was published.
If Ii had been think we could prove that
the general managers, at one Of their secret
meetings, declared they would stamp the
a. r. L. out of existence"
In reply TO a question, Mr.. Debs said that
the union had taken every possible means
riOfinQ
Jected to the presence OF the federal
troops" he said, but not 10 State troops
and police. If / remember rightly no Sc
rious outbreak occurred until the federal
troops arrived, as their presence infamed
the men,"
PROPOSED NEW ORGANIZATION.
The witness then told OF the trouble with
railroad brotberhoods. 1.-The brotherhoods
have outlived their usefulness" he said,
"and for that reason L left the firemen's
organization. They were, / fear, jealous of
the A. r. u, and helped TO defeat US
There is now a movement on foot to form a
grand and united railroad labor organiza-
ton. Within three days a proposition will
be submitted to the other railroad orders
whereby all present officers OF the A. r. u.
and other unions shall resign, with no pos
sibility of election to office. The principal
cause OF strife thus being removed. an or
ganiZation will be effected IL the brother
hoods will consent 10 a plan that shall in
clude all railroad employees"
do you claim asked Mr.. Wright,
that the railroads were responsible for
the strike because they insited upon haul
mo, sir. The American Railway Union
was responsible for IL. but under aggra-
waiting circumstances. The general man.
ayers are united 10 reduce wages. The en-
ployes are united TO resist such reductions.
In case OF a reduction that leads TO "A
strike we think the company is RESPONSE
bie-'
What Is your opinion as 10 the methods
OF averting strikesY' asked Commissioner
Worthington.
MY own idea, and II Is the idea OF the
American Railway Union. 20 unity all the
railroad men OF the country, power like
that prudcntly managed would avert strikes.
The railroad managers would realize the
wisdom OF treating fairly and meeting IL In
a cOnciliatOry spirit
''Do you believe a strike is justifable
that interferes with public cOnvenenceg'
Il believe striking is justihable no matter
what the result when IL Us 10 resist degra-
dalton and enslaving conditions"
dc you believe in government ownership
OF rairOadsY' asked Mr.. Herman.
Yes, sir / believe the government own
ership OF railroads Is decidedly better than
railroad ownership OF the government"
There was the heartiest kind OF laughter
a nj ar,plqllSa n The an was