The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-21
THE COURTS CAUSED IT TO FAIL
General Miles Criticized by tho Wit
ness Before the Labor Commission.
A Plan to Abandon All Existing
Labor Organizations and Form Ono
Gigantic Unlou Including All
Branches

lean Railway Uniou. The court rcOm
was crowded when President Debs took
the witness chair.
NOW, tell US, in your own way, Mr..
Debs." said Commissioners Wright,
"what you know Of tho Pullman strike
and its results"
Leaning forward in his seat. tho tall
leader Of the great strike began in u
low, clear voice q recital which Gradu-
ally become more earnest aud forcible
us he proceeded, until Il developed into
almost an Grafton. lie told Of having
received word that strike in Pullman
was imminent and OF his coming to
Chicago to investigate.
~ 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 mechanics
were working their lives away for wages
not sufficient for q common laborer (;
that tho town OF Pullman, with its
shops, its houses aud its stores, was SO
schemei that every penny the work.
ingmau made found its way back into
the comDany's Golfers. In fact, l found
the workingmen OF Pullman in pitta-
BILE condition aud determined TO do all
in my power to improve their condi-
ton. Tie strike followed, ordered by
the men themselves. Then came tho
boycott, ordered by duly elected dele-
gates TO our convention, and then fol-
lowed the railroad strikes, ordered by
the various local unions"
Mr. Debs thou told OF the strike, his
account differing but little from that OF
the other American Railway Union
officials who had preceded him on the
| witness stand.
"Would the railroad strikes have oc.
Cured II thOre had been no Pullman
troubieP' asked Commissioner Wright
"No, tho Pullman strike was the
prime cause. We desired to stop Pull
mans cars and shut of his income,
thus forcing him TO arbltrate. But the
railroad men had grievances of their
own. The General Managers Associa-
ton had been organized with the avow-
| ed intention OF giving assistance to rail-
roads Ia labor troubles. The evident
aim was to drive organized labor from
existence. No sooner had this associa-
ton been formed than n systematic re-
ductioh Of railroad wages all over the
country began. Tho cuts were
made on one road at tilno and
| in one department at time. but the
systomatic regularity with which they
appeared was sufficiently significant.
The men were ready to strike and felt
they had cause. The time was un.
propitious; business was depressed and
money was scarce. did not order the
strikes. / had not tho power. The
men did that themselves. But l do not
wish to shirk any responsibility aud
am willing to say that heartily con.
Cured in and approved OF tho action
taken BY tho men. As to violence,
always condemned 1t. l havo written
aud spoken against it, believing and
knowing that strike cannot BIO won by
violence. AS TO kilograms sent from
our office counsoi!ing violence, know
nothing of any such epistles."
"What about tho buy gun tele-
gram ?" asked Commissioner Herman.
"rhat is easily explained. The tele-
gram was sent by private secretary to
a friend in Butte and was merely play.
full expression. 1t was sent as such
| aud was go understood"
Mr.. Dobs then said that within five
days after tho strike was declared the
union had tho railroads beaten.
"They were paralyzed," he said, "but
Inst at that time injHnctioRs were sown
broadcast and shortly afterwards tho
officials OF the American Railway Union
were arrested for contempt of court.
That boat US. 1t wasn't tho railroads,
or tho army, but the power OF the
United States courts that beat us.
! About that time thing occurred which
| l desire to mention. Gen. Miles cane
to Chicago, called on the General Man
agers' Association and the next day was
quoted in an interview ms saying that
| ie had broken tho backbone OF the
strike. Now consider that call Of
Con. Miles as vulgarly nut OF place.
Ho had no more right to consult with
tho General Managers Association than
he had to consult with the men OF our
union. might say, too, that 1t seems
strange that all OF our letters and ,ele-
grams wero made public property,
while not d line Of tho railroads corre.
spondencc was published. II 1t had
been / think We could prove that the
general managers ut one of thoir secret
meetings declared they would stamp
tho a. K U. out OF existence"
In reply to question Mr.. Debs said
that tho union had taken every possible
means to prevent riuting aud disorder.
I'VE objected TO the presence OF the
federal troops, but not to state troops
aud police. II remember rightly no
serious outbreak occurred until tho fed
eral troops arrived, aud their presence
iuinmed the men,"
The witness then told of tho trouble
with the railroad brotherh Gods. "Ihe
brotherhoods have outived their usc'
iulness," he said, "and for that reason
| | left the tlremen's organization. They
were, | fear, jealous OF the American
Railway Union aud holncd TO defeat US.
There II now movement on foot to
form grand and united railroad labor
organization. Within three days q
proposltion will DO submitted TO tho
other railrond orders whereby all pres
ont officers Of the American Railway
Union and other unions shall resign,
with no possibility OF election to Office
Tho nrlncpaul cause OF strife thus bc'
ing removed. an organization will be
effected, il tho brothnrhoods will con,
sent. which shall include all railroad
employees"
THE cake walk ut tho Labor Day pic
mic will DO tho greatest ever held here
CONSTANT coughing will, ii neglected,