Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-17
THE STRIKE COMMISSION.
Testimony Given Regarding the TrOu-
BILE at La Sale.


The first witness called before the govern
ment strike commission at Chicago yester-
day was w. H. Lovejoy. Rock Island rail-
road ex-employe, from La Sale, Ill.
Lovejoy was questioned as to the cause of
the strike at La Sale, and declared that
the mer went out at the point because they
were unjusty Disseminated against. Sec
rotary Kelliher of the A. r. u. succeeded
Lovejoy on the staEd. He entered into a
detailed statement OF the troubles leading
up to the strike, and was questioned closely
regarding the proceedings of the conven-
ton at which the boycott was declared.
Secretary keliher's Statement.
Secretary Keliher Of the American Rail-
way Union succeeded Lovejoy on the stand
He entered into detailed statement of
the troubles leading up to the strike, and
vas questioned closely regarding the pro.
ceedings of the convention at which the
boycott was declared.
Secretary Keliher, when asked for HIS
views as to the best method for preventing
strikes, said that he firmly believed gov
eminent ownership of railroads would solve
the problem.
Next to that" he continued, II think
compulsory arbitration would answer
How would you force the railroads to
abide by the arbitrators decision?" asked
Commissioner Wright.
by law" promptly responded the wit
ness. Let the law be such that in case
of trouble with its employees the railroad
be compelled to submit the matter to arbi-
tration. Then let 1t be understood that, If
the railroads will Lot accept the terms
upon which the arbitrators decide, the COM
pany be compelled to go out of business.
In other words, the railroads should be
compelled to abide by the decision, and as
to the employees, If they are not suited by
the decision, let them leave the employ Of
the company"
The Rock Island Strike.
Mr.. B. B. Ray Of Rock Island, ILL.,, was
next called. He stated that the strike at
Rock Island was caused partially by the
Pullman strike and partially on account
Of the treatment he had received at the
hands of the Rock Island Railroad Com
pany.
II had gone west to visit my relatives"
he said, ''and when 1 returned was told by
the Rock Island officials that ] had been
discharged. / asked for a reason and was
told that 1T was because l was member
Of the American Railway Union. General
Superintendent Dunlap Of the railroad
said that 1 would be blacklisted. and could
never get work on his or any other rail-
road. l was not a member Of the American
Railway Union at the time of my dis
charge. but since then 1 have Joined that
union"
Ray agreed with Keliher that govern
ment ownership Of railroads would prevent
strikes.
Ray favored a law. he said, compelling
railroads to give discharged employees
document setting forth the reasons for
their discharge. At the conclusion of his
examination q recess was taken.
Among those present at the days hear
ing were 9. w. Moon, who desires to pre-
sent to the commission q plan for prevent
ing labor troubles, and q number of Amer
lean Railway Union men.
The commission has the power to sum-
mon witnesses but cannot compel them to
answer questions. There is no doubt that
George NJ Pullman, Vice President Wickes,
General Managers Egan, st. John and
other corporation officers will be called
Whether they will testify or not is quite
another matter.
Life at Pullman.
The condition Of life of The employees at
Pullman will be gone into at length by the
con mission. The statements by all the
witnesses heard thus far, that the wages
paid by Pullman were not sufficient to
keep the men from starvation, and that this
was the excuse of the boycott, make 1t
necessary for the commission to investi-
gate this phase of the case.
Chairman Heathcote Of the Pullman
strike commission was on the witness stand
during the afternoon session He showed
q table of the Pullman Company's wages,
and claimed that wages had been cut 60
per cent in the last two years. Mr. Heath
&C tie also exhibited what he claimed was a
blacklist issued by the Pullman officials
requesting other institutions to refuse to
employ the men whose names appeared
thereon.
Miss Jennie Curtis. president of the
Girls Union at Pullman, testified in the
afternoon. Her father had been in the en-
ploy of the Pullman Company for fifteen
years, until shortly before his death, last
year. He was delinquent in his rent to
the amount of $50. The company COM
PEELED her to assume the debt and sign
&C ntract to pay it out of her wages at the
rate of So week.
Some weeks she had so little left from
her wages that she could not pay her board
In 1893 the company was paying it's girls
% 1-2 cents an hour for sewing, and the
poorest seamstress earned $3.50 a day. Be
fore the strike the best of them had got
down to 20 or 50 CENTS a day, while the
poorer needlewomen could make only 40
to ant