The herald., 1894-08-21
THE PULLMAN BOYCOTT.
DebS Before the Strike Com
mission.
His Version of the Recent
Trouble.
He Proves to Be Very Interesting
Witness.
Governor Altgeld Investigates the Dis
tress ae Pullman-Pulimxn's
Daughter to Wed
Prince.

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20. - The American
Railway union president, E. V. Debc.
was q witness before the strike commits
sion today. The court room was packed
from bench to doorways.
Now tell us in your own way, Mr..
Debs," said Commissioner Wright,
what you know of the Pullman strike
and its resulte."
Leaning forward in his seat the tall
leader of the great strike began in low,
clear voice q recital which gradually
became more earnest and forcible as he
proceeded, until it developed into alm :
an Grafton. He told of having received
word that strike in Pullman was immi-
nent, and of his coming to Chicago to
investigate.
II found" he said, "men were work
ing for the Pullman company at wages
upon which they could not live. found
that salaries had been cut time and
again, until skilled mechanics were
working their lives away for wages not
sufficient for day laborers; that the
town OF Pullman was 30 schemed that
every penny workingman made found
its way back to the company. In fact,
| found the workingmen of Pullman in
pitiable condition, and determined l
would do all in my power, as president
of the American Railway union to inn
prove the condition of these men. The
strike that followed was ordered by the
men themselves; then came the boy colt,
ordered by duly elected delegates to our
nd fpI l.
road strikes, ordered by various local
unions, each OF which had grievances OF
its own"
Would the railroad strikes have oc.
Cured if there had been no Pullman
trouble?" asked Commissioner Wright.
"No; the Pullman strike was the
| prime cause. We desired to atop Pull
mans cars and shut off his income, thus
| forcing him to arbitrate. But the rail-
road men had grievances of their own.
The General Managers association had
been organized with the svowed inten-
tion of giving aHsistance to the railroads
in labor troubles. The evident aim was
to drive organized labor from existence.
No sooner had this association been
formed than a systematic reduction OF
railroad wages all over the country be-
gan. The men were ready to strike and
felt they had cause, but the trouble
would not have come when it did, had
it not been for the Pullman matter
The time was unpropitous. l did not
order strikes. / had not the power.
The men did that themselves. But l
do not wish to shirk eny esponeibility,
and am willing to say | heartily con-
Cured in and approved of the action
| taken by the men. AS to violence, /
always condemned it. l have written
and spoken against 1t, believing and
knowing q strike cannot be won by
violence. As to kilograms sent from our
Office counseling violence, l know of no
such epistles."
"What about the buy a gum tele.
gram p" asked missioner Herman.
THAT Is easily explained. The tele-
gram was cent by my private secretary
to friend in Butte. and was merely a
playful expression. 1t was sent az such
and go understood"
Debs then said "Within five DAYS
after the strike was declared the union
had the railroads beaten. They were
parslyzed." he said, "but injunctions
were sown broadcast and shortly alter
wards the officials of the A. r. U. were
arrested ior contempt OF court. That
beat us. About this time General Miles
came to Chicago, called on the General
Managers association, and next day was
quoted in an interview as saying ne had
broken the backbone OF the strike.
Now, l consider that call of General
Miles as vulgarly out OF place. He had
no more right to consult the General
Managers association than he had to
consult with our unions. 1 might say,
too, it seems strange that all our letters
and kilograms were held as public prop
erty, willis not line OF the railroads'
correspondence was published. If it
had been, think we conld prove the
general managers, at a secret meeting.
declared they would stamp the A. r. u.
out OF existence"
In reply to a question, Debs said that
the union had taken every possible
means to prevent riot and disorder.
1--WE objected to the presence OF fed
eral troops, and not state troops
and police. II | remember rightly, no
serious outbreak occurred until the
federal troops arrived, as their presence
intlamed the men,"
The witness then told OF the trouble
with the railroad brotherhoods.
THE brotherhoods have outlived
their usefulness" he said, ''and for that
reason l. left the Firemen's union. They
were jealous of the A. r. U. and helped
to deleat us. There is now a move on
foot to form united and grand railroad
organization. Within few days a
proposition will be submitted to the
other railroad organizations, whereby
the officials OF the A. r. U. and the
other railroad organizations shall resian
vzrtf ~ nlnn
office. The principal cause of strife be-
ing relieved, and organization will be
effected, il the brotherhoods will con-
sent, which shall include all en-
ployees."
"What is your opinion ss to methods
of preventing atrikes?" asked Commits
sioner Worthington OF Debs.
My own idea, and it 10 the idea Of
the A. r. u, is to unity all the railroad
men Of the country. A power like that
would avoid strikes. The railway man.