The Washington times., 1894-08-21
His Testimony Before the Presiden-
tial Commission.
THE A. R. U. RESPONSIBLE FOR 1T
There We're Aggravating Circumstances,
However, that Moved 1t to Action-strik-
ing Justifable When 1t Resists Degrade
tion-Epigrsms that Evoked Laughter.


Wright. OF the strike commission, this murn-
ing, to President Eugene " Debs, of the
American hallway Union, who appeared as a
witness.
The courtroom was crowded, and every
person in it listened attentively as, leaning
forward in his seat, the tall leader of the
great strike began in low, clear voice re-
cital. which gradually became more earnest
and forcible as he proceeded, until it deyel-
oped into almost an Grafton. He told OF
having received word that strike in Pull
man was imminent and Of his coming to Chi
cago to investigate.
II 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 a common
laborer; that the town Of Pullman, with its
shops, its houses. and its stores, was SO
schemed that every penny that the working
man made found its way back into the COM
pany's Golfers. In fact, / found the working
men of Pullman in pitiable condition. and
determined to do ali in my power as presi-
dent Of the American Railway Union to i'm
prove their condition.
"The strike followed. ordered by the men
themselves. Then came the boycott, ordered
by duly elected delegates to our convention,
and then followed the railroad strikes, ordered
by the various local unions, each OF which
had grievances Of Its own"
Mr. Debs then told of the strike, his ac-
count differing but little from that Of the
other American Railway Union officials who
had preceded him on the witness stand.
PULLMAN STRIKE THE PRIME CAUSE.
"Would the railroad strikes have occurred
II there had been no Pullman trouble?" asked
Commissioner Wright.
"No. The Pullman strike was the prime
cause. We desired to stop Pullman's cars
and shut of his income. thus forcing him to
arbitrate. But the railroad men had griev-
ances of their own. The General Managers
Association had been organized with the
avowed intention of giving assistance TO rail-
roads 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 began.
1.-The cuts were made on one road at time,
and In one department at time, but the sys-
tematic regularity with which they appeared
was sufficiently significant. 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 unpropitious; business was
depressed, and money scarce. did not order
the strikes. / had not the power. The men
did that themselves. But l do not wish TO
shirk any responsibility, and am willing to say
that l heartily concurred in and approved Of
the action taken by the men. As to violence,
always condemned 1t. / have written and
spoken against it, believing and knowing that
a strike cannot be won by violence. As to
kilograms sent from our Office counseling
violence, l know nothing OF any such epis-
ties"
"what about the 'buy-a-gun' telegram"
asked Commissioner Herman.
.'This is easily explained. The kilograms
were sent by private secretary to friend in
Butte, and was merely playful expression.
1t was sent out as such and was so under
Stood"
RAILROADS PARALYzED IN FIVE DAYS.
Mr.. Debs then said that within five days
after the strike was declared the union had
the railroads beaten.
''They were paralyzed," he said, "but Just
at that time injunctions we're sown broadcast,
and shortly afterward the officials OF the
American Railway Union were arrested for
contempt of court. That beat US. 1t wasn't
the railroads or the army, but the power Of
the United States courts that beat US.
About that time thing occurred which
desire to mention. Gen. Miles came to Chi
cago. called on the General Managers Asso-
citation, and the next day was quoted in an
as saying he had broken the back
bone Of the strike. Now, I consider that call
of Gen. Miles as vulgarly out of place. He
had TO more right to consult with the Gen.
eral Managers Association than he had to
consult with the men OF our union.
81 might say, too, that it seems strange that
all of our letters and kilograms were made
public property, while not line Of the rail-
roads correspondence was published. If it
eral managers, at one OF their secret meetings,
declared they would stamp the A. r. U. out
OF existence"
In reply TO question Mr.. Debs said that
the union had taken every possible means to
prevent rioting and disorder.
ave objected to the presence of the Federal
troops, but not to State troops and police. If
l remember rightly, no serious outbreak oc-
eurred until the Federal troops arrived, as
their presence inflamed the men,"
BRorHERHooDs no GOOD ANY LONGER.
The witness then told of the trouble with
the railroad brotherhoods.
"The brotherhood have outlived their use
he said, "and for that reason left
the flremen's organization. They were,
fear jealous Of the American Railway Union,
and helped to defeat US. There is now a
movement on footto form a grand and united
railroad labor organization. Within three
days a proposition will be submitted to the
other railroad orders, whereby all present
officers OF the A. R. q. and other unions shall
resign, with no possibility OF election to
office. The principal cause OF the strife thus
being removed. an organization will be eff
fected, IL the brotherhoods consent, which
shall include all rail- Dad employees"
The commissioners have notified George
NJ. Pullman to appear and testify. and will
also call for several members of the General
Managers Association. The date for Mr..
Pullman's testimony has not yet been set, but
It is expected that he will appear Tuesday or
Wednesday.
WHAT U. 6. MARSHAL ARNOLD THINKS.
United States Marshal Arnold. of Illinois,
who has come to Washington to settle his
strike accounts with the Department of
Justice, which aggregates about 100000, /.
said yesterday that the strike was thing Of
the past. Occasionally workman who
had taken the place Of a striker would be as
saulted ON his way to or from work. but with
a few such exceptions all violence had ceased,
and to all appearances normal conditions had
been restored.
As to the strikers themselves Mr.. Arnold
said that very large proportion OF them had
been taken back by the railroads. Workmen
who took no active part in the hostile demon
strations against the railroads had found little
difficulty in regaining their old places, but
the leaders and those who had a hand in the
destruction Of property had not been taken
back and never would be.