The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-08-30
OPINION OF E. Y. DEBS
Reviews the Strike Before the
Labor Commission.
HE DID NOT ORDER THE STRIKE.
The Announcement Made That There Is
Now on Foot q Movem emit to Form
United and Grand Railway Organiza-
tiOn-An Earnest Recital.


United and Grand Railway organiza-
tion-An Earnest Recital.
CHICAGO, August 21.-President E. V.
Debs of the American Railway Union
was witness before the Strike Commits
sion to- day. The courtroom was crowded
from bench to doorways. "Now tell us
in your own way, Mr.. Debs," said Com
missioner Wright, "what you know of
the Pullman strike and results"
Leaning forward in his seat, the tall
leader of the great strike began in
low, clear voice recital which gradually
became more earnest and forcible as he
proceeded until it developed into almost
an grafton. He told of having received
word that strike in Pullman was inn
minent and of his coming to Chicago to
investigate. 81 found" he said, the
men were working for the Pullman Com
pany at wages upon which they could
not live. found 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 so schemed that
every penny the workingman made found
it's way back to the company. In fact,
found the workingmen of Pullman in
a pitiable condition, and determined |
would do all in my power as President
of the American Railway Union to inn
prove the condition of these men. The
strike followed, ordered by the men
themselves. Then came the boycott
ordered by the duly elected delegates to
our convention, and then followed the
railroad strikes, ordered by the various
local unions, each of which had a griev-
ance of its own"
"Would the railroad strike have oc-
Cured if there had been no Pullman
trouble" asked Commissioner Wright.
"No; the Pullman strike was the
prime cause. We desired to stop Pull
mans cars and shut off his income, thus
forcing him to arbitrate, but the railroad
men had grievances of their own. The
General Managers Association had been
organized with the avowed intention of
giving assistance to the railroads in la
Dor troubles. It's 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 unpropitious. I did not order the
strikes had not the power. The men
did that themselves. But do not wish
to shirk any responsibility, and am will
ing to say I heartily concurred in and
approved of the action taken by the
men. AS to violence have always con-
demned it. I have written and spoken
against it, believing and knowing a
strike cannot be won by violence. As
to the kilograms sent from our office
counseling violence l know OF no such
epistles."
"What about the Buy gun tele-
gram?" asked Commissioner.
"That is easily explained. The tele-
gram was sent by the private secretary
to friend in Butte, and was merely
playful expression. 1t was sent as such
and so understood"
Debs then said that within five days
after the strike was declared the union
had the railroads beaten. "They were
paralyzed," he said. "But injunctions
were sown broadcast, and shortly after
ward the officials of the American Rail-
way Union were arrested for contempt
of court. That beat us. About this
time General Miles came to Chicago, and
called on the General Managers Associ-
alton, and the next day was quoted in
an interview as saying he had broken
the backbone of the strike. Now con-
slider that call of General Miles as vul-
CARLY out of place. He had no more
right to consult with the Gen eral Mana
gers Association than he had to consult
with our unions. I might say, too, it
seems strange that all our letters and
kilograms were made public property,
while not line of the railroads corre-
spondence was published. If it had been,
I think we could prove the General Man.
ayers at the secret meeting declared they
would stamp the American Railway
Union out of existence"
In reply to question Debs said the
union had taken every possible means
to prevent riot and disorder, and added:
1--WE objected to the presence of Fed
eral troops, and not State troops and po-
lice. If I remember rightly, no serious
outbreak occurred until Federal troops
arrived, as their presence inhamed the
men,"
He told of the trouble with railroad
brotherhoods, and continued:
"The brotherhoods have outlived their
usefulness, and for that reason left the
firemen's organization. They were jeal-
GUS of the American Railway Union.
There is now movement on foot to
form q united and grand railway organ
ization. Within a few days PROPOSE
ton will be submitted to the other rail-
wav organizations, whereby the officials
of the American Railway Union and
other unions shall resign with no posi-
bility of election to office. The principal
cause of strife being relieved, an organi-
cation will be effected, if the brother
hoods will consent, which shall include
all employees"
"What is your opinion as to methods
of preventing strikes?" asked Commits
sioner Worthington of Debs.
envy own idea, and it is the idea of
the union, is to notify all the railroads
of the country. A power like that pru-
IDENTIFY managed would avoid strikes.
The railway managers would recognize
the wisdom of treating it fairly and
meeting it in conciliatory spirit"
"Do you believe strike is justified
that interferes with public convenience"
81 believe striking is justiiable, no
matter what the result, when it resists
enslaving and degrading"
do You believe in government own
ership of railways?" asked Mr.. Herman.
eyes, sir; believe that government
ownership is decidedly better than rail-
road ownership of the government"
Debs was followed by P. P. Morris
sew. First Grand Master of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen. The broth
erhood, he said, did not believe In SYM
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