The Washington times., 1894-07-11
PULLMAN HAS NOTHING TO ARBITRArE.

In reply to the committee OF the Chicago
city council. appointed to wait on the Pull
man Company and arrange for arbitration
and put an end to the bloodshed and violence
caused by the strike in that city, Vice Presi-
dent Wickes said:
"The Pullman Company has nothing to arbi-
trate."
Alderman McGillen then replied for the
committee:
"Mr. Wickes, your company demands the po-
lice protection OF the Federal government, tho
state of Illinois, the county of Cook, and the city
of Chicago and yet you utterly ignore a fair re-
quest made by the city, request the funda-
mental idea of which is the preservation of
peace. We have come TO you conservers of
the peace, and You have assumed grave respon-
sibility in thus refusing the request We make-a
responsibility greater, perhaps, than even you
are aware"
There Is principle involved in this matter
said Mr. Wickes, (which the Pullman Company
will not surrender 1t is that employers must
be permitted TO run their business in their own
way, and without interference from their en-
ployes, or from anybody else. We shall not al
low anyone TO tell us how business shall be
conducted, and we shEll not consent TO arbitra-
tion. Our business is our private affair,
and we want no interference from Federal, or
state, or any other government"
Unfortunately for the working people OF
this country there are too many arrogant,
grinding, grasping Pullman companies They
rule with rod of steel, seldom accord justice
to those in their employ, and when waited upon
in the interests of peace and good order refuse
the commonest act Of courtesy, satisfactory
hearing. The obstinate refusal OF the Pull
man Company TO listen to the complaints OF
its employees has cost a number Of innocent
lives. lost millions of property. destroyed and
partially paralyzed the business of the coun-
try, and yet the Pullman shops and property
are being guarded at public expense by
soldiers and armed United States deputies.
Rev. George D. McCulloch, Presbyterian
minister in st. Louis, said last Sunday, in
describing the transformation of the swampy
prairies near Chicago into the present city Of
Pullman, with all its modern improvements,
its houses and factories:
1t is an instance of what municipal socialism
can do in securing beauty, comfort and profit
most economically. The benefit of this success,
however goes not to the people of the city, but
TO one owner of it all Such power, said he, is a
mistake in our free government and will always
lead to friction and strife. This great enter
prise was not a benevolent work; it was 10
make money. Its success from the money
standpoint develops certain irritating conditions
that ought TO be considered.
Q) These laboring people believe that the only
interest the management have in them is to
make money out Of them. There is surely some
reason for it when We told that the Pullman-
ties pay s2-25 per 1000 feet for gas which costs
the company only 80 cents. Again, while the
company gets water for cents per 900 gallons
from the city of Chicago, it sells this water TO the
people for 10 cents, thereby making enough
profit 10 get all the water needed for these great
manufactures free of expense the people pay
ing the entire cost
G)-Let us consider again that these laborers
believe they are uniustly treated; that the law
as administered now discriminates in favor of
the rich man is there not some grounds for the
feeling' Stead's book on Chicago gives some
data from the tax lists of the city. According to
this authority, in 1893, George NJ Pullman paid
taxes on ten horses, valued at $40 head: on six
sessment on real and personal property was less
than $4,000. Knowing the almost fabulous
wealth of Mr.. Pullman, who does not consider
this mere travesty of justice? The poor mans
cottage in Chicago pays rate CT taxation four
times greater than the palatial buildings of the
fniIIionaires