The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-11-24

acceptance Of any offered settlement. II suit
follows, the doctor Is usually a witness for the
company. We have no evidence that the doc
tor has ever abused his confidential relation
the injured employees: but this system
Is admirably conceived, from o business stand
point, to secure speedy settlement OF claims
for damages upon the terms offered by the COM
pany, and to protect the company from litiga-
ton and its results.
AN U%NYIELDING CORPORATION.
"As the result Of the Pullman system and its
ally calling for mutual concessions as to wages,
rents, etc., We find on the one side q very
wealthy and unyielding corporation, and upon
the other a multitude Of employees Of compare
lively excellent character and skill, but with
out local attachments, or any interested re-
sponsibilfty In the town its business, tenements
or surroundings. The conditions created at
Pullman enables the management at all times
to assert with great vigor its assumed right
to fix wages and rents, absolutely. and to re-
press that sort OF independence which leads to
labor organizations and their attempts at me-
diation, arbitration, strikes, etc. On the other
hand, 1t is an economic principle, generally
recognized, that the shutting down Of such a
plant and the scattering Of its forces usually
result in a greater loss than that exhibited by
the continuance OF business. The Pullman
company could hardly shut down for seven and
o half months at a cost and loss of less than l
per cent. upon its capital and surplus. To con-
AAA1 LIA - ~ - 4 anu bAa
advantage. SO long as it could divide losses
equally with its labor. The men at Pullman
claim that the company, during 1S93-S4, set the
pace through experts so that they were forced
to loss of time, and an average man could earn
little more than the rent OF houses owned by
the company. The company alleges that it
simply readjusted p~iece-work prices to
suit the necessities Of the times. Some
witnesses swear that at times for the
work done in two weeks they received in
checks from 4c to 81 over and above their
rent. The company has not produced its
checks in rebuttal. During all of this reduc-
ton and its attendant suffering none of the
salaries Of the officers, managers or superin-
tendents we're reduced. Reductions in these
would not have been so severely felt. would
have shown good faith, would have relieved the
harshnesS OF the situation and would have
evinced genuine sympathy with labor in the
disasters Of the times.
o SELF BENEFIT.
I'm its statements to the public, which are in
evidence, the company represents that its OBJ
ject in all 1t did was to continue operations for
the benefit Of its workmen, and of trades peo-
pie in and about Pullman, and to save the nub-
lie from the annoyance OF interrupted travel.
The commission thinks that the evidence
shows that 1t sought to keep running mainly
for its own benefit as a manufacturer; that its
plant might not rust: that its competitors
might not invade its territory; that it
might keep its cars in repairs: that it
might be ready for resumption when BUSH
ness revived, with a live plant and competent
help. and that its revenue might continue. II
We exclude the aesthetic and sanitary features
at Pullman, the rents there are from 20 to %
per cent. higher than rents in Chicago or sur
rounding towns for similar accommodations.
The aesthetic features are admired by visitors,
but have little money value to employees. es-
pecially when they lack bread. The company
makes all repairs, and, heretofore, has not
compelled tenants to pay for them. Under the
printed leases. however, which tenants must
sign, they agree to pay for all repairs which
are either necessary Ordinary wear and dam
aunS hv tho alapnaptS mot ayRanfnIl mr. which
the company chooses to make. The company'S
claim that the workmen need not hire its tene-
ments and can live elsewhere if they choose is
not entirely tenable. The fear OF losing work
keeps them in Pullman as long as there are
unoccupied, because the company
is supposed, as a matter of business. to give
a preference to its tenants when work is
slack. While reducing wages. the company
made no reduction IN rents. Its position Is
that The two matters are distinct, and that
none of the reasons urged justifying wage re-
duction by it as an employer can be considered
by the company as q landlord. The company
claims that it is simply legitimate business to
use its position and resources to hire IN the
labor market as cheaply as possible, and at
the same time to keep rents up, regardless of
what wages are paid to its tenants, or what
other tenements rent for elsewhere; to avail 1t
self to the full extent of business depression
and competition in reducing wages and to dis
regard these same conditions as to rents. No
valid reason is assigned for his position ex-
cept simply that the ompany had the power
and the legal right to do it.
THE SYSTEM.
Prior to the so-called truck law in Illinois,
rent was deducted from the wages. Since then
a check is given for the amount of the rent,
and another for the balance due for
wages. There is nothing to prevent
the payee of the check from cashing it
outside Of the bank, but. as the bank is rent
collector, it presses for the rent, and Is aided
in collecting it by knowledge on the part of the
tenant that by arrears he may lose his job.
reductions at Pullman after September,
the employees for the first time
of them when they took effect. The
company based its entire contention as to
every department upon the facts in reference
to car building to which We have alluded, and
offered to show its books and figures as to the
cost and selling prices of cars. This offer, on
account of the strike intervening, was not
acted upon. Had 1t been. it would have re-
suited in the figures as to car building con-
tracts. The purpose OF the management was
obviously to rest the whole matter upon cost,
etc., in its most seriously crippled department,
excluding from consideration the facts as to
wages In the repair department.
''The demand Of the employees for the wages
Of June, 1893. was clearly unjustifable. The
business in May, 1894. could not pay the wages
Of June, 1898. Reduction was carried to excess.
but the company was hardly more at fault
therein than were the employees in insisting up
on the wages Of June, 1858. There was little
discussion as to rents. the company maintain
ing that its rents had nothing to do with its
wages, and that its revenue from its tene-
menIS was no RTeaIeT imam IL ought 10 receive.
''The company had c legal right to take this
position, but, as between man and man. thesie-
mand for some rent reduction was fair and
reasonable. under all the circumstances.
Some slight concession in this regard would
probably have averted the strike, provided the
promise not to discharge men who served vpon
the committee had been more strictly re-
garded.
THE STRIKE.
THE strike occurred on May II, and from
that time until the soldiers went to Pullman.
about July 4, 800 strikers were placed about the
company's property, professedly to guard it
from destruction or interference. This guard
ing Of property in strikes is, as a rule, a mere
Too often the real object of guards
is to prevent new corners from taking strikers
places by persuasion, often to be followed. il
by intimidation and violence. TIL
Pullman company claims this was the real OBJ
ject of these guards.
The strikers at Pullman are entitled to
be believed to the contrary In this matter,
because Of their conduct and forbearance
after May II. 1t Is in evidence and uncon-
that no violence or destruction
OF property by strikers or sympathizers
took place at Pullman and that until July
8 no extraordinary protection was had from
the police or military agents against any dis
order. Such dignifed, manly and conservative
in the midst Of excitement and threat
ened starvation is worthy OF the highest type
of American citizenship. and with prudence in
all other directions will result in due time in
the lawful and orderly redress of labor wrongs
deny this is to forswear patriotism and to
this government and its people q fail
ure."
As to the great railroad strike proper. the
says:
sympathetically was promoted by the dis
turbed and apprenticeship condition of railroad
employees, resulting from the wage reductions
on different lines. blacklisting. etc., and from
the recent growth of the General Managers as
which seemed a menace. 1t is seri-
ously questioned, and with much force, wheth-