The morning call., 1894-08-21
DEBS TELLS WHY
He Did Not Order the
Strike,
NOT HAVING THE POWER.
His Sympathy With the Men to
the Utmost.
FEDERAL SOLDIERS BROKE 1T.
Government Went Upon the Theory
That the Laborers Must Neces-
sariIy BE Wrong.

CHICAGO, Aug 20-E. V. Debs, presi-
dent of the American Railway Union. was
witness before the Strike Commission
t1-day. The courtroom was crowded from
the bench to the doorways.
Now tell us, in your own way, Mr..
Debs," said Commissioner Wright. what
you know of the Pullman strike and its
reSultS?"
Leaning forward in his seat the tall
leader of the great strike began in low,
clear voice a recital which gradually be-
came 9ore earnest and forcible as he pro-
ceeded until it developed into almost an
Grafton. He told of having received word
that a strike in Pullman was imminent
and of his coming TO Chicago to investi-
gate 1t.
Il found" be said. that the men were
working for the Pullman Company at
wages upon which they could not live. l
found that the salaries had been cut time
and again, until skilled mechanics were
working their lives away for wages not
sufficient for day laborer. The town of
Pullman was SC schemed that every penny
the workingm2n N ade found its way back
to the company. In fact l found the
workingmen of Pullman in a pitiable con-
ditiou, and l determined that 1 would do
all in my power as president of the
A. r. u. to improve the condition of those
men. A strike followed, ordered by the
men themselves. Then came the boycott.
ordered by the duly elected delegates to
our convention, and -hen followed the
railroad strikes, ordered by the 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.
mo. The Pullman strike was the prime
cause. We desired TO stop Pullman's 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 as
sistance to the railroads 10 their troubles.
The evident aim was 20 drive organized
labor from existence.
mo sooner had this association been
formed than a systematic reduction in
railroad wages all over the country began.
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. l did not order the strike.
/ had not the power. The men did that
themselves. But l do not wish to shrk
any responsibility and am willing to say
heartily eoncurred in and approved of the
action taken by the men.
''As to violence, l always condemned IT,
have written and spoken against it, be-
lieving and knowing that strike cannot
be won by violence. As TO the kilograms
sent from our office c0uns selling violence, |
know of no such epstles."
What about the 'Buy-a-gun' telegram"
asked Commissioner Herman.
THAT is easily explained. The telegram
was sent by the private secretary TO a
friend in Butte. and was merely playful
expression. 1t was sent as such and so
understood"
Debs said that within five days after the
strike was declared the union had the rail
road beaten. 'They were paralyZed," he
said, 'but iDjunctions were sown broad
coast and shortly afterward the officials
of the A. r. U. were arrested for 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, saw
ing he bad broken the backbone of the
strike. Now l consider that call of Gen
eral Miles as vulgarly out Of place. He
had no more right to consult with the Gen
eral Managers Association than he had to
consult with our unions. l might say, too.
1t seems strange that all our letters and
kilograms were held as public property
while not a line of the railroads CORE
spondence was published. If it had been,
7 II ha
Managers at a secret meeting declared
they would stamp the A. r. u. out of ex-
istence."
In reply to a question Debs said that the
union had taken every possible means to
prevent riot and disorder 'We objected
to the presence of Federal troops and not
State troops and police" be said. "If
remember rightly no serious outbreak oc-
Cured until the Federal troops arrived, as
their presence infiamed the men,"
The witness then told of the trouble
with the railroad brotherhoods. "The
brotherhoods have outlived their useful
ness" he said, land for that reason l left
the fremen's organization. They were
jealous OF the A. r. u, and helped to de-
feat US. There is now a movement on foot
to form united and grand railroad or
ganization. Within few days a PROPOSE
ton will be submitted to the other railroad
organizations whereby the officials of the
A. L. u. and the other unions shall resign,
with no possibility of election TO Office.
The principal cause of strife then being
removed an organization will be effected.
If the brotherhoods will consent, which
shall include all employees"
"What is your opinion as to the methods
OF preventing strikes?" asked Commits
sioner WorthiDgton of Debs.
MY own idea, and it is the idea Of the
A. r. o., is to unity all the railway men
Of the country. A power like that, pru-
IDENTIFY managed. would avoid strikes. The
railway managers would recognize the
wisdom of treating IL fairly and meeting it
in conciliatory spirit"
DO you believe strike is justiiable
that interferes with public convenience 2"
II believe striking is justifiable no ma
ter what the result when it ressts enslav-
ing and degrading"
"Do you believe in Government owner.
ship of railways?" asked Mr.. Herman.
Yes, sir; l believe that Government