The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-07-16
THE STRIKERS GRIEVANCES
Nellie Bly, Interviews Pull
man People.
Many Tell Her Their Stories of Suf-
tering.

Pullman Said to Have Made Forty-ffve
Thousand Dollars Out of the Water Rent
Workers Must Live in Pullman Houses
Those Who Went Hungry When Work
ing Have Food Now.
Did Pullman strikers have grievance
The New York World sent Nellie Bly,
to the model city" to get at the facts in
the case.
She says in her letter; Il visited the
town intending in my article to denounce
the riortous and blood-thirsty strikers.
Before | had been half day in Pullman
L was the most bitter striker in town
Are the strikers getting enough to
eat :" | asked.
The man smiled.
"We starved when we were working
and we have food now that's the only
difference. If Pullman had reduced the
rents and given US chance to buy food
there would have been no kick"
iii give you statement and sign it,
too, if you want it," said fine looking
man as he came forward. I've been in
Pullman thirteen years and know the
story from the beginning. l am a tool
maker or a steelmaker | do the fine steel
work in the cars. | used to live in
another state, and the Pullman Company
was looking for the best workmen they
could hire. They came after me four
times before | consented to give up my
job and my pretty little home and move
to Pullman. l had wife and two chill
dren, and as say moved here thirteen
years ago.
when | came first received 81 day p,
and when | gave up my work. didn't
strike, mind you, was starved out on
the wages and quit month before the
men went out-I could only make 81 20
day.
with the reduction of wages my
living expenses went on all the same.
They did not decrease. | moved into a
four-room fiat for which | paid $14 a
month, with Il cents for water tax. To
give you some idea of the situation, say
that | had been able to earn 1915, day,
of course you understand | did not; |
only got 81 90, paid so cents day for
rent and water and that, if had got s. IS,
would have left 37.12 cents per capita
for maintaining my family. But that
| yr0l,lI hoy raCpiraH hot I L
365 days in the year. But you know We
have Sundays and holidays and three
weeks every summer, everything shuts
down for repairs, so if did not get 81 -
every working day it would only aver
age 20 cents day per capita to support
and educate my family, and with the
poorest beefsteaks 16 cents per pound
you can understand how much could
do Il can say for myself and brother
workmen," he added, "that if rents had
been reduced with the pay there would
rents have been increased since | came
to Pullman. A cottage of five rooms
costs then $14 Il, and now We have &c
pay $14 Il for a four-room fiat"
"Another trouble" spoke up mar
who haC been listening, "was the tyranny
of the bosses. We had too many, anC
they were incompetent, There was toe
much red tape about the whole concern
Mr. Pullman was an autocrat. He never
came tC Pullman without from twelve tC
twenty people at his heels, and no work
man dared speak to him. We had tt
give complaints TO a boss and he sent i
up the line, until at last it reached Mr.
Pullman, who couldn't see how thing
could be helped anyway. To put i
roughly, the head of the dog was too fa
from the tail"
Il wish you would state my case,
spoke another man. 1T has been Claime(
by Mr.. Pullman that his workman were
not required to live in Pullman. | an
what they call an inside wood nnisher
| used to make $325 a day, and | wa
cut to 81 40. Then | moved out Of Pull
man. | got FIVE room cottage for 81
and then | was laid off. There was u
work for me When | asked why, tn
manager told me II | would move back Il
Pullman | would not have to lose day
work. 1t was either occupy Pullman
house or do without work
II was also reduced" said newcomer
from s. day to $50. Ny rent va
$3.50 and at one pay day had only beel
given thirteen days work. After the.
took out my rent had check for on
cent to live on for two weeks and keeI
my wife and child"
81 am vestibu!e builder" said ma
who had spoken at tie meeting. "1o
know the vestibule Of the Pullman car:
l used to be paid Sl2 and $l5 previous t
the first quarter in 1898. Then va
cut from $15 to So. Perhaps you re
member seeing the Worlds fair Pullma