Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-08-24
UNA' |: 70 LIVE
Wages Paid at Pullman Not
Sufficient for Bare Nee i.
r.. KITE >s." ...s& -.
essaries of Life.
so SAYS PRESIDENT DEBs.
Strike Commissioners Listen
to the Testimony Of the
A. r. u. Leader.

CHICAGO, Aug. 21.-The feature OF
the day in the strike commission i'll
vestigation was the testimony Of E. Y.
Debs, president Of the American Rail
way union. His testimony, however,
did not differ materially from that of
other A. R. U. officials who preceded
him. He took the witness chair at the
opening of the morning session.
"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 a low
clear voice, a 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 a strike in Pullman was i'm
minellt and Of his coming to Chicago to
investigate.
What Debs Found.
II Iound," he said, that the men
were working for the Pullman COM
pany 1T wages upon which they could
not live. I found that salaries had
been s'ut time and again until skilled
mechanics were working their lives
away for wages not sufficient for day
laborer. That the town of Pullman
with its shops, it's houses and it's stores
were so schemed that every penny the
workiMgman made found it's way back
into the company's Golfers. In fact, I
found the workingmen of Pullman in a
pitable condition and determined I
would do all in my power as president
of the A. R. u, to improve the condi-
ton Of these men. The strike followed,
ordered by the men themselves. Then
came the boycott ordered by duly elected
delegates to our convention and then
followed the railroad strikes, ordered by
the varions local unions, each of which
had grievances of it's own.'
"Would the railroad strikes have &C.
Cured if there had been no Pullman
trouble?" asked Commissioner Wright.
Pullman Strike the Prime Cause.
mo, the Pullman strike was the
prime cause. We decided 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 associa-
ton had been organized with the
evowed intention of giving assistance to
railroads in labor troubles. The evident
aim was to drive organized labor from
existence. No sooner had this associa-
ton been formed than systematic re-
duction of railroad wages all over the
country began. The cuts We're made on
one road at time, and in one depart
ment at time, but the systematic reg
ularity with which they appeared was
sufficiently significant. 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 unpro-
pitious, business was depressed and
money was scarce. did not order the
strike, had not the power; the men did
that themselves. But I do not wish to
shirk any responsibility, and am willing
to say that heartily commended, con-
CURED In and approved OF the action
taken by the men,
Railroads Own the Government.
"Do you believe in government own
ership Of railroads." asked Mr.. Herman.
Eyes, sir, believe the government
ownership of railroads is decidedly bet
ter than railroad ownership Of the gov
eminent"
There was the heartiest kind of laugh
ter and applause at the epigram, and it
was some time before quiet was re-
stored. In conclusion the witness said
he believed the A. R. U. was stronger
numerically and every other way than
it ever had been.
Mr.. Debs was followed by P. H. Nor
risey, first vice grand master of the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Trainmen.
ALTGELD AT PULLMAN.