The diamond drill., 1895-02-09
DEss TEsTlFles.
The A. X. u. President Denies That He
Has Violated the Law.


Has Violated the Law.
CHICAGO, Feb. Tit was expected
that George NJ. Pullman would take
the stand at the opening of the Debs
trial Wednesday morning, but the mar
shall reported he could not find him, and
that IL was his belief that the palace car
president was i'm his office part of the
day Tuesday, but refused TO allow the
officer To gain admission TO his pres
ence. Later on. il is claimed,
Mr.. Pullman took a train for
Florida.
The defense hopes 20 show by Mr..
Pullman many of the facts concerning
which the officers of the railroads were
interrogated, and also that there was
an agreement between the General
Managers association and Mr.. Pullman
TO stand by his company in the strike
and boycott.
/ Before court adjourned Attorney
| Gregory. for the defence, requested
/ Judge Grosscup 90 order an investiga-
tion concerning the constable's inabili-
" TO serve a subpoena on George NJ.
/ Pullman president of the Pullman Pal
ace Car company.
President Eugene " Debs was the
principal witness of the day. lie told
the story Of his life and then said the
object Of the organization OF the Ameri-
can Railway union was 10 unite war
ring factions of railroad employees and
make their cause a common one
against the General Managers associ-
alton. This was made necessary by the
1,nf To, -
ly swallowing up the small ones and "A
movement was on foot 10 reduce wages.
Mr.. Debs said the first NEE ting OF the
A. II. L.. was held June 20, 1898, at
which time he was elected president.
About fifty members were present at
the organization. At the time OF the
late strike there were about 10000
members. lie told OF his efforts 20 end
the Great Northern strike, and said
that IL lasted eighteen days, and was
finally settled by arbitration.
When he first heard of the trouble
at Pullman, he sent Vice President
Howard there 90 avert the threat
ened strike II possible. The strike
was ordered directly against his
advice. He visited Pullman four days
after the strike began, and talked over
the trouble with the employees and i'm
vestigated their condition. In answer
TO questions by the court Mr.. Debs
said the strikers were members
of his organization. There had
been reductions in wages which
he, upon investigation, concluded
were unwarranted by the condition Of
the company. lie inquired into the
subject OF rents and came TO the con-
clusion that they were too high. The
trouble was because Of the low wages,
high rents and the tyranny to which
the men were subjected by the fore
men.
MIR Debs then spoke of the A. r. l..
convention last summer and of matters
discussed by him in his opening adj
dress.
In the afternoon Mr. Debs was the
only witness introduced, and his testi-
mony was not concluded at the adj
iournment OF court. lie related the
proceedings of the A. X. u. convention
In detail and said that the strike went
into effect on June 20 and was declared
off ON August .. lie stated further that
during the continuance OF the strike.
he at no time was guilty
OF any violation Of the federal law, nor
did he at any time from the first meet
ing Of the 4. 4. 4. until the end OF the
strike countenancc any acts OF violence
or advise any one 10 violate the laws OF
the nation, the state laws or any city
ordinance. lie emphatically stated
that at all meetings his words were To
- A a.
must mail trains be interfered with.