The record-union., 1896-10-31
Showing How the Illinois Governor
Misstated Facts.
Federal Troops Were Not Sent to
Chicago Until the Strikers Had
Taken Possession of the Railroad
Yards, Refused to Allow Any
Freight and But Few rlail Trains
to Run, and at the Same Time Had
Declared 1t "NOt a Strike, But
Rebellion

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3O.-In reply to
arguments in Governor Altgeld's speech
in New York City on October 9th in
relation to the Debs riots in Chicago,
where he said the United States troops
were ordered to be in readiness five
days in advance of any trouble, with a
view to force employees to work for
their employers, statement is made,
with the approval of General Miles, who
commanded the United States forces
on the occasion in question, and with
his Endorsement of its accuracy, as fol-
lows:
The forces, or so called armies of
CoXey were organized in California,
Kansas, Oregon and other States, and
swarmed across the country, in some
cases seiZing trains for their tranSpor-
tatiOn and living upon the people OF
towns, villages and communities in
their route. Following this the en-
ployes of the Northern Pacific struck,
and practically held possession of the
road when it was not earning running
expenses. The same thing was done on
the Great Northern, the strikers hold
ing possession of the property for weeks
| regardless Of the law or the rights OF
property owners. Strikes occurred in
Learly all the mines between the AL
leShanies and the Rocky Mountains. In
many instances the property was seized
ana unlawfully held regardless Of the
civil authorities.
Following this, in May, 1894, a
strike was ordered in the Pullman
works in Chicago, and when that busi-
ness was paralyzed sympathetic
strike was ordered on all the railroads
over which the Pullman cars moved.
This was in June, and according to
Governor Altgelds own statement in
his Cooper Union speech all freight
trains in certain portions of Illinois were
abandoned by the employees and pro-
hibited from moving by the strikers.
Trains were ordered side-tracked by
the hundreds, and passengers were
practically held prisoners for weeks.
The interstate commerce of the en-
tire country west of Chicago was sus-
pended by the end of June. A few
mail trains We're allowed to run, but
III many instances every window was
smashed. In some instances the op-
orators were brutally treated.
This was the condition of affairs on
tie last of June.
Under the laws of Congress it was
the duty of the President to protect
the interstate commerce, the mail
| routes, the sub-treasury at Chicago,
containing twenty millions of Govern
rlent money, and other United States
property. When the mail and other
interstate commerce lines were OBJ
structed and paralyZed, it became the
| duty of the United States Court to take
| action, which it did, although the lives
| OF United States Marshals were threat
ened, and they We're unable to carry out
the lawful orders of the court.
| 1T was then, and not until then, on
| July I'd, that President Cleveland or
| de-ed Federal troops to protect United
| States Marshals in the lawful execution
| OF their duties, and also to protect prop
erty under the jurisdiction of the United
| States authorities. AT the same time
the leaders publicly declared that il
was no longer strike, but a rebellion
| When the United Marshals under
| protection of the Federal troops had
| opened the lines of interstate com
| rierce and mail routes, and protection
had been obtained for the property un-
| der the Jurisdiction of the United
States the troops were removed to their
former stations on July 18th. Hence
| they were in Chicago only fifteen days
and did not in any way interfere with
the municipal or State authorities. The
| strike, however, was not ordered off
| until two weeks later This demon
| strated clearly that the Federal au-
| thorities had nothing whatever to do
with the so-called strike. Neither had
they anything to do with the questions
between capital and labor