The sun., 1896-10-31

Gen. MiIes's Statement In Reply to Gov.
AItEeId's Cooper Union Speech.


AltEeld's Cooper Union Speech.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3O.-In reply to statements
in Gov AltGeld's speech in Cooper Union, New
York, Oct. II, in relation to the Debs riots in
Chicago. wherein he said that 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, q state
ment is made. with the approval OF Gen. Miles,
who commanded tho United States forces on
the occasion In question. and with his endorse
ment OF its accuracy. as follows:
Tho hordes, or so-called armies of Coxey
were organized in Kansas, Colorado. California,
Oregon. and other States. and swarmed across
the country, in some cases selling trains for
their transportation and living upon the people
of towns, villages. and communities In their
route. Following this. the EMPLOYEES Of the
Northern Pacific struck and practically held
possession OF the road when 1t WAS not earning
It's running expenses. The same thing was done
on the Great Northern. the strikers holding pos
session of the property for weeks, regardless OF
law the rights of the property owners.
Then strikes occurred in nearly all tho
coal mines between the AlleGhanics and
the Rocky Mountains. In many instances
the property was seized and unlawfuly held
regardless OF the civil authorities. Following
this. in May. 1904. q strike was ordered In the
Pullman Works IN Chicago and when that
business was parayZed sympathetic strike
wnfordered on all the railroads over which the
Pullman cars moved. This was in June, and,
according to Gov Altgeld's own statement,
published In his Cooper Union speech, all
freight trains In certain portions of Illinois were
abandoned by the employees and prohibited
from moving by tho strikers. Trains were or
dered sldetracked by the hundreds. and the
passengers were practically held prisoners for
weeks. The Interstate commerce of the entire
country west OF Chicago was suspended by the
end of June. A few mail trains were allowed
To run. but In many instances every window
was smashed In some instances the operators
were brutally treated.
This was the condition of affairs on the last
of June Under the laws OF Congress 1t Was tho
duty of the President to protect tho inter state
commerce. the mail routes, the Sub-Treasury at
Chicago containing twenty millions Of Govern
ment money, and other United States property.
When the mail and Interstate commerce lines
were obstructcd and paralyzed, 1t became the
duty OF the United States Court to take action
which il did, although the lives OF its marshals
were threatened and they were unable to carry
out the lawful orders OF the court. 1t was then
and not until then, July Q, that Prcsi-
dent Cleveland ordered Federal troops
10 protect United States Marshals In the
lawful execution OF their duties. and also
To protect property nder the Jurisdi iction ut
the United states authorities. At the same
time the leaders publicly declared that it was
no Longer "A strike hut a rebellion. When tES
United states Marshals. under the protection
OF the Federal troops. had opened the Lines Of
lnter-S state commerce and mail routes and pro-
lection had been obtained for the property under
the jnrpdicton Of the United State, the troops
were removed To their former stations ,lulJ ls.
and did not in any way interfere with tho
municipal or State authorities. The strike
later. This demonstrates clearly that the red
ernl authorities had nothing whatever 10 dn
with the so-called strike Neither had thry
tween capital and labor"