Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-31
ALTGELD ANSWERED
HITVElO HIVOWEnIU.
Statements About the Federal
Troops During Chicago Riots
Shown to Be as False as the Motive
That Prompted Them.
The True Facts Given Out With the Sanction
Of Gen. Miles.

Washington, Oct. 30-In reply to
statements in Governor Altgeld' $ 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 the employees to
work for their employers, the follow
ing statement is made with the appro-
val of Gen. Miles, who commanded the
United States forces on the occasion in
question:
The hordes, or so-called armies" of
CoXey were organized in Kansas, Colo
RADIO. California, Oregon and other
states and swarmed across the coun-
try, in some cases Selling trains for
transportation and living upon the peo-
pie 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 it
was not earning its running expenses.
The same thing was done on the Great
Northern, the strikers holding posses
sion of the property for weeks. regard
less Of law or the rights of the prop
crty owners.
Then strikes occurred in nearly all
the coal mines between the Alleghanies
and the Rocky mountains. In many
instances property was seized and I'M
lawfully held, regardless of the civil
authorities. Following this. in May.
1894. strike was ordered i'm the Pull
man works in Chicago and when that
business was paralyzed sympathetic
strike was ordered on all 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 the strikers.
Trains We're ordered side tracked by
the hundreds, and the 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. though
few mail trains We're allowed to run
but in many instances every window
was smashed, and in some instances
the operators We're brutality treated.
This was the condition of affairs on
the last of June. Under the laws of
Congress, ii was the duty of the Presi-
dent TO protect interstate commerce.
the mail routes, the sub-treasury at
Chicago. containing 500. 000. 900 of gov
eminent money. and other United
States property. When the mail and
interstate commerce lines We're OBJ
structed and paralyzed it became the
duty of the United States court to take
the action which it 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
,, that President Cleveland ordered the
federal troops to protect United States
marshals in the lawful execution of
their duties. and protect property un-4
der the jurisdiction of the United States.
the troops were removed to their
former stations, July IS. Hence they
were in Chicago only Is days. and did
not in any way interfere with the 4
municipal or state authorities The
strike was not ordered off until two
weeks later.
This demonstrates clearly that the
federal authorities had nothing what
ever to do with the So-called strike,
Neither had they anything whatever
to do with the questions between CAPT.
tai and labor.