Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-29
.REMORSE OF PAELAN
Taft's Experience With the
Strike'Leader Recalled.
DEBS DENiES THE STORY
Ample Evidence to Establish Its
Truth.
DISORDER LESS IN ATLANTA
Record for First Three Months Un-
der Prohibition-Uniqu Ex-
perience of R. r. Hit.
DISORDER LESS IN ATLANTA
BY WILLIAM f.. CURTIS.

= BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Some time ago. in connection with Al
explanation of Secretary Taft's attitude
and views OF labor questions. I told q
story about Phelan. the railroad striker
whom he sent to Jail for six months ir
1904 for defying the authority OF the
United States government and violating
an injunction prohibiting the strikers
from interfering with the operation o.
trains upon railway that was in charge
of the United States circuit court al
Cincinnati. Eugene V. Debs who wa!
the leader of that strike. and is now the
head Of the socialist labor party, writes
me to say:
LAS Phelan is dead and unable to speal
for himself I wish to enter denial OF
these statements. happen to know that
the incident you relate in reference to
Mr. Phelan and Judge Taft is utterly
untrue. All these stories about Phelan
having renowned his former position anG
commencing Taft are fairy tales. and
they certainly do q cruel injustice to the
memory of an honest man. Assuming
that you yourself have been imposed upon
and that you would not deliberately give
such vicious stories the Endorsement OF
your name and reputation. l would ask
you to kindly advise me of your authority
for them
1t is not customary for newspaper cor
respondents to give their authority for
the statements they make and the facts
they publish unless they appear in the
form of interviews. Such thing is
considered unprofessional, but in the
present case there is not the slightest
reason for concealing the fact that Sec
rotary Taft himself, whose truthfulness
has never been impeached. and George
Leonard. who was his private secretary
at the time. will vouch for the truth OF
my statements.
AS a matter of delicacy. Secretary Taft
prefers not to be quoted in the matter
and he certainly may be excused from
V. Debs. but George Leonard the other
day repeated to me the details of the
incident referred to. as follows:
''Phelan. as you know, was sent to Gin
cinnati by Debs who was in charge OF the
strike at Chicago. for the purpose of Or
ganizing a strike at Cincinnati. and sue
ceeded in doing so. He publicly defied the
authority of the United States govern
ment and deliberately violated the orders
of the United States circuit court. and
fenced him to jail for six months for con-
tempt OF court. A few days after Phelan
was released from prison, he went over to
Ludlow. KY. which Is railroad town.
strike in the distress and poverty of the
families of the strikerswho had been thrown
out of employment. Their wages had stop
ped: they had received nothing from the
railway union, and their wives and chill
dren were literally starving. Phelan. who.
after all, was a very decent sort of fellow.
although he wan reckless and lacked
judgment, was very much touched. He
realized that he was responsible for the
sufferings Of those people because they
had lost their jobs in obeying his orders
and violating the injunction Of the court.
Phelan Expresses Remorse.
Upon his return from Ludlow he came
to the federal building in Cincinnati, found
his way to Judge Tafts chambers. where
Lreceived him and Immediately recognized
him. He was accompanied by railroad
man and one Of the strikers, whom had
never before seen. and whose name was
not mentioned. l have never seen him
since. He took no part in the converse
ton. If that mans alive today, he will
testify as TO the conversation between
Judge Taft and Phelan and will corrobo-
rate what l say. When ! had notified
Judge Taft that Phelan wanted to see
into the private office. he seemed very
much pleased. and after exchanging a few
words Of greeting. said:
Judge Taft, l have come to ask you to
help those poor people over in Ludlow.
KY. who are suffering for the neces-
saries of life. The men have not been
able to obtain employment: they have
pawned everything they own; their funds
are entirely exhausted. and the women
and children are starving. If you will
n1H, hal, to a
kind of employment or persuade the rail-
way company to take them back and
give them a chance TO earn living. |
will be willing to serve another six
months or longer
"Phelan assumed the entire blame of
the strike and OF the consequences to
his followers. He seemed very remorse-
ful. He admitted his guilt and that he
had not teen unjustly treated. He said
thar he cid not come in a defiant spirit.
anxious to make some recompense to the
people who had been suffering so much
misery for following him.
The suffering l saw among the women
and children of the strikers at Ludlow
made me sick he said. and l will do
ANYTHING you say. judge, If you will only
help me get the men back in their jobs
where they can earn something
He continued to plead for some min
utes and then said: Judge Taft. when
i
carrying out the orders of others / id
not tell the straight truth. AS matter
of fact, l was acting under general in
structiOns from Eugene V. Debs and the
committee at Chicago, and l had full
authority to use my discretion. l had
authority to order out the men on any
road or all roads or let them stay at
work. as l saw fit and the witnesses
who said that they had struck out OF
sympathy with the employees at Pullman
lied. 1t was not sympathetic strike
The railway employees at Cincinnati do
not care anything about the troubles al
Pullman. The most of them did no,
want to quit work. and they went out
reluctantly under my orders. issued un-
der the authority l carried from Debs
Now. I have told you the truth and
beg you to help me repair some of the
damage ! have caused and persuade he
railway company to take the men back
and give them chance for their lives
The women and children are not 10 blame
but they have been the greatest suf-
ferers.
THE interview lasted about ten min
utes." said Mr.. Leonard. "Phelan came
voluntarily and unexpectedly. and We
We're very much astOn.shed to see him
because We had understood that he and
the other strike leaders were very win.
dictive toward Judge Taft. Therefore, We
never dreamed of his coming on that
or any other errand. and were surprised
when the messenger brought in his name
mn 10 t<pr.1 10