Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-11
RAILROAD STRIKE IN 1871
CAUSED GREAT DISTRESS
Many Of Men Forced to Sell Their
Homes, and Others Become OBJ
jectS OF Charity.
sINTEEN CASES OF SUICIDE
Statistical Sketch OF Havoc Wrought
Given by Frank Comcrford Before
Federal Industrial Relations Com.
mission.

CHICAGO, April lo-Havoc wrought
among the 10000 shopmen whose
strike against the so-called Hartman
lines in 1911 was lost. was skctchcd
statistically to-day before the Federal
Commission on Industrial Relations by
Frank Comerford. for many years at
torney for the men.
One thousand question blanks were
sent at random TO the strikers thirty
four months after the strike. His
figures, Mr.. Comerford explained. APP
piled to those thousand men. and he
thought that fair social survey of
the whole number could be obtained
by multiplying his figures by thirty.
OF the thousand men whose replies
wero checked up. according to sir.
Comerford. 1Ss were single when tho
strike was called on September so,
1911. There were l.743 children n
small number. which. he thought.
might be traced to low wages and
a subnormal scale of living. Forty
two per cent OF the men owned their
homes or were buying them. The
strike cost IL per cent of these their
homes. and OF the whole number. 81
per cent moved from their lowly domi-
Twelve per cent of the strikers had
TO sell their furniture. and 10 per cent
10 seek charity. The average period
OF idleness occas!oned by the strike
was ono year. The witness claimed
that he had traced sixteen cases OF
suicide 10 tho strike and nine cases of
insanity.
This, in brief is an attempt to rep
resent human values In dollars said
Comerford.
Portions OF his testimony and that
Of Julius kruttschnitt. chairman of
the board OF tho Southern Pacific
formed a symposium on tho force of
public opinion, and the channels BY
which 1t is Influenced.
MOST STRIKES SETTLED
BY PUBLIC OPINION
MIR Kruttschnitt expressed the view
that public opinion settled most
strikes. and generally with a correct
decision. He suggested the need of
a vehicle by which both sides of
labor controversy could be presented
to the public.
MIR. Comerford stated that of lie
cases OF strikers defended by himself.
us resulted In acquittals. not through
any cleverness of mine, but on the
merits OF the cases. The arrests APP
pcaled more TO the news instincts of
the editors than the dismssals, how
ever, and the fact that lis OF the men
were innocent. received far less pub
licity than the facts OF their arrests.
II do not attempt to criticize the
newspapers in this connection. II just
happened that way tho witness sai id.
Yet public opinion WAS influenced
against the strikers just In proportio
as their arrests We're more widely pub
lished than their acQuittals. one page
OF the Metropolitan Advertising. which
the railroads bought broadcast. would
take a years salary OF shopman.
We believe in public opinion, as Mr..
kruttschnitt does, but these facts
speak for themselves"
Mr.. Comertord said Illinois Central
employees were scattered along the
railroad towns in influential positions
Lemon & Lemon. Clinton. ILL.,, attor-
neys for the road Al that point, CON
troll Cl!ntons politics" asserted the
lawyer. The Mayor Of the town is a
paid surgeon OF the road. and the bust
ness incomes of other officials of the
city depend TO some extent on the rail
roads. IL seems unlikely. in this con
ncctiou. that honest mistakes were
made in the arrests of llj men out
OF ll6'' . u.