The Pullman boycott : $b A complete history of the great R. R. strikeBurns, W. F.
History
The Pullman boycott : $b A complete history of the great R. R. strike
Burns, W. F.
Pullman Strike, 1894
Andrew W. Pearson, a real estate agent who formerly worked in Pullman,
was called on the stand and in answer to a question put by Mr. Wright,
said:
"Houses which rent for $17.00 in Pullman can be rented in Kensington and
Roseland for $10.00. Pullman houses which rent for $25.00 can be rented
elsewhere for $15.00, and $10.00 Pullman houses for $5.00. In Grand
Crossing, a manufacturing town, $8.00 a month will rent a five-room
brick cottage. The rents I am giving now are the present rents. There
has been a decline since two years ago everywhere but in Pullman."
Commissioner Kernan: "How much higher are rents in Pullman than
elsewhere?"
Mr. Pearson: "I should say fully one-third."
Frank P. McDonald, a locomotive engineer and author of the Great scab
route circular, testified that he was a member of the American Railway
Union and a delegate to their convention. He said he was opposed to the
strike, but voted for it as it was the unanimous sentiment of his local
union. His reason for opposing it was because he did not think the union
was strong enough to win.
President Debs, of the American Railway Union, was the next important
witness to testify. Mr. Debs outlined the trouble from its inception
down to the special convention in Chicago on Aug. 2. In answer to
questions by Commissioner Wright, Mr. Debs said he was 38 years old, a
resident of Terre Haute, Ind., and had been president of the American
Railway Union since June 20, 1893. He was a practical railroad man, had
been employed four and a half years in the capacity of locomotive
fireman and was at present editor of the Fireman's Magazine. Mr. Wright
told him to go ahead and give a history of the late strike so far as he
knew from his own experience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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