"These conditions confronted the American Railway Union, when its delegates met here in convention. The employes felt that other systems in sound financial conditions had taken advantage of the unfortunate condition of the country to reduce wages. The men had lost confidence in their old unions which had failed utterly to protect them against these reductions and they came in the hope that the American Railway Union would take some steps to resist them and protect its members against the rapacity of the railroad companies. This was the reason they were ripe to take up the cause of the Pullman strikers. They were wrought up to a point where they were willing to jeopardize their positions to protect both themselves and the Pullman employes. The primary purpose was to cut off Pullman's revenues by cutting off his cars and thereby force him to a settlement." Mr. Wright: "I understand you to say you advised against the Pullman strike. Why did you do so?" Mr. Debs: "We had just gone through a strike on the Great Northern and I did not think it advisable to go into another at that time." Mr. Wright: "What would have been the action of the convention if there had been no strike at Pullman? Did not that strike force the issue?" Mr. Debs: "There would have been no trouble with the railroads, I think, but for the Pullman strike. That and the depressed condition of the country aggravated the situation so as to bring about a general strike." Mr. Wright: "Was the general strike precipitated by the Pullman troubles?" Mr. Debs: "Yes sir, it was." Mr. Wright: "Was a notice of the action of the convention served on the different companies?" Mr. Debs: "Not by the convention. That matter was left to the men on the various systems. From the action of the managers toward the American Railway Union generally, the matter of serving a formal notice of our action on them was not looked upon as necessary, as we were very sure it would be ignored." Mr. Wright: "Was notice served on the Illinois Central and Rock Island roads?" Mr. Debs: "I think so, but am not sure." Mr. Worthington: "Did they have notice through the press?" Mr. Debs: "Yes, sir." Mr. Wright: "Do you know the date on which the general managers adopted their resolution to resist the strike?" Mr. Debs: "I think it was June 24, four days after our action. It was currently reported at that time, though I have no written or other evidence of the fact that the general managers resolved among themselves to exterminate the union." Mr. Wright: "If the American Railway Union had had its own way in regard to its policy would a general strike have been postponed?" Mr. Debs: "Yes, sir. The conditions were not altogether propitious and we were fully aware of the fact." Mr. Wright: "What was the number of your membership at that time?" Mr. Debs: "About 150,000." Mr. Wright: "Did you consider that strong enough for a general strike?"