Part 12 (1/2)

Mr. Howard: ”The men on all roads represented by the General Managers'

a.s.sociation were advised to go out on strike.”

Mr. Kernan: ”Was this order extended to roads not using Pullman cars or which were not represented in the General Managers' a.s.sociation?”

Mr. Howard: ”No, sir.”

Mr. Kernan: ”Were there any such road?”

Mr. Howard: ”Yes. General Manager Clark, of the Mobile & Ohio, sent us word that his road would drop the Pullman service if the men would continue at work. We advised the men to return to work under those conditions, but the men at St. Louis argued that such action would weaken their cause and refused to take our advice in the matter.”

Mr. Worthingford: ”How did you advise all other organizations to go on a sympathetic strike?”

Mr. Howard: ”We did not advise nor even request other organizations to declare a strike. We invited the heads of all labor organizations to come here and aid us by their advice or in any way they saw fit to help us. I think Mr. Debs sent the invitation. When the representatives of the other labor organizations met here, we went before the body and explained the entire situation. They asked Mr. Debs what he wished them to do. He replied that he did not ask anything of them but left it to their best judgment and conscience to take such measures as would help bring the trouble to an end. Mr. Debs read a communication which he had prepared to present to the general managers, and asked the representatives at the conference if they would act as a board of arbitration or a.s.sume the role of peace-makers. President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor, seemed afraid that such action would involve the other organizations in some way and hesitated to accept our request to take the communication to the general managers. We then concluded to ask Mayor Hopkins to present our communication. The mayor willingly granted our request.”

Mr. Kernan: ”Was any written record kept of that conference of the heads of the labor organizations which was held at the Briggs House?”

Mr. Howard: ”I do not know.”

Commissioner Kernan: ”What records have you of the proceedings of your convention as to who invited the heads of other labor organizations to meet here in conference, and what they were expected to do?”

Mr. Howard: ”I think it was decided at the convention of the American Railway Union, which met here June 12, to extend such an invitation. I know it was talked over then.”

Commissioner Wright: ”Then the American Railway Union did not advise a sympathetic strike of all organizations.”

Mr. Howard: ”No, sir. Mr. Debs left that question to the judgment and conscience of the men themselves.”

Commissioner Wright: ”Was the action of the convention of June 12 a strike?”

Mr. Howard: ”Well, it was called a strike.”

Commissioner Worthington: ”Was the communication you referred to presented to the general managers?”

Mr. Howard: ”Yes, sir, and returned without an answer further than a statement that the General Managers' a.s.sociation had no business to transact with the American Railway Union or its representatives.”

Mr. Kernan: ”It is charged that your organization, like others, encouraged its members to persistently interfere with and prevent unorganized labor from taking positions given up by their striking members. Is that charge true?”

Mr. Howard: ”It cannot be shown in one instance that anything of the kind has been done.”

Commissioner Kernan: ”You won't go so far as to say that no interference of the sort alluded to has ever been engaged in?”

Mr. Howard: ”Certainly not. I mean that such interference was not authorized or countenanced by the union.”

Commissioner Kernan: ”Did you take any steps to prevent such interference?”

Mr. Howard: ”We have taken the ground that when we go out on strike not to interfere with any of the new men the companies may employ.”

Commissioner Kernan: ”You do countenance advice to such men not to take the places of strikers?”

Mr. Howard: ”Oh, yes. We claim the right to ask new men not to take our places.”