ALTGELD INVESTIGATES PULLMAN.
In response to a piteous appeal for help from a committee of Pullman
strikers, John P. Altgeld, governor of Illinois, came in person to the
town of Pullman and made an investigation of the condition of the people
in order to satisfy himself regarding their complaints of suffering and
destitution. After only a partial investigation the governor returned to
his hotel satisfied with the correctness of the reports.
He said the starvation at Pullman was as bad if not worse than had been
reported by the Times that 1,600 families in Pullman and vicinity were
starving.
"Not only starving," said the governor, "but they are without fuel and
in rags. They must not starve and I will remain in Pullman until some
means can be devised for their relief.
"I went to Pullman in response to an invitation by the strikers'
committee, and found matters even worse than represented. I visited
their homes and went through every room in some of their houses. Two
representatives of the Pullman company who accompanied me, admitted that
the houses visited were a fair representation of every house occupied by
the strikers' families. Their condition is pitiful, there are families
numbering from two to eight members and I tell you they are slowly
starving to death. The little ones are crying with hunger and there is
nothing in the house to eat. Something for their relief must be done
immediately. I have thought of several measures, but as yet have arrived
at no conclusion. For several months the people may have to be cared
for, and it is well to go slow when one is treading in deep water. I
suppose I will be abused no matter what steps I take, but I don't care a
blank, as these people will not starve if I can prevent it, and I shall
see that I do prevent it."
The governor declined to say anything in relation to the cause which
created the present condition at Pullman. He said it was enough to know
that women and children were crying with hunger, it was time enough to
talk about the causes later.
Upon the governor's arrival at Pullman, a big man with gray whiskers
and a lordly air rushed forward and presented his card to his
excellency. He was August Rapp, chief designer of the company and
formerly superintendent of the works. With him was Chief Wilde,
Pullman's head accountant, whom he presented. It was evident that the
governor did not wish to see the Pullman official.
"Where are the members of the committee that sent for me?" he demanded.
"I want to see the men." Somewhat abashed Messrs. Wilde and Rapp stepped
backward and three or four mechanics came forward. There was Thos. W.
Heathcoat, G. A. Kreamer, Theo. Rhode and two or three members of the
relief committee. "I want to see what you men have to show me," said the
governor.
They repaired at once to the tenements on Fulton street, where the first
stop was made at No. 124, occupied by Mrs. O'Halleron. A blind widow was
found occupying four small rooms on the first floor. She told the
governor that she had two sons aged nineteen and fourteen respectively
and a daughter aged twenty. All three had worked for Pullman but were
now idle. They had applied for work but were told there was no work for
them. One of the boys had been a brass polisher and the younger son and
the daughter had worked in the laundry. They had lived in the town seven
years. There was no coal in the house, they had a little food, given
them by the relief committee, but they could not support themselves and
said there was no one to look after their condition.
"Have the Pullman people sent any one to see you?"
"They have not," replied the blind woman.
She said they paid $12.60 for the four rooms. One of her sons had drawn
$1.60 and the other 96 cents per day.
"Good luck to you, sir," she said as the governor walked away with his
teeth set firmly together.
F. H. Taylor, superintendent of the Pullman company, had now joined the
party taking the place of Accountant Wilde. Mr. Rapp pressed his way in
everywhere though paying no attention to the audible slurs of the people
about him.
Block B, across the way on Fulton street was next visited. The manner of
Gov. Altgeld was kindly and he introduced himself in a pleasant way,
asking questions in a manner calculated to inspire confidence.
There were six families in Block B, some of the tenants had gone back to
work. A poor woman in No. 3 said her husband was not working, he had
been in Pullman for six years and had asked to return to work, but was
told there was nothing for him to do, the shop was full. She had three
little children but little to eat, only a bit of flour, coffee and tea
from the relief store left.
In Block S, room 7, was John Carlson, a cabinet maker who had worked in
Pullman for seven years and could not get his position back He had
nothing in the house to eat.
"Have you eaten to-day?" asked the governor.
"I had some bread and coffee from a neighbor," said the man. "My wife is
sick and I divided with her, we haven't a thing in the house now."
Theo. Ericson, of 301 Fulton street, had six in family. He said he could
not get work and the money he had saved before the strike was all gone.
The relief committee had given a little food.
"How many in Pullman," said the governor, "are in the same fix, whom you
know of?"
"Lots of men, sir, I know of half a dozen in my neighborhood," answered
the man.
Olaf Olson had worked in the street car shops and was now idle. He had
six children and his wife to care for, they have nothing to eat, and he
could get nothing from the relief committee as their supplies were
exhausted.
Otto Wullf, of room 22, Block F, also had a wife and six children. He
said that all he had in the house to eat was two pounds of oat meal from
the relief store. As he told his story tears rolled down the cheeks of
the big bearded fellow and the governor was visibly affected. His wife
was sick abed he said and a newspaper reporter dropped a quarter into
his hand while he used a handkerchief to remove the moisture from his
eyes.
The man stated that his wages had been $1.30 per day, and his rent $9.60
per month for four small rooms.
Peter Anderson, of Kensington, said he had worked in the repair shop but
could not get work now as the shop was filled, or at least so he was
told when he applied.
He had five children and not enough to eat. He had borrowed a dollar
with which to buy a sack of flour. This was all he had.
Mr. Vanderwein had a wife and four children and could not get a
position. He had no money and only two pounds of oat meal, two pounds of
corn meal and a little flour left.
Here someone whispered to the governor and the latter turned to Mr. Rapp
and said:
"They tell me you are taking the names of those who complain, with a
view of keeping them out of work?"
"That is not so, sir," said Rapp, coloring deeply.
"And," said the governor, "they tell me you are largely responsible for
the reduction of the wages?"
"That is not so, sir," persisted Mr. Rapp.
"Well, men," said the governor, "let him come with us, this must not be
a star chamber affair."
A boy named Koopka spoke for his father who did not understand English.
He was one of three children he said, and they hadn't enough to eat. No
relief could be obtained now and every thing was gone but a few
potatoes.
Mrs. Nathan Booth stepped forward. She said she had six children, all
barefooted, the oldest eleven years, and the youngest six months. They
had been two years in Pullman and her husband had earned $1.30 per day.
He had no work now, and the only food was that given them by the wife of
the Methodist minister.
Andrew Schelly said he had worked for the Pullman company twelve years
but could get no work now, and his family had nothing to eat. He had
borrowed a pair of shoes in which he could seek work.
A. Bergstrom for seven years in Pullman said he could not get his old
position. He had five children, the eldest ten years, and they had no
money, no food, no trust.
Frank Mass had been three years in Pullman, had three children and
nothing to eat.
The wife of Pat Mullen, of Block E, room 1, appeared with a child in her
arms and a toddler at her skirts.
They had been in Pullman twelve years and had four other children. Her
husband could not get back to work because he was on the strike
committee. She did not know where the next meal was to come from.
Though wretchedly poor these people were clean and neat. They are all of
the better class of laboring people.
John Cedarland sat at a table and stared stolidly at the visitors, while
his wife with a baby at her breast and two at her heels stood by. A
neighbor who had given them of her scanty store, said the man was sick
and the family destitute. On Sunday she had given them a piece of meat,
and wood with which to cook it.
A reporter slipped a quarter into her hand and received a look worth
$8.00.
Two of John Smith's collectors, out with furniture bills as a matter of
form, told the governor that two-thirds of the old men were still idle,
and that the condition of these men was deplorable. They had called at
one place where one of the children was celebrating its birthday and all
there was for the feast was bread and onions. The collectors chipped in
for a few luxuries.
Mrs. Peter Camp appeared with two children and reported five more, and
there were scores of similar cases, all destitute and absolutely
without food.
On his way back to the city the governor would say but little.
Mr. Wickes, vice president of the Pullman company called and was
presented to his excellency in due form. The object of his visit was to
tender his services as guide and escort.
This was declined.
Mr. Wickes expressed his regret that the governor saw fit not to accept
the offer.
As a result of Gov. Altgeld's investigation he issued the following
proclamation:
"TO THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE CITY OF
CHICAGO: There is great distress growing out of the want of food in
and around the town of Pullman. More than a thousand families in the
neighborhood of 6,000 people, are utterly destitute. Nearly four-fifths
of them are women and children. The men have endeavored to get work but
were unable to do so. I have made a personal examination of the case and
learn from the officials of the Pullman company that prior to the strike
they had 3,260 names on the pay roll; yesterday they had 2,220 people at
work, but over 600 of these were new men, so that they have only about
1,600 of their old employes at work, leaving about 1,660 that have not
been taken back. Several hundreds of these have left, but the remainder
are unable to go away and have nothing to eat. I find that immediately
after the beginning of the strike a relief association was formed to
provide for the needy, and the books of this association show that 2,463
applications were made by the Pullman employes, mostly heads of
families, to this association for aid. In fact, nearly all of the
employes, except the few hundred who left, have been supported by
charity for nearly three months.
"As a rule they are a superior class of laboring people, industrious,
capable, and steady and some of them have worked for the Pullman company
for more than ten years. Those who have been given work can get food,
but are still in such an impoverished condition that they cannot help
their neighbors if they would. The relief society is unable to get more
supplies. Last Saturday it gave to each family two pounds of oat meal
and two pounds of corn meal, and having nothing left it suspended
operations, leaving the people in an absolutely helpless condition. The
county commissioners of Cook county, as overseers of the poor, have
rendered some assistance, but owing to limited appropriation they can
furnish relief but for a short time.
"We cannot now stop to inquire into the cause of this distress. The good
people of this state cannot allow women and children by the hundred to
perish of hunger. I therefore call upon all humane and charitably
disposed citizens to contribute what they can toward giving relief to
these people. I am satisfied that any contribution sent to the Pullman
relief committee at Kensington, Ill., will be judiciously distributed. I
find their treasurer has given a bond to properly account for all moneys
received.
"JOHN P. ALTGELD.
"Governor.
"Aug. 21, 1894.
"TO THE HONORABLE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF COOK COUNTY--
_Gentlemen_: Your attention has already been called to the great
destitution that exists in and around the town of Pullman and you have
furnished some relief there. I have made a personal investigation of the
conditions there and find the suffering is very great for want of food.
I respectfully appeal to you as the officers upon whom devolves the
duty of providing for cases of this kind, that you do the uttermost in
your power to furnish immediate assistance to those people.
Very respectfully,
"JOHN P. ALTGELD.
"Governor.
"Aug. 21, 1894."
Before leaving Springfield to investigate the condition at Pullman, Gov.
Altgeld sent the following telegram to Mr. Pullman:
"Aug. 19, 1894.
"George M. Pullman, President of the Pullman's Palace Car Company,
Chicago, Ill.:
"I have received numerous reports to the effect that there is great
distress at Pullman. To-day I received a formal appeal as governor from
a committee of the Pullman people for aid. They state that 1,600
families, including women and children, are starving; that they cannot
get work and have not the means to go elsewhere; that your company has
brought men from all over the United States to fill their places. Now,
these people live in your town and were your employes. Some of them
worked for your company for many years. They must be people of industry
and character or you would not have kept them. Many of them have
practically given their lives to you. It is claimed that they struck
because after years of toil their wages were so reduced that their
children went hungry. Assuming that they were wrong and foolish, they
had yet served you long and well and you must feel some interest in
them. They do not stand on the same footing with you, so that much must
be overlooked. The state of Illinois has not the least desire to meddle
in the affairs of your company, but it cannot allow a whole community
within its borders to perish of hunger. The local overseer of the poor
has been appealed to, but there is a limit to what he can do. I cannot
help them very much at present, so unless relief comes from some other
source I shall either have to call an extra session of the legislature
to make special appropriation or else issue an appeal to the humane
people of the state to give bread to your recent employes. It seems to
me that you would prefer to relieve the situation yourself, especially
as it has just cost the state upward of $50,000 to protect your property
and as both the state and the public have suffered enormous loss and
expense on account of disturbances that grew out of the trouble between
your company and its workmen. I am going to Chicago to-night to make a
personal investigation before taking any official action. I will be in
my office in the Unity block at 10 A. M. to-morrow and shall be
glad to hear from you if you care to make any reply.
"JOHN P. ALTGELD."
The following letter was addressed to Mr. Pullman by Gov. Altgeld.
"CHICAGO, Ill., Aug. 21.
"George M. Pullman, President of the Pullman's Palace Car Company,
Chicago.
"SIR: I examined the conditions at Pullman yesterday, visited
even the kitchens and bedrooms of many of the people. Two
representatives of your company were with me and we found the distress
as great as it was represented. The men are hungry and the women and
children are actually suffering. They have been living on charity for a
number of months and it is exhausted. Men who have worked for your
company for more than ten years had to apply to the relief society in
two weeks after the work stopped. I learn from your manager that last
spring there were 3,260 people on the pay roll; yesterday there were
2,220 at work, but over 600 of these are new men, so that only about
1,600 of the old employes have been taken back, thus leaving over 1,000
of the old employes who have not been taken back. A few hundred have
left. The remainder have nearly all applied for work, but were told that
they were not needed. These are utterly destitute. The relief committee
last Saturday gave out two pounds of oatmeal and two pounds of cornmeal
to each family, but even the relief committee has exhausted its
resources. Something must be done at once. The case differs from
instances of destitution found elsewhere, for generally there is
somebody in the neighborhood able to give relief. This is not the case
at Pullman. Even those who have gone to work are so exhausted that they
cannot help their neighbors if they would. I repeat now that it seems to
me your company cannot afford to have me appeal to the charity and
humanity of the state to save the lives of your old employes.
Four-fifths of those people are women and children. No matter what
caused this distress it must be met.
"If you will allow me I will make this suggestion: If you had shut down
your works last fall when you say business was poor you would not have
expected to get any rent from your tenants. Now, while a dollar is a
large sum to each of these people all the rent now due you is a
comparatively small matter to you. If you will cancel all rent to Oct.
1, you will be as well off as if you had shut down. This would enable
those at work to meet their most pressing wants. Then if you cannot give
work to all, work some half time so that all can at least get something
to eat for their families. This will give immediate relief to the whole
situation and then by degrees assist as many to go elsewhere as desire
to do so and all to whom you cannot give work. In this way something
like a normal condition could be re-established at Pullman before winter
and you would not be out any more than you would have been had you shut
down a year ago. I will be at the Unity block for several hours and will
be glad to see you if you care to make any reply.
"Yours respectfully,
"JOHN P. ALTGELD."
Mr. Pullman replied as follows:
"THE PULLMAN'S PALACE CAR COMPANY,
"OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
"CHICAGO, ILL., Aug. 21, 1894.
"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of this date, giving your impressions derived from your visit to
the town of Pullman yesterday. In pursuance of the invitation contained
in your telegram of the 19th inst. I caused Mr. Wickes, a vice president
of this company, who is thoroughly acquainted with its affairs at
Pullman, to call upon you and offer you every assistance in his power or
which could be offered by any officer of the company in making your
proposed personal investigation. Mr. Wickes offered to accompany you to
Pullman for this purpose, and I regret that you did not appear to
consider that he could be of service to you. As an indication of the
importance of the aid of local knowledge in making essential
discriminations I may say to you that I have the best reason for
believing that the husband of a wife who is published as representing
her family to you yesterday as in need of help, drew more than $1,300 of
his savings from a bank July 2 last for the purpose as he said of
buying lots.
"While it has not been represented to the officers of this company by
any persons concerned that there was any such extended distress at
Pullman, as was represented for the first time by the extraordinary
method of a published telegram to you in your official capacity, I do
not doubt that there are many cases of need caused by the refusal of the
employes for more than two and one-half months to earn offered wages of
more than $300,000; and that such cases have been increased and made
more severe by the persistence of more than 650 of our employes, of whom
about 350 live in Pullman, in refusing to apply for their old places
after the strike was practically over and after they were publicly
invited, July 16, to resume their work, until by the gradual coming in
of new men during the whole month their places have been filled and the
full force engaged for all work in hand. In addition to this there is,
no doubt, need among the old employes living in Pullman, a considerable
number of whom have persistently refused to apply for work at all, many
of them it is understood, considering themselves to be still engaged in
a strike.
"I mention these things so that the responsibility for the existing
situation, whatever it is may not be improperly placed. The situation,
however, is one which must be dealt with without regard to what has
caused it, and I shall give it the consideration which is due from the
company. I do not, however, anticipate, as you appear to do, that those
employes who have resumed their work will be limited to the satisfaction
of their most pressing wants, and as to those who are not at work the
cancelling of their rents is not, I venture to suggest, a question to
which attention should first be given at the present juncture if their
pressing needs are as you suppose them to be. The company will continue
in its efforts to secure work in order to employ as many men as
possible, and in that way relieve the situation as far as practicable.
"Your suggestion that the work should be divided so that a sufficient
number of our present employes should be put on half time in order to
give at least half time work for all was tried last winter. The result
has been that the gross earnings of various individual employes were
last winter so small as to give an erroneous impression with reference
to the sufficiency of the rate of wages. The policy of the company is
now to employ only as many men as it is possible to furnish work for on
full time.
"Very respectfully yours,
"GEORGE M. PULLMAN,
"President.
"The Hon. John P. Altgeld, Governor."
"CHICAGO, Aug. 21.
"George M. Pullman, Esq., President the Pullman's Palace Car Company,
City.
"SIR: I have your answer to my communication this morning. I
see by it that your company refuses to do anything toward relieving the
situation at Pullman. It is true that Mr. Wickes offered to take me to
Pullman and show me around. I told him that I had no objection to his
going, but that I doubted the wisdom of my going under anybody's wing. I
was, however, met by two of your representatives, both able men, who
accompanied me everywhere. I took pains to have them present in each
case. I also called at your office and got what information they could
give there, so that your company was represented and heard, and no man
there questioned either the condition or the extent of their suffering.
If you will make the round I made, go into the houses of these people,
meet them face to face, and talk with them you will be convinced that
none of them had $1,300 or any other sum of money a few weeks ago.
"I cannot enter into a discussion with you as to the merits of the
controversy between you and your former workmen. It is not my business to
fix the moral responsibility in this case. There are nearly 6,000 people
suffering for the want of food--they were your employes--four-fifths of
them are women and children--some of these people have worked for you
more than twelve years. I assume that even if they were wrong and had
been foolish you would not be willing to see them perish. I also assume
that as the state has just been to a large expense to protect your
property you would not want to have the public shoulder the burden of
relieving distress in your town.
"As you refuse to do anything to relieve the suffering in this case I am
compelled to appeal to the humanity of the people of Illinois to do so.
Respectfully yours,
"JOHN P. ALTGELD."