"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.