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 assume 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?"