April 16, 1894, a circular letter was issued to the members of the A. R.
U. containing a scale of wages paid on the Great Northern Railroad. This
scale showed that the Great Northern Railroad never did pay such wages
as other Pacific grand continental lines. According to this scale train
despatchers were receiving $80 per month; freight conductors, $78;
freight brakemen, $42 to $53; engineers, in some cases, only $2.80 per
day; inspectors, $35 per month; operators, $37.50 to $41.50;
roundhousemen, a dollar a day; trackmen, a dollar a day, and truckmen, a
dollar a day. The cheapest board in Butte, Montana, was $26 a month.
The Great Northern sent out a cipher dispatch to remove all spirited men
and to gather together all available men to take their place. The A. R.
U. gained knowledge of this step on the part of the Great Northern and
decided to call the employes to quit on very short notice. Enclosing
this circular letter issued from the Butte City, Montana, headquarters
of the A. R. U., the directors closed their appeal to the men in the
following words:
“We need your financial and moral support everywhere. It is the greatest
strike the world has even seen. Give us your moral and financial support
through the general office at Chicago. Act quickly. See if we cannot
break the chains that are being forged to reduce us, not only to
slavery, but to starvation.”
Before ordering the strike the following letter, dated April 13, was
sent out:
“To C. W. Case, Gen’l Manager of the Great Northern Railway:
“Sir: I am instructed by your employes to say that unless the scale
of wages and rules of classes of employes that were in effect prior
to the first cut made August 1, 1893, are restored and switchmen at
Great Falls and Helena receive the same pay and schedules as at
Butte and the management agrees to meet the representatives of the
employes at Minot not later than ten days hence and formulate
schedules accordingly, all classes of employes will quit work at
12:00 o’clock noon this 13th day of April.”
The notice was only six hours and the employes had no apologies to make
in this respect. No reply being received before the hour set, the order
to strike was given. Mr. Hill, on receiving information of the walk-out
of his employes, issued a notice expressing the wish that faithful
employes would remain, making general promises of promotion usual in
such cases. The A. R. U. held revival meetings at all points on the line
of the Great Northern and membership increased by the thousands.
On the 22d of April Mr. Debs and Mr. Howard addressed a large gathering
of railroad men at St. Paul and added 225 members to the A. R. U. Beaten
at every point, Mr. Hill called for a conference. The purpose of that
conference on Mr. Hill’s part was to close up somebody’s eye. His
business success has been largely bottomed on that characteristic. Those
acquainted with Mr. Debs had no fear of the result. Mr. Hill wound up
the lengthy conference by proposing arbitration. This was refused by Mr.
Debs. Mr. Debs saying at the conclusion of the conference these words:
“Let me say that we do not accept the proposition. Efforts have been
made ever since this trouble started to divide the organization and make
trouble between the Union and the Brotherhoods. I understand such to be
the policy of this company. Now if the other organizations represent the
men, let them set your wheels turning. Our men will not go back to work.
My idea is that in raising the question of representation you have
sought to evade the issue. We presented the terms upon which we would go
to work. I am authorized to say that we will settle on these terms and
on no others. This grievance is a universal grievance and all the men
are united in this action. It will be to no avail to attempt to divide
us into factions. If wages are not restored you can no longer have the
service of the men. For the past week we have restrained the men from
leaving your employ. Now, understand me that I am too much a gentleman
to make a threat and I do not mean this as anything but a plain
statement of fact, but if there is no adjustment, those men will
withdraw from your service in a body. They are convinced that their
demand is a just one. If their request is not complied with,” continued
Mr. Debs in slow and measured tones, “they will, without regard to
consequences, continue this struggle on the lines already laid down and
fight it out with all the means at their command within the limits of
the law. We understand your position; you understand ours. We will not
withdraw from this conference. We shall be in the city several days and
shall be glad to receive any further communications from you.”
Mr. Hill was not slow in understanding and the world knows the facts
about this great victory, won with peaceful methods.