FIRST DAY OF THE STRIKE.
The 26th day of June was awaited with more than ordinary interest by the
people of Chicago on account of the proposed boycott.
The first train to leave Chicago handling Pullman cars was the Chicago
and Erie Buffalo Express, and hundreds of men gathered to witness the
departure at 2:55 P. M.
It started out on time with several Pullmans attached and several
Pinkerton detectives on board. This was owing to the fact that it had
been made up before the time set for the boycott to go into effect, but
drawbars had been chained together and fastened with padlocks as a
safeguard against cutting out the Pullman cars. Everyone was anxious to
see if the engineer would pull it out. All doubt was soon set at rest
however, as the engine backed onto the train and started out on time as
usual. The crowd then waited to see if the next train, the Limited
Express, on the Grand Trunk, due to leave at 3:10 P. M., would
meet with the same success, and after seeing this train also pull out on
time, the crowd dispersed.
The trains on the Monon Route, Santa Fe, and Eastern Illinois also
departed with their accustomed regularity and without interference, and
at 6.00 o'clock, as every train was running on time, Mr. Pullman and the
railway officials were quite jubilant at what they considered a complete
failure of the American Railway Union to perform the task it had
undertaken. But inside of three hours they were doomed to
disappointment, for at that time not a wheel was turning on the Illinois
Central with the exception of express trains that had been started
before the strike was ordered.
The strikers might have stopped the Diamond Special which leaves at 9:00
P. M., but through consideration for the passengers who had
already purchased berth tickets, and adhering strictly to the
instructions of their leaders to do nothing to discommode the travelers
who in all probability were not acquainted with the existing state of
affairs, this train was allowed to proceed. The strike that paralyzed
the traffic of the entire country was started in this manner. Early in
the afternoon a committee of five switchmen, employed on the Illinois
Central, made their appearance at the headquarters of the American
Railway Union in the Ashland block, to learn authoritatively the nature
and purpose of the order issued requiring them to refuse to switch the
cars of the Pullman Company, as the instructions received by them
through Organizer Meyers of the union, were not sufficiently definite,
so they claimed, to warrant their resisting the railroad company, and
forfeiting their positions by such action. The switchmen, they said were
willing to help the Pullman strikers, but they wished to know to a
certainty what was expected of them. The directors of the union
immediately held a conference with the delegates the result of which was
an order to strike if the company insisted on them switching the Pullman
cars. Those who were not members of the American Railway Union were
guaranteed equal protection if they joined the strike, and the result
was a complete tie up of the Illinois Central R. R.
The Chicago Times, in an article next morning, said that for rapidity of
conception and execution this strike which probably involves five
thousand men, beats anything of the kind on record, and in the same
article says: the efforts to sidetrack the cars of the Pullman company
yesterday was carried on with strict conformity to law and order.
With the exception of a crowd attracted out of a curiosity to see what
might happen, there was nothing unusual about the depot, there was no
boisterous talking, no threats were made, and the few squads of police
officers sent there to preserve order, had nothing to do.
Train No. 7, due to leave at 9 o'clock, hauling two Pullman coaches
filled with passengers, did not leave on time there being a delay of 30
minutes before it finally pulled out of the depot. After running within
one hundred yards of Grand Crossing it stopped, there being a crowd of
about five thousand people at this point of whom there was not to exceed
one hundred and twenty-five railroad men. The engineer refused to start,
and although Supt. Collins expostulated with him it was of no avail, and
any further attempt to move the train was abandoned for the time being.
At 11:30 P. M. tower man Cable, who controls the switches at
Forty-third street, left his post, and two south-bound suburban trains
were whistling for the switches. They were soon joined by three
north-bound trains, a freight train, Michigan Central Fast Mail, and
Illinois Central Limited, and all were tied up until one o'clock in the
morning when the superintendent of terminals threw the switches. The
Chicago Great Western, Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago and Northern Pacific
and Wisconsin Central were next to fall in line and refuse to handle
Pullman cars.
President Debs, after reviewing the situation, asked the men as
individuals to consider the problem involved, saying, that if the
Pullman Company was right, then the strikers must be wrong, but if you
feel assured that those men are only striking to gain that which is
every man's right--living wages, then we ask your moral support. There
is but one hope for the laborer. Labor must stand by labor. The
corporations have now forced a fight upon us by combining to help the
Pullman company; they have forced us to combine and use the only weapon
which the workingman possesses, the strike and the boycott. The
railroads have never done anything for labor that the latter should
hesitate to use these weapons.
It is a battle between allied monopoly against the rights of working
people, it is a matter of broad humanity. I want to see the switchmen,
the car inspectors and other employes wait upon the officials in a manly
way, and refuse to handle these boycotted cars.
I want to appeal only to your reason, and not to influence your passion,
but I ask you to take a manly stand in the aid of men, women and
children who have been ground down by the iron heel of the oppressor.
I would rather be a manly pauper than an unmanly millionaire.
I ask every man, as an individual to think for himself and to do what he
thinks to be right.
President Debs appealed to the men to commit no acts of violence but act
in strict accordance with the law.
The strike had now reached St. Paul, Omaha, Denver, Trinidad, Cal.;
Raton, N. M.; Cincinnati, St. Louis and Duluth, and no intimidation, no
threats, no violence of any kind whatever was resorted to. When the men
were asked to handle the Pullman cars, they simply stepped down and
out.