AN OFFER OF SETTLEMENT.
Senator Pfeffer, of Kansas, arraigned congress for its defence of
monopolies, and its stand against the people. Senator Kyle, of Dakota,
also charged congress with being in collusion with the railroads, but
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, on the other hand, denounced Debs and the
strikers. He said the strike grew from a strike to a boycott, from
boycott to riot, from riot to insurrection, that the acts, if committed
on the high seas, would be piracy and punishable by death. He spoke of
the injustice being done the farmers of the United States, and how they
were effected by the strike in Chicago. He urged that it was time some
action should be taken to put down the rising tide of anarchy. He held
that a nuisance should be abated and that Debs was a nuisance.
Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and Senator Daniels, of Virginia, followed
in the same kind of demagoguery as Davis.
A great meeting was held in Dubuque, and prominent among the speakers
was County Attorney Mathews who insisted on obedience to law, but
denounced Judge Grosscup for issuing an injunction which denied the
constitutional right of free speech and trial by Jury.
Mayor Hopkins, of Chicago, Mayor Pingree, of Detroit, Michigan, and
Erskine M. Phelps conferred with Mr. Wickes, and Mrs. Brown and Runnell
of the Pullman Company at the request of some fifty mayors, representing
about one-third of the population of the United States--and urged
arbitration as a means of settling the strike. The efforts of these
gentlemen were in vain. The imperious Pullman company through its
representative, though not saying so in as many words, intimated that
the company would not establish a precedent whereby workmen could
interfere in its business. Mayor Pingree, of Detroit, corresponded with
almost every mayor of the larger cities of the United States, and
received answers favorable to arbitration from all with one exception,
that of Mayor Gilroy, of New York City, whose answer to the telegram of
Mayor Pingree was an emphatic no.
The wildest excitement now prevailed at Sacramento. The United States
troops commanded by Col. Graham and consisting of infantry, cavalry,
artillery, and gatling and Hotchkiss guns, presented a most war like
aspect. The strikers on learning of this movement on the part of the
government armed themselves, and it was feared that a desperate conflict
would take place.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in this district called upon
Supt. Filmore of the Southern Pacific and stated that they were ready to
resume work at once. This weakened the cause of the strikers to some
extent and caused a smile of satisfaction on the faces of the railroad
managers.
After much persuasion due to the untiring efforts of Congressman McGann,
President Cleveland consented to appoint a committee of three to
investigate the strike, under section 6 of the arbitration act, prepared
some years ago under the eyes of Powderly, McGuire and Hays of the
Knights of Labor, offered by Representative Quail, of St. Louis, and
made a law on Oct. 1, 1888. This determination on the part of Cleveland
was received with satisfaction throughout the country. This was just
what the American Railway Union wanted. This was what the Trades and
Labor Unions of the United States had appealed for, and what the
business men and city representatives had so long demanded, begged and
entreated of the Pullman company, but without avail.
It looked at this time as if an investigation would be forced on Duke
Pullman, and the people were looking forward to a speedy settlement of
the trouble. The American Railway Union, having no fear of the final
decision of the investigating committee, and viewing the vast amount of
destruction of property, loss of life and extreme hardship to which the
people were subjected on account of the strike--decided to take the
necessary steps to call off the strike, they drew up the following
proposition which was given to Mr. Hopkins, mayor of Chicago, to present
to the general managers.
"To the Railway Managers:
"Gentlemen:--The existing trouble growing out of the Pullman strike
having assumed continental proportions, and there being no indications
of relief from the wide spread business demoralization and distress,
incident thereto, the railway employes, through the board of directors
of the American Railway Union respectfully make the following
proposition as a basis of settlement:
"They agree to return to work in a body at once, provided they shall be
restored to their former positions without prejudice, except in cases,
if any there be, where they have been convicted of crime. This
proposition looking to an immediate settlement of the existing strike on
all lines of railway is inspired by a purpose to subserve public good.
The strike, small and comparatively unimportant in its inception, has
extended in every direction until now it involves or threatens not only
every public interest, but the peace, security and prosperity of our
common country. The contest has waged fiercely, it has extended far
beyond the limits of interest originally involved, and has laid hold of
a vast number of industries and enterprises in nowise responsible for
the difference and disagreements that led to the trouble.
"Factory, mill, mine and shop have been silenced. Widespread
demoralization has sway. The interests of multiplied thousands of people
are suffering, and the common welfare is seriously menaced, The public
peace and tranquility are imperiled, and grave apprehension for the
future prevails. This being true, and the statement will not be
controverted, we conceive it to be our duty as citizens and as men, to
make extraordinary efforts to end the existing strife and approaching
calamities whose shadows are even now upon us. If ended now, the
contest, however serious in some respects, will not have been in vain.
"Sacrifices have been made, but they will have their compensations.
Indeed, if lessons shall be taught by experience, the troubles now so
widely deplored will prove a blessing of inestimable value in the years
to come. The difference that led up to the present complications need
not now be discussed, every consideration of duty and patriotism demands
that a remedy for existing troubles be found and applied. The employes
purpose to do their part by meeting their employers half way. Let it be
stated that they do not impose any condition of settlement except that
they be returned to their former positions; they do not ask recognition
of their organization or any organization.
"Believing this proposition to be fair, reasonable and just it is
respectfully submitted with the belief that its acceptance will result
in the prompt resumption of traffic, the revival of industry, and the
restoration of peace and order.
"Respectfully,
E. V. DEBS, Pres.
G. W. HOWARD, V. Pres.
S. KELLIHER, Secy.
American Railway Union."
The proposition was rejected and spurned by the General Managers
Association.
Is there a man so utterly lost to the sense of justice, that would
conscientiously dispute the manly fairness of this communication?
The object of the general managers was too apparent, their position was
clearly defined. Their determination to wipe out of existence all
railroad organizations was as fixed and unmovable as the Rock of
Gibraltar and why should they recede from their position?
The federal courts and federal government (owned and controlled by the
corporations) decided that the constitutional rights of free speech and
trial by jury, equal rights to all and special privileges to none, was a
farce. In their narrow money-loving minds there could be no rights for
honest labor, and determined there should be no rights for a
workingman. After this decision of the general managers the American
Railway Union could do nothing but fight out the battle to the bitter
end.
Eugene V. Debs,--representing a body of honest toilers with no other
motive than to obtain for them living wages, his heart overflowing with
generous impulses and humane kindness, his noble nature revolting
against the tyrannical oppression of his fellow man by the soulless
corporations, a man who loves his country with patriotic devotion,--for
these reasons and no other, was indicted and arrested on the charge of
criminal conspiracy, while John M. Egan--representing the General
Managers Association, a giant monopoly and powerful money grasping
trust, built on the people's land and with the people's money, a
combination foreign to American institutions, usurping the functions of
the government with avowed intent and purpose to take away the rights of
organization from the working man and reduce him to a condition of
absolute slavery,--was allowed to continue his nefarious work without
interruption. Surely this partial, one-sided distribution of justice,
openly and defiantly administered, deserves the severest condemnation of
every loyal American citizen.
The Pullman boycott had now ceased to be the point at issue in the
strike. It was now the life or death of railroad organizations.