The record-union., 1894-07-11
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Orders Issued by Grand Master Work.
NAN Sovereign.

KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
/ Orders Issued by Grand Master Work.
NAN sovereign.
| CHICAGO, July 10.--Knights of Labor
I throughout the country, numbering
nearly 1000, 600 men, have been called
upon to strike for the cause of organized
4 labor General Master Workman Sover-
eign issued an order late this evening to
I all mem bers Of the organization TO cease
work until the conflict originating in the
strike of the Pullman employees shall
have been settled. Following is the text
of the order:
CHICAGO, July 10th.
70 the Knights Of Labo,. Of Aaae1qco-
! GREETING: A crisis has been reached in
the affairs of this Nation that endangers
the peace OF the republic. Every fiber in
our civil structure is strained TO the
breaking point. The shadows OF factional
hatred hover over our fair land with ter
rIble forebodings. The arrogant lash of
superiority is being applied by the csr-
/ poratious with relentless. fury, and the
/ chasal between the masses and
the classes is growing deeper
and wider with each succeeding day.
| If peace is restored aud this Nation saved
! rom acts repulsive to the conscience OF
/ action and that quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames of
discord are being purposely famed by
the railway corporations at the risk OF life
/ OF the Government, [ take the liberty TO
appeal TO you, aud through you to the
conscience of the whola people, implor-
| ing you to lay down the implements OF
I toll for short season, and under the BAN
ner of peace, and with patriotic desire
! to promote the public welfare, use the
| power of your aggregated numbers
| through peaceable assem- blageS to create
a healthy public sentiment III favor of an
/ amicable settlement OF the issues growing
out of the recent strike Of the Pullman
I employees; and you are further requested
/ not to return to your usual avocations
until a settlement of the pending trouble
is made known to you through some au-
| thentlc source.
''In the present strained relations be-
! tween corporations and the companies is
| involved a principle near and dear to all
| American citizens, the right OF labor to
| present its grievances to the owners and
representatives of corporate capital. The
/ Pullman Palace Car Company refused to
arbitrate the differences between itself
and it's employees, on the ground that cars
were built below cost, and therefore
there was nothing to arbitrate But the
| conclusion OF every unprejudiced mind
/ must be if that such were the true facts it
| could have nothing to fear at the hands
of an arbitration committees But the
/ Pullman Company goes further in its
! auto cratic policy than refusal to arbl-
| trate. 1t has refused to join with the
| business men and the Board of Aldermen
of Chicago in committee to discuss the
! question as to whether there is anything
TO arbitrate or not, and behind this policy
stands the Managers Association of the
railway corporations, backed by the
/ United States army, as aiders and abet-
| tors of this social crime.
! s3Suppose the Pullman Company had in
| vited organized labor to arbitrate, and or
| ganized labor had declined the invitation,
and refused to discuss the question as to
| whether there was anything to arbitrate
| or not, it is needless to say wave OF pop
ular indignation would obliterate from
the face of the continent, and no more
could be formed for the next fifty years.
| The stigma of such position would fol-
| low every name connected with organ
| lied labor to the grave. But in the pres
/ ent crisis the corporations, whose wealth
| has been created by labor, take the posi-
| ton that they are prior, and choke their
/ creator. Like the brigandS of old, they
rob the laboring masses and employ the
sword and the bludgeon and set up a
| throne on the bones of the vanquished,
the balance of mankind.
1.-The Pullman Company claims. not
withstanding the wages of their employees
were reduced to the starving point, that
| there is nothing to arbitrate, because
their cars have been built at a loss; yet it
neglects to state that the stock of the COM
pany has been watered three times over,
and that the company has not only been
able to pay its regular dividend on water
and all, but that the stocks have long
| been and are at the present time at a
premium on the stock market.
.'If the present strike is lost to labor it
will retard the progress of civilization
and reduce the possibility of labor to
ever emancipate itself from the thraldom
of greed. The dignity of labor and all
the victories won in the past are at stake
and i'll the conflict. / beseech you to be
true to your obligations in this hour of
trial. Court the corporation of the gen.
erous public. Stand firm and united in
our common cause, and the victory will
be one of peace and prosperity for the
faithful. (Signed), J. r. SOVEREIGN,
Grand Master Work kman."
All knights of Labor assemblies in
Chicago were notified by the District
Workman to take action on the plan
adopted at the recent labor conference,
all the members being adjured to main
tain peace and order.