The morning call., 1894-07-11
Knights of Labor Are
Called Out.
MUST STAND OR FALL
By the Result of the
Strike.
ONE MILLION MEN TO GO.
This Makes the Situation Far
More Serious.
FOLLOWING sovEREIGN's ORDER
To-Day the Order Goes Into Effect,
and 1t Will Be Generally
Obeyed.

CHICAGO. July 1o.-Knights of Labor
throughout the country, numbering nearly
600, 600 men, have been called upon to
strike for the cause of organized labor.
General Master Workman Sovereign Issued
| an order late this evening TO all members
OF the organiza lion to cease work until
the conflict originated in the strike of the
Pullman employees shall have been set
tied. Following is the text of the order:
CHICAGO. July 10.
To the Knights of Labor Of Amer'icd-
| GREETINGS: A crisis has been reached in
the affairs of this nation that endsngers
the peace Of the republic. Every fiber in
our civil structure is strained to the break
ing point. The shadows Of factional
hatred hover over our fair land with terri
BILE forebodings. The arrogant lash OF
superiority is being applied by the cor
porations with relentless fury. and the
chasm between the masses and the classes
is growing deeper and wider with each
| succeeding day. II peace is restored and
this nation saved from acts repulsive to
| the conscience of all Christian people
| there must be wise action, and that quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames of
| discord are being purposely famed by the
| railway corporations at the risk of the life
of the Government, l take the liberty to
| appeal to you and through you to the con-
science of the whole people, imploring you
to lay down the implements of toll for
short season, and under the banner of
peace and with a patriotic desire to pro-
mote the public welfare use the power of
your aggregate numbers through peace
able assemblages to create healthy
public sentiment in favor of an amlc-
BILE settlement of the issues growing
out of the recent strike of the Pullman
employees, and you are further requested
not to return to your usual avocations
until settlement of the pending trouble
is made known to you through some au-
thentic source.
In the present strained relations between
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 representa-
tiyes of corporate capital.
The Pullman Palace.car Company re-
fused to arbitrate the differences between
| itself and its employees on the ground that
the cars were built below cost, and there
! fore there was nothing to arbitrate. The
conclusion of every unprejudiced mind
must be that IL such were the true facts 1t
could have nothing to fear at the hands
of an arbitration committee. But the
Pullman Company goes further in its auto
cratic policy than refusal to arbitrate.
1t has refused to join with the business
men and the Board of Aldermen of Chi
cago in committee to discuss the ques-
ton as to whether there is anything to
arbitrate or not, and behind.this autocratic
policy stands the Managers Association OF
the railway corporations backed by the
United States army as aiders and abettors
of this social crime.
Suppose the Pullman Company had in
vited organized labor to arbtrate 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 that wave of
popular indignation would obliterate all
unions from the face of this continent and
no more could be formed for the next fifty
| Tho afinno of
would follow every name connected with
organized labor to the grave.
But in the present crisis the corporations
whose wealth has been created by labor
take the position that they are prior and
choke their creator. Like the brigands OF
old. they rob the laboriBg masses and en-
ploy the sword and the bludgeon to set up
throne on the bones OF the vanquished,
and declare their divine right to rule over
the balance of mankind.
The Pullman Company claims, notwith-
standing the wages of their employees were
reduced to the starving point, that there
is nothing to arbitrate because their cars
have been built at loss, yet it neglects to
|
been watered three times over and that the
company has not only been able 10 pay its
regular dividends on water and all, but
that its stocks have long been and are at
the present time at premium on the
stock market.
II 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 thralldom of
greed. The dignity Of labor and all the
victories won in the past are at stalk and
in the conflict beseech you to be true to
your obligations in this hour of trial.
Court the cooperation Of the generous
public. Stand firm and united in our COM
mon cause and the victory will be one of
| peace and prosperity for the faithful.
j. r. SOVEREIGN,
Grand Master Workman.
All Knights of Labor assemblies in
Chicago were notified by the district