Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-13
JUST WHAT IT MEANS
A PLAIN STATEMENT OF THE
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
Pullman Must Continue Business
at "a Loss, to Satisfy the Demands
of the A. IL. IA Conspiracy
Against the National Welfare.

at "a Loss, to Satisfy the Demands =
of the A. IL. IA Conspiracy
Against the National w Welfare.
The great railway strike is the sub
lect OF varying opinions at the hands
o! different editorial writer's and many
arguments are advanced in support of
their positions. The Chicago Inter.
Ocean of recent date in reviewing
the situation says:
"The railway strike begins at Pull
man. The workmen in the Pullman
car shops demand higher wages; the
company says that it cannot afford to
pay higher wages, says that it has been
taking contracts at rates that involve
loss, that such contracts have been
taken solely with the purpose of sup
plying work-though at reduced rates
during period of universal depres-
sion of trade. The company offers to
submit its books to inspection of a
committee Of the workmen in proof OF
its assertions. The workmen deny all
the statements OF the company and
60 on q strike, but as they refuse
to inspect the books offered the
presumption of evidence is against the
men and favorable to the COM
pany. Furthermore, inasmuch as the
company does not try to hire men in
place of the strikers, but placidly
keeps its shops closed, the conduct of
the company subsequent to the strike
is confirmatory of its original state
ments, that cessation from work, even
at the reduced rate OF wages, is more
profitable than continuance, and that
its policy Of continuance was in the
interest Of the men, and not OF the
stockholders. This, we apprehend, is
a statement OF the cause, or rather the
pretext, OF the Debs strike, the fairness
of which none can question.
"Up to this point the Pullman
strike is purely local. 1t begins to be
general upon the meddlesome and, as
we conceive, lawless interference OF
Debs. The presumption from the
facts stated is that the compny cannot
afford to pay higher wages, and that
the strike of its workmen is profitable
to it. Whereupon Mr.. Debs suggests
that the revenues which the company
derives from sources other than its
Pullman car shops shall be cut off
until it is coerced to reopen it's shops
and to run them at loss.
"We submit this statement as an
unprejudiced narrative of the events
leading to and connected with the
Debs strike. 1t is as if brickmaker
found himself unable TO pay such
wages as his men demanded, and
closed his works in preference to
yielding to such demand. Where
upon some fellow like Debs suggested
coercing him into resuming his busi-
ness at loss by the simple process of
terrorizing the tenants OF some houses
owned by him, and upon the rents OF
which he depends for support during
the season of enforced idleness. Debs
proposes to terrorize railway companies
from renting or using cars that the
Pullmans have built long ago until
they 60 to work ON the production OF
new cars at loss.
"Such policy would, in the long
run, be disastrous to labor if it could
be successful, for i! would cause de-
struction OF capital. 1t is, however,
so monstrously unjust and absurd rs
to be certain OF failure.
"Mr. Debs thinks nothing of the
inconvenience and suffering inflicted
upon millions OF people by the strike
that he has inaugurated. With all
such fellows as he 'thc public be d-d
is an axiom of life. If his vanity be
ministered to, if his importance be
magnified, if he be the temporary king
of deluded mob, it matters little to
him or such as he what ills befall the
people.
1--WE beg of the thoughtful mem.
bers of labor organization to protest
against Debs and Debsism. A few
repetitions of such pain.producing
folly as is entailed by this most cause
less of all strikes will bring labor Or
carnations into contempt, and in
America what is despised soon per-
ishes. 1t is not to be thought of that
any combination of a minority OF men,
laborers or capitalists, shall be per-
mitted to block the wheels OF COM
merce and to discommode the sover-
eign millions at their insane pleasure.
1t is not to be imagined that this SOW.
ereign people OF America patiently
will bear repetition of the spectacle
OF the United States Marshal asking
OF Debs Or his agents that they be
pleased to permit mail train to pro.
ceed to its destination.
"At the time when this is written
no great display Of violence has been
made by the strikers. If the strike be
conducted peacefully it will terminate
quickly, for thousands of skilled men
can be found to take the places va
Gated by the strikers. If resistance
be offered to the employment of new
men, then such resistance must be
overcome by all the forces at the COM
mand o: the nation and its compO-
nent states, for the Debs strike is q
conspiracy against the national well
fare"
GRANT Copeland picked a twig laden
with Royal Ann cherries from his Or
chard seven miles south OF Walla
Walla. The bunch measured three
inches in length and Numbered I37