Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-13

fact the executive council of the American Federation of Labor and the undersigned executive officers of national and interna- tional trades unions and brotherhoods of railway organizations of America are in conference in this city. We ask you, in the name of the working people and the entire citizens of our country, to lend your aid so that the present industrial crisis may be brought to an end, alike to the advan- tage Of the people of our country and the institutions under which we live. We therefore ask you to come to Chicago and meet this conference, or if the condition of public business does not warrant such a course, that you will deputize some one as your representatives, o
 Signed: ''Executive Council, American federation of Labor; Samuel Compers, president; C. r. McGnire, first vice. presi- dent; c. l.. Drummond, second vice presi- dent; James Bretelle, third vice. president; William Warden, fourth vice. president; J. R. Lennon, treasurer; Cris Evans, secre- tary, and representatives of all orgauiza- tions present.b
 The telegram was addressed simply: "To the president of the United States.
 The strike situation throughout the country today was general one of quiet.
 The central point of interest has been the meeting of labor leaders with President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor at their headquarters in this city. 1t is admitted that the action of that body, II taken unanimously, will have marked effect on the situation, and peop pie we'll in- formed as to the predeictions of the per sons composing it express the opinion that unanimous action by it, except in tue di- rection of quietlng the present agitation or turning 1t into other channels, is unlikely.
 SUGGESTIONS BEING CONSIDERED.
 It is known that several suggestions are being considered by these leaders. Among them are the following:
 "a 10 pafri in In n on high patriotic grounds, appeal to Pres ident Debs to declare the strike off, because of the infinite damage which is being done to the business of the country.
 9. Tbat the leaders unite in an appeal to the public to quit patronizing Pullman sleeping, drawing room and dining cars.
 3. That President Cleveland be requested to appoint a commission to investigate the strike and the causes which led up to it.
 1. That immediate efforts be made to se- cure the impeachment of Attorney General Olney.
 5. That an effort be made to secure pas sage of compulsory arbitration laws by congress.
 6. That complaints be lodged looking to the indictment Cf the railway managers for conspiracy to orstruct the movement of United States mail by refusing to run mail cars except in connection with Pullman cars.
 DEBs' ATTORNEY ON HAND.
 W. w. Erwin, who has been secured to defend President Debs and the directors of the American Railway union, arrived in the city today from St. Paul, in company with ''Generalo J. s. Coxey of Massilion, o. MT. Erwin said he had not sufficient knowledge of the situation to talk about it. John F. Getting, MT. Debs' old attorney, will act aa Erwin's coadjutator in the courts.
 SENTRY FIRED UPON.
 sentry stationed one block south of Forty ninth street, on the Pan Handle tracks, was fired at today by some one in ambush. The shot went wide of it's mark, but the sentry fired in return. Later John Stephaniski was located with bullet hole in his hand. He is supposed to have fired the shot at the sentry. He was not ar- rested.
 CAN GET ALL THE HELP NEEDED.
 The railroads entering Chicago claim that they are able to hire all the help they need. At the office of the general man. agers the estimate is made that Is, ,000 or 20, ,000 identified with the Chicago roads in tue Chicago territory went on strike. The employment agency created by the asso- citation has hired 2500 or 5000 men and dis trbuted them among the railroads, and the companies acting on their own re- sponsibiiity have hired probably double that number, making about 75O0 to 5000 in all. The association bureau has assigned the largest number of men to the Atchison. Next in order is the Wabash, and then the Great Western, Chicago and Northern Pacific and Illinois Central, in the order 
 EGAN TALKS.
 General Manager Egan said today: :The railroads at this juncture are in much the position of merchant whose place of busi- ness has been burned down. He rebuilds at once, but the reconstruction takes time, and when he is ready to begin business again it will take scme little time addi- tional for the public to become accustomed to the new order of things and feel full I sense of restored confidence as of yore. "The railroads have plenty of help to take care of the traffic now offering. As this traffic enlarges they will need more men. That they will be able to get all the men they will require is proposition that does not admit of shadow of doubt. They could double their force in forty eight hours if there should bs occasion for such rapid increase. We consider the strike that the effects of the trouble can be effaced at ouce.o
 PREPARING FOR THE DEFENSE.
 The most important movement made to- day by the American Railway union was the conference between the executive board and w. w. Erwin, the attorney who suc- cessfully defended the Homestead strikers. The plan of the executive body of the union Is to endeavor to bring about the indict- ment of the general managers for conspir- acy and for being equally responsible for the obstruction of the mails on the ground that the general managers met and organized for the purpose of defeating the strikers before the boycott and strike was declared. MT. Erwin was to have giv en decision this afternoon, but after wards notified the board that he would pot be able to give definite opinion before to-  It is possible that when President Debs Is actually on trial that Col. R. G. Inge rsoll will be the principal counsel. When asked today as to whether the famous lawyer