The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-07-08
TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
Letter 10 President Cleveland by
President Dobs and Master
Workman Sovereign
Discussing tho Zoo OF Govern
mont Troops In the Present
Labor Dlsputoa


CmoAoo. JulJ T. Tho foilovlng lsller was
sent By tolegftph 20 Presldon, Cleveland
to-nigh, by Deba and Sovereign. Of the A.
H. q. snd X. u IL
CmcAoo, July Ito Hon. Grover ClsVs-
land. Washington. d. q, Dear SIR
Through q long Ioriod Of depression, en-
forced idlenesa and Low wages. rssultingin
widespread povtrty hnd ia many cases In
actual starvation, tho working people have
been patient pstTiotio and laW-abidinR.
and not until the iron hand OF corporate
tyranny was applied with tho Intention 10
Iubiughts working people 10 the will OF ar
rogani monopolieS. aid they mako aDy
effort 10 atay their oppTessom.
The PullmAn strike vas not declared IN.
til tbe smfloysa Of tho Pullman compsny
were driven 10 tho verge Of starvation. their
sntTesiies spuTned with contempt, and
their grievances denied hearing. No re-
fuaAl to handle Pullman cars was declared
BY any railway employs until all PROPOSE
tious looking toward arbitration was re-
ieo,ed by the Pullman company.
Notwithstanding the facts set forth above
were known 10 the public and national hu-
thorisss. Jou have seen fi, under tho Ruiss
Of protecting mAils md federal property.
TO invoke the services Of the United States
army. whose very presence is used 10 CO.
o co and intimidAte pSaoesbls working pso-
pie into humiliating otediencs TO ths will
OF their oppTossorE by your acts. In so far
hS you have supplanted civil and state uu-
thorities with the federal military power
the spirit Of unreas and destruction has 80
far been augmented that deep seated con-
vietion is fast becoming prevalent that the
government Ia soon 20 bs declared mill
tATy despotism. Transmission OF United
States mails 10 not interrupted by striking
emploVes Of any railway company. bat by the
railway com panies themselves. who refused
10 haul mails on uains 90 which Pullman
cars are not attached. IL 10 10 criminal in
ieTfefeuce with the United states mails for
employees Of a railway company TO detach
from a mali train a Pullman palace car
contrary to the will OF the company, then
ID holds true that IL 10 ths same iminal
interference Vhenevofa Pullman palace car
is detached from a msil train Ia aec1rdance
with the will OF ths railway companies
while the eaii mail train Is in transit Tho
line OF eriminalty In such cases ehonld
not be drawn at ;ho Willingness or
unvilllnRnsss OF railway employees. bot AZ
the act itself and inasmuoh ~ "a has been
the common practice OF railway corpora
tious 10 attach and detach from mail trains
Pullman palace cars at will, Wbilo said
trains are in transit, and oarrTing the
mails Of the United States. il would seem
an hct Ct discrimination against the Om-
ployos Of railway corporations 10 declare
such acts unlawful interfefenes With the
transmission OF malls when done by en-
ployss. With or without she consent OF their
employers.
In point OF these facts we look upon the
fsTfetched decision OF Attorney Gsnoral
Olney, the sweeping iniunctions RGalnst
railway employees, and movements OF she
regular army, As employing the powers Of
ths general government for the support
aud protection OF the railway corporations
IN their dissemination 10 degrade and og-
prois their employees.
The present railway strike was preolpi-
tatei by the uneasy desire of railway cor
poratious 10 desiror the organizations Of
their employees, aud make working poople
more subaeTVient 10 the will Of their EN-
ploJers and as all students OF governments
agree that free institutions dspsnd for
their perpeiuity upon the freedom and pros.
peTity OF the common people. IA would ssem
more in conformity with the spirit Of dem-
ocratie government N tho federal authority
vas exercised In the defense OF the rights
of the toiliBg masses 70 life, liberty aud the
puFsuit OF happiness
But on the CONTRARY. there 10 not an in
stance on record vheTo ia any conflict be-
tween corporations end the people ,hs strong
m OF military power bias been employed
10 protect the working people aud indus-
trial masses from the favages or peraeca-
zion OF corporate greed. But the measure
Of character has been IN tho line OF declar-
ing corporations always being In the tight
and working people always held in tho
wrong.
Nov. sir. Wo pledge 10 you tho powsr cf
our respective organizations, individually
aud colltotiveit, Tor the naintainance OF
peace and good order aud The preservation
OF life ptotertY. and aid IN the punishment
AZ all criminals. Ia the present contest
between labor aud railway 90 porn-
tionS We shall uss every peace
able aud honorable means at our
command. consistent with Law And
our constitutional rights 10 secure for tho
working people Just compensation for la
b0E done, aud foeroctnble confederation In
accordance with the rights OF all men and
tho spirit OF republican government Ia
doing 80 We sppoal 30 all liberty loving pOO-
ple Of she naton 10 aid and anppoft ns IN
this most just and righteous cause.
EuoiNn V. Drns.
fsusident A, X, u.
J. X. Soyrnm0S.
81 W.. H. OF l..