Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-10

CHICAGO, July 9.-The council commit
tee on arbitration and the committee of
seven appointed at last nights meeting of
the trades unions, met at 1S4 Madison
street, at 1.15. T. j. Elderkin of the Sea-
mems Union, presided. Alderman McGil-
len briefly sketched the fruitless efforts of
the committee of arbitration, concluding
with suggestion that as the Pullman Com
pany said there was nothing to arbitrate, a
committee of to investigate the statement be
appointed, which should inquire into all the
facts and discover if there be grounds for
arbitration. He moved that it be the sense
of the meeting that such committee be Sc
lected, two members to be named by the
Pullman Company, two by the judges of
the circuit court of Cook county, the fifth
to be named by the four so chosen. The
meeting was unanimously in favor of the
proposition. and committee was appointed
to lay the proposition before Vice Pfesi-
dent Wickes of the Pullman Company and
to report at 4 80 P. M.
The sub committee repaired at once to
the office of Vice President Wickes and
was granted an interview with that gentle
man. Every man present felt the extreme
gravity of the hour and the silence, through
which the voices of the speakers see med
painfully distinct, was oppressive.
"Do you come as an official of the city,"
Mr.. Wickes asked of Alderman McGillin.
81 do replied Mr.. McGillen.
.Do you represent the mayor in this
natter" inquired the Pullman official.
1.-THE mayor will endorse our action, the
alderman replied.
Alderman McGillen placed before Mr..
Wickes the proposition as authorized by
the full committee. Once as the alderman
halted for an instant Mr.. Wickes said
The company cannot recede from the po-
.tion it has already held"
The interjection aroused Alderman Nc
Gillen, and he eloquently portrayed the
situation in all its bearings and the inevita-
BILE consequences unless settlement is
reached. Mr.. Wickes listened attentively.
He seemed touched by the appeal and,
when the spokesman had concluded, retired
with Attorney Runnells of the Pullman
Company, for consultation.
The delsy was brief. When he returned,
Mr.. Wickes, addressing Alderman McIil-
len, said "The Pullman Company mas
nothing to arbltrate." Then there was
psinful silence. Alderman McGillen seemed
paralyzed for moment.
"Am to understand" he slowly said,
sthat the Pullman Company refuses this
slight request, made at so grave an hour,
upon which so much depends?"
"The Pullman Company has nothing to
arbitrate," reiterated Vice President
Wickes.
Alderman McGillen then said with great
impressiveness, "Mr. Wickes, your COM
pany demands police protection of the fed
erel government, the state of Illinois, the
county of Cook, the city of Chicago, but
you utterly ignore fair request made by
the city; re quest the fundamental prin-
cipal Of which was the preservation of the
peace. We come to you as conservors of
peace and you have assumed grave re-
sponsibility in thus refusing the request me
make; a responsibility greater, perhaps,
than even You are aware.
There is principle involved in this
matter" said Mr.. Wickes, (Which the Pull
man Company will not surrender. 1t is
that the employers must be permitted to
run their business in their own way, without
interference from employees or any body else.
We shall not allow any one to tell US how
our business shall be conducted, and we
shall not consent to arbitration. Our busi-
ness is our own private affair and we want
no interference from federal, state, or any
other government"
The vice presidents manner and Ian
guage was so emphatic that no room re-
mained for argument, pleadlngs or other
effect calculated to induce him to modify or
change his determination. so the committee
bowed itself out with little ceremony and
went to the point where the balance of the
committee was awaiting the final reply.
After the routine report was made it was
unanimously decided to sustain the action
of the convention that adjourned at day
break, this morning, and call out the allied
trades at tomorrow afternoon. This de-
cision involves between 200, 1000 and 225,-
600 of unionists in Chicago, representing
nearly every branch of wage earners.
The elevators in the Pullman building
itself will stop running if the men handling
the lever, all of whom are members of the