The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-07-27
COOPERATION.
TO Affiliate and Demand Re-adjust.
ment Of Wages May I, 1895.
rhe American Railway Union and tht
American Labor Union-The Latter Con-
slst of Every Class OF Labor Outside
OF the Railways Debs' Idea.

The American Hallway Union and the
American Labor Union-The Latter Con-
slst of Every Class OF Labor Outside
OF the Railways -Debs' Idea.
CmcAeo, July 2S.-The Herald prints
a long article giving in detail the plans
OF the American Railway union TO alb
sorb the older railway brotherhoods,
and the recently organized American
Labor union, 10 take every class Of
labor except railway employees, the
two organizations to affiliate and be
prepared by May 1, 1895, TO demand
read justment Of wages 10 the basis ex-
isting prior 10 the panic and hard times,
and in the event Of refusal 10 order a
general walkout
The articles continues:
"Some broad statements in this con-
nection were made by officials Of the
American Railway union headquarters,
as follows: That on or about January
10. 1895. there would be held in Chicago
convention composed Of representa-
tive men Of the American Railway
union, the United Mine Workers Of
North America, the Knights.of Labor
and American, Labor union; the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor and the old
railway brotherhoods would not be rep
resented in this convention: that at this
convention all branches Of labor repre-
sented would be called on 10 present a
succinct report as to the then existing
wage scales, and how much they have
been cut in 1892, 1898 and 1894; that
these wage scales should then be formu'
lated, and be presented to the corpora.
tiuns and railroads, with the demand
that they be readjusted to the basis
existing prior To the panic and hard
times. and that IL this demand was not
granted general walkout should fol-
| low May /, lsD5.'
AS one officer Of the A. r. u put IL:
The present strike will never be de-
clared of by Mr.. Debs, and we expect,
il the Chicago switchmen remain firm,
that the Chicago roads will eventually
compromise on a basis satisfactory To
all The present strike not being de-
clared off, convention OF the charac-
ter described will be entirely in place,
and will bring together at that time
the strongest labor organization in
the world There will be a full
analysis OF wage scales before any
demand Is made on capital for a
change, and the east will be as strongly
represented in the new labor organiza'
tions then as the west is now. The
movement Of May /, 1895, then, will be
OILY reinforcement Of the strike be
gun ON June 20, 1894.
I'm this plan much is expected of the
new American labor union, whos6
membership Is now claimed TO be 1000
and has opened its ranks TO every clasi
Of labor except railroad employees.
Those behind the plan for the Jan
uary convention expect the acquitta
Of Debs by the courts, and that follow
ing this, he will make a tour of tn
east, delivering speeches and orI iniz
ing branches of his order, while cam
paigners from the American Labo
union will follow him 10 make inroad
into the ranks OF the GompeTs follow
crs. They argue that the time wa
never better for the establishment Of
labor union to control all the labor fac
tions outside of railroad work.
Tho A. r. U, officials point to tn
ruin Of the Mutual Aid association q
,, the switchmen and the fact that tn
American Railway union has alread
absorbed half of its membership, an
win have the rest as soon as 1t provide
an insurance department for death an
a beneficiary for accidents
i. "As 10 the brotherhood Of LocomC
tive Engineers, the union officials rt
, gard that as practically officially deaC
, They cite the dissolution Of lodges Q
I, this order at Champaign, Danvill'
! Terre lIautc and in all parts of tn
, country but the east, as evidence tha
4 the engineers either wish 10 be ind'
pendent Of or are ripe for new orgal
;. ization Given, therefore, the switcl
/. men and engineers, with what the
have already, the A. Il. u. ofiicia
! count ON convention in January {
: two thousand delegates, representa-
A every branch of labor from newsbc
. To IA railroad engineer, and with NJ
I Debs presiding
y The statement was made broadly
Il A. K L. headquarters that PresideI
a Sovereign would not interpose a sing
II objection to the total absorption
= the Knights of Labor hg the America
% Labor union, and that since the tias'
,r in his attempt To call them out ON
strike when, except in scattered loea
ties, there were few to call out, he h
recognized the coming new power
rs and only desires not to be left entire
lt out. ON the other hand, General Sc
N retary John w. Hayes is reported to
a. decidedly averse to sacrificing the ide
II tity Of the knights, preferring TO pl
70 serve the fiction of an organization
of complete surrender, Those wi
I'd spoke Of the coming convention are
nj close to Debs that it was inferred th'
rs desires were but a reflection of I
he next move he intends to make"