The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-13
Special to The Evening worldD


CHICAGO. July lS-President Com
| pers, OF the American Federation Of
Labor issued the following statement
his evening:
The great industrial W heavai now agi-
tatng tie country has been carefully.
calmly and fully CONSIDERED IN confer
cree os the Executive Council of the
American Federation ii iaoor. and the
executive officers and r,incs" ,tatives Of
the national and international unions
lad ulotnerhoods of railway men, &C..
to nre; in the city of Chicago on July
L.. ls1.
In the light Of all the evidence obtain
able and in view uf the peculiar compli-
cations now developed in the situation,
we were forced to the conclusion that
the best interests Of the unions affiliated
with the American Federation OF Labor
demand that they refrain from partici-
pating in any general or local strike
which may be proposed in connection
with the present railway troubles
In making this declaration, We do not
wish it understood tina; we are In any
way antag n.stlc to labor organizations
now struggling for right and justice but
,ather 10 the fact that the present CON
lest mas become surrounded and bes"t
With complications 50 grave in their
nature that we cannot consistently ad-
Use a course which would but add 10
ne general confusion.
The puJliC press. ever alive to the in
eres.s II corporate wealth. has with
Few exceptions SO maliCiously nisrepre-
,ented matters that In the public mind
he working classes are now arrayed in
open hostility to Federal authority. This
| is position we do not wish 10 be placed
in nor will we occupy il without pro-
test.
We claim TO pc MS patriotic and as
| aw-abiding as any other class of cit
zena, IA claim substantiated 10y our ac-
| lions in times OF public need and public
| peril.
By misrepresentation and dup!icity,
certain corporations assume that they
stand for law and order and that those
opposing them represent lawlessness and
anarchy.
We protest against this assumption as
| we protest against the inference that be-
| cause "a certain individual or a certain
class ENJOY n monopoly In particular
| lines of trade or Of commerce, that they
are necessarily entitled to III. monopoly
Of loyalty and good citizenship.
| The trades union movement Is one OF
| reason, one Of dciherltIpn, and depend
ling entirely upon the voluntary ana sover-
! rign action of its members. II is demo-
| cratic In principe ana action, conserva.
/ tive in its demands. and consistent in II,
! efforts - secure them.
! Industrial contests cannot be enterel
| into at the hekcst Of any individual
| officer Of this conference regardless q
the position he may occupy in our or
! sanitation.
! Strikes in our affiliated organizations
are entered into only as a last resort
81 ..rrtS cor peaceful al
! iustment OF grievances have failed, and
,uen only atter the n.cmutrs nave pN
their own votes. usually requiring n
two-thirds and often II -:ourths
vote, SO decided.
| The trades union movement has It's
origin In economic and social inJustices
1t has its history, its struggles ant ats
endency well defined,
| II stands as the protector OF those
| who see the wrongs and injustice re-,
sultant in our present industrial scheme