The morning call., 1894-07-13
An Appeal to the
President
MEETS HIS RESPONSE.
"
Now the Strike Nears It's
~. End.
PROPOSALS FOR PEACE.
Let the Nation Settle the Diff
ficuity.
CAN BE BOYCoTTED.
After rIatters Are Adjusted the Great
=. American Public Will Attend
to His Case.

=. WASHINGTON, July 11-Hayes. Mcguire
and French, members of the executive
board OF the knights of Labor, called on
President Cleveland to-day in regard to
the application of the general arbitra-
tion law to the pending trouble between
the Pullman Company and its employees.
After the call John W. Hayes. who is
tie general secretary-treasurer of the
e. knights of Labor. gave out the following
statement covering the committees inter-
view with President Cleveland;
I'VE had an hours talk with President
Cleveland this afternoon for the purpose
of calling his attention to the arbitration
act of 1888. introduced in the House of
Representatives. at that time by John
/: 'O'Neiu of Missouri. 1 had full authority
from President Debs of the American
Railway Union and j. W. Heathcoate of
the Pullman employees to represent their
interests and act on their behalf. The
President seemed pleased to receive US
and Immediately opened the subject by
:: referring to the law which the parties In
=. terested desired to see enforced. An hour
was spent in discussing the various pro-
r. visions of the act, which authorizes the
President, Oh his own motion. to appoint
two arbitrators, together with the United
States Labor Commission, to act as a CON-
mission of arbitration and investigate and
decide what should be done by either
party to settle the controversy. The COM
. mission has all the powers necessary to
administer oaths. subpoena witnesses. etc. |
the President finally decided to ap- |
point the commission, and said he would !
name the arbitrators either tomorrow or
next day. We expect to secure much more
from this arbitration than the final settle
ment of the present difficulty in Chicago.
While that is a great victory for labor
organizations, and everything the a. r. U.
has fought for. it gives official recognition
to the justice of their demands for arbitra-
tiou. and it will go much further, for in
the moments of the future. when the de-
=. fects of the present arbitration law have
been made apparent by actual experience,
prompt steps will be taken to amend the
: same"
: Mcguire, in conversation. admitted that
:: tie executive board did not expect any
thing to come of the general urging of the
=: Impeachment of Acknowledgement Olney.
- It is officially stated at the White House
that the President has promised to ap-
point an arbitration commission as soon
~as the disturbance in Chicago has SUBJ
sided, so far as the strikers are responsible
for it, and peace is restored.
1t seems that there was long talk with
the labor leaders. After discussing the
various features of the situation for more
THAN an hour the President promised that
II lie leaders would return 70 Chicago and
use their influence toward restoring peace
:: he would appoint the commission as soon
as he disturbances had ceased to such an
" extent as to render a careful, thorough.
" thoughtful investigation possible. The
President laid great emphasis on the fact
that nc steps could be taken in this direc-
lion until lawlessDess had ceased. and
=. made his promise contingent on the
= pledge of the labor leaders TO see TO if
= that so far as organized labor is concerned
the trouble at Chicago and elsewhere will
Immediately disappear.
-, There is NO disposition on The part of
the administration to weaken in the stand
which 1t has taken, but the President
fully realizes the gravity of .he situation.
and while he will not temporize with
the awless element he is determined to do
:. all in his power to reach a permanent
=: solution OF labor questions.
A telegram was received by the Presi-
: dent tonight from President Gompers of
the Federation Of Labor, asking him to
: come to Chicago or send a representative
p: TO consider with prominent labor leaders
concerning the situation No answer has
yet been made to the invitation.
: CHICAGO, July 12.-On being shown the
telegram announcing President Cleve-
lands purpose to appoint an arbitration
board. Mr.. Debs said: "We are very
much gratifed to learn of President Cleve-
lands decision. 1t is to be hoped that the
board will be promptly appointed and
organized, and that its work will be nrose-
cuted vigorously TO tbs end that a speedy
=. settlement OF the existing conflict shall he
accomplished. We are, of course for ar
bitration and have been from the hepin-
ming, and had this principle been recog-
nized this strike would have been
:, avoided"
:. APPEALED TO CLEVELAND.