Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-17
A VIEW OF THE INSIDE
Story of the Labor Conference at
Chicago.
Secretary McBryde Tells How Debs
Nearly Outwittcd Gompers-
Averting a Big Strike.

ence lately held in Chicago under the
auspices Of the American Federation Of
Labor was one of the most important labor
gatherings ever held in this country" said
Patricke McBryde. secretary-treasurer Of
the United Mine Workers, today. Mr.. Nc
Bryde represented the National Miners in
the conference, and in speaking of the
gathering gave an interesting side light on
the proceedings, as follows:
"A convention of local unions had de-
ciared in favor of . general strike, and
demanded the presence OF Mr.. Gompers in
Chicago. Mr.. Gompers recognized the
gravity OF the situation, and sent tele-
grams to all the national and international
trade unions and to different railroad
brotherhoods Of firemen and trainmen.
PRESIDENT Arthur of the engineers wrote
that he was unable to be present.
LAS the conference was about to convene
delegation from local unions that had
already left work informed the delegates
that II they did not agree to call a national
suspension the strike was lost, and that the
conference would be held responsible for
the defeat.
The delegation was quietly but firmly in
formed that the conference would take
such action as IL believed to be in the in
terest of the workingmen of the country.
After the delegates had listened to a
statement made by Mr.. Debs, and inyesti-
gated for themselves into the trouble at
sented itself. There was Mr.. Debs and the
A. X. U. on the one side and there was
Mr.. Pullman, the railroads and the different
Drotnernoods on the other. The represen-
tat!es OF the hremen and trainmen, while
opposed to the strike or rather to the boy
cott, had nothing but words of praise for
Mr. Debs; for his associates they had moth
ing put words OF condemnation. Indeed, 1t
mas seldom been my lot to hear men get
such scoring as MIR. Howard and other
members OF the A. r. U. board, except II
De the language used against p. NJ Arthur
gates at the conference
IT seems that the organizers of the A.
h U. mad been so indiscreet as to confess
that they intended to break up the older
organizations, and boasted that II only re
quired victory of the present battle in order
to be successful
II can be readily seen, therefore. that
the boycott at Chicago was not only a fight
against capital. but q life and death strue-
gle between the different railroad organiz5
tions. the older orders being on the side of
tne corporations 1t is but fair to state
that some of the brotherhoods," like the
trainmen. although opposed to the strike.
allowed the members to act for themselves
and over 1o.Ooo OF them Joined hands with
the A. r. U.
You must declare for a national sus-
pension said the trade unionists OF Chi
cago.
said Mr.. Debs.
You have no right to take sides with
one organization against another, said the
brothe' bCods
And so the delegates talked, discussed
and talked all around the subject, each
afraid to spring resolution lest 1t might
be premature. In this condition Mr. Debs
found the conference. He realized the diff
hcult task he had to perform; the men he
was to address were not amateurs in the
methods of labor organizations. A number
of them had more experience than himself
The man seemed an icicle, but the voice
held his hearers spellbound as he recited
the suffertngs of the workmen at Pullman
managers and the determination of the
men to fight to the end. The delegates
seemed magnetized.
What do you want US to dor exclaimed
one. Then the matchless ability of the
man was manifested. In a tone of deep
sorrow he exclaimed, Nothing
"A long pause. and then Mr.. Debs said:
I ask nothing of you, gentlemen, but IL
would do
Then Mr.. Debs spoke in favor Of a gen.
ersl strike. sharp exchange Of words be-
tween Secretary Mcclure of the carpenters
and MIR. Debs followed. Mr.. Debs having the
best of II, but the discussion broke the
spell; the delegates were once more business
men. and MIR. Debs soon realized it. for he
changed his tactics at once.
I have a telegram from Washington
he said. The President Is going to appoint
an arbitration committee so L have pre-
pared the following document, which, with
the consent of this conference, 1 would
wish President Gompers to present to the
board of general managers He then pro-
ceeded to read the document presented by
Mayor Hopkins, calling off the strike upon
condition that the old men would be REIN
stated. He left the document and the con-
ference promised to send him an answer
"A little reflection on behalf of the dele
gates and they realized that If Mr.. Comp
ers was the bearer of the message and the
managers refused to accept II the A. +. of
L. would be placed in an embarrassing po-
sitiOn.
1T was resolved to tell Mr. Debs that he
could choose any three gentlemen in the
convention. who. with an equal number of
citizens and Mr.. Debs, could call upon the
board of managers, but Mr.. Gompers must
not go alone.
Hour after hour the conference waited
to hear from Mr.. Debs, but no news came
until the afternoon papers announced the
fact that Mayor Hopkins had presented
the document and that President Debs had
dumped the conference.
The delegates looked sheepish when they
realized that they had narrowly escaped
being trapped into bringing all the horrors
of general strike upon the country"