The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-14
lHE STRIKE Still ON.
Debs and Sovereign Both Refuse
to Give 1t Up.
FEDERATION MEN NOT TO STRIKE.

>nothsr Fight in Sacramento, Resulting
I'm Fatal Injuries to Two Men, Causes the
United states Marshal to Declare the
City Under Martial Law.
CHICAGO, July 14-The conference of
he American Federation of Labor ad-
burned at 7.30 last evening after having
iecided against general strike The ac-
don of President Debs and the American
Railway union was indorsed, however,
Ind 81, 600 voted for defense fund for the
~ming trial Of Debs. An address to the
public was issued, which says in part:
"In the light of all the evidence obtain
ible. and in view Of tho peculiar compli-
fation now enyeloping the situation, we
lre forced to come to the conclusion that
Ihe 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 railroad troubles. In
making this declaration we do not wish
It understood that we are in any way an
sagonistio TO labor organizations now
struggling for right or Justice. but rather
10 the fact that the present center has be-
rome surrounded and beset with compli-
kations so grave in their nature that we
cannot consistently advise course which
would be to add to the general confusion.
"The public press, ever alive to the in
terest of corporate wealth, have with few
exceptions so maliciously misrepresented
matters that in the public mind the work.
ing classes are now arrayed in open hostfl-
ky to federal authority. This is a position
we do not wish to be placed in, nor will
we occupy it without protest. We claim
10 be patriotic and law abiding as any
ether class of citizens, as substautiated by
sur actions in time Of public need and
public peril. BY misrepresentation and
hupliclty certain corporations assume that
they stand for law and order, and that
those opposing them represent lawless-
ness and anarchy. We protest against this
assumption, as we protest against the in
ference that because n certain individual
or a certain class enjoy monopoly in par
bicular lines Of trade or commerce that it
necessarily follows that they are entitled
to a monopoly in loyalty and good citizen
ship"
Yesterday President Debs sent propo-
Bition to the railway managers in which
the strikers, through the board of direc-
tors of the American Railway union,
make the following proposition as basis
OF settlement: They agree to return to
work in body at once provided they
shall be restored to their former positions
without prejudice, except in cases, II any
there be, where they have been convicted
of crime. They do not ask the recogni-
tion of their organization or of any or
ganization.
This proposition. which was signed by
Eugene v. Debs, George W. Howard and
Sylvester Keliher, was presented to the
chairman of the General Managers asso
citation by Mayor Hopkins. Upon hear
ing the views Of the managers who had
called-which were forcibly expressed
the chairman decided that it was proper
to return the communication to the mayor
without answer, which was done, and
with the information that TO communi
cation whatever from the parties signing
could be received or considered by the as
snciation.
General Master Workman Sovereign
was seen after he had received the de
cision of the managers of the associa
tion and the Federation Of Labor
"Well,h said he, "the general managers
treat us with contempt and coudemn u,
10 denth, do they? suppose they expect
us to die without any resistance, but the,
sre mistaken. We will make struggle
We shall try to tie up all of the roads
But ii we cannot do that we can at leas
Gle up one road and keep it tied up.
have seen Debs tonight, and we all agre,
that there is but one thing to do, ant
that is to fight on to the end and with re
rewed energy"
As to the declaration of the Federation
of Labor, Sovereign said: 'It is too yer
bose to merit much consideration 1t i
far better as to its rhetoric than as to ii
logic. We are in crisis This docu
ment deals with theories. What we nee,
Is action. Sympathy is not what we want
We want colition of forces against cor
porate powers, and unless we can get i
we might as well at once consent to b
serfs. This declaration can have no sffec
on the strike Up to this time these peo
pie have given US no assistance.
1.-THE strike has just begun. Think tn
position taken by the Federation OF Labo
will only weaken their own forces. The,
have served others with notice that II the,
get Into trouble they may expect sympa
thy. and sympathy only from the othe
labor organizations. And that is exactl
what they will get. l sec no way but t
fight 1t to finish, and shall stand by tn
A. r. U. until they call the strike off, !"