Huntsville gazette., 1894-07-14
PRINCE PULLMAN,
Through His Prime Minister Vice.
President Wickes,
Declares That He Wants s'NO Interference
From Federal. State or Any Other
Government" and Has
Nothing to Arbitrate.

mendOuS strike known to history Will
be inaugurated to-day when the even
ing whistles blow, and 1000 men lay
down their work, not to return until
the Pullman boycott is settled.
Yesterday was the most quiet Chi
cago has experienced since the great
Pullman boycott was declared. But 1T
was the quiet that precedes the storm,
and beneath the strange stiffness the
ear Of the close watcher of events could
catch the ominous rumblings of an in
dustrial cyclone, threatening dread dis
aster and fearful destruction, storm
whose awful portent none may read,
and whose vast consequence none may
forecast
The strike which has paralyzed traf-
fic on the railroads for the past few
weeks and wrought loss beyond COM
putation to every interest in Chicago,
will to-day be augmented by the prac-
tical cessation of all industry and the
almost complete paralysis OF commerce
in and about the city.
All night Sunday and until the gray
hours of Mondays dawn great meet
ing. composed of delegates from all of
the trades unions in Chicago, sat in
Ulrich's hall and wrestled with the
problem confronting it. The question
before the meeting was: "Shall the
trades unions of Chicago strike in sym
pathy with the Pullman boycott, to the
end that the principle Of arbitration
may VIM"
1t was a gathering of thoughtful
men and their deliberations were
marked for their calm earnestness
The gravity Of the situation was fully
apprehended.
| 1t was determined that last at
| tempt be made to get the Pullman COM
pany to arbitrate it's differences with
its workingmen, and committee of
seven was appointed to call upon the
mayor with view to securing the CO.
operation of business men in securing
from the Pullman company the con-
cession asked Disqualification.
A brief meeting was held in the
mayors Office. which adjourned to an
other meeting with the city council
committee on arbitration.
At the last meeting Alderman Nc
| Gillen, chairman of the council COM
mittee, made the suggestion that a
| committee be appointed who should in
vestigate and determine whether the
Pullman company's statement that
| there was nothing to arbitrate was
| true and just: that the committee be
! composed of two members named by
| the Pullman company, two to be
named by the judges of the circuit
court of Cook county, and the fifth by
the four first chosen. The suggestion
was adopted by the joint committee,
and subcommittee was appointed to
present the proposition to the Pullman
company. This committee was com
posed of the council committee-Al-
derman McGillen, Marrener, Muelhoe-
fer and Powers-and Messrs Elderkin,
Ryan and Lindholm, representing the
trades unions.
The subcommittee repaired at once
| to the office of President Wickes
of the Pullman company and requested
| an interview with that gentleman. IT
was granted, and then followed a
scene which bids fair to rival in his
toric interest and Importance any
event in the history of labor. Every
| man present felt the extreme gravity
| of the hour, and the silence, through
which the voices of the speakers seemed
painfully distinct, was oppressive.
do YOU come as an official of the
| city?' Mr. Wickes asked the alderman
Il do, replied Mr.. NJ McGillen.
''Do you represent the mayor in this
matter?' inquired the Baltimore Of
| fetal.
THE mayor will indorse our action
here" the alderman replied.
Alderman McGillen was the spoles
man. He addressed Mr. Wickes, ant
placed before him the proposition a.
authorized by the full committee.
Once, as the alderman halted for ar
instant, Mr.. Wickes said; "The com
pany cannot recede from the position
it has already held"
The interjection aroused Alderman
McGillen and he eloquently portrayed
the situation in all its bearings ant
the inevitable consequences unless {
settlement was reached. Mr.. Wicke'
listened attentively. He seemed
touched by the appeal, and when the
spokesman had concluded, retired will
Attorney John S. Runnells, of the
Pullman company, for consultation
The delay was of brief duration
When he returned, every one presen
read in the presidents stern face
the fateful answer he would make
The feeling was intense and the littl,
throng, composed of committeeme1
and members of the press and new
associations, waited hreathlessly fol
him to speak.
Addressing Alderman McGillen. Mr.
Wickes said:
The Pullman company has nothing
to arbitrate."
Then there was a painful silence
Alderman McGillen seemed paralyzet
for moment. He could not believe
the Pullman company would assume
responsibility so tremendously grave
IAN to understand, The slowly said
that the Pullman company refuse.