Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-07-12
BURNED MIDNIGHT OIL.
But Decided That Whining
ton Men Should Not Strike.
MUST HAVE BEEN A STRUGGLE

For the American Railway ULion
wrestIed with President Debs's rele-
gram Until After O'Clock Before De-
Gliding to Ignore His wishes-wm BE
Praised for Their Stand.
Although the American Railway Union
people Of Wilmington did everything in
their power to suppress It, the fact leaked
out this afternoon that they came within
an ace Of ordering a general strike at the
Pullman Palace Car Company shops and
OF all their members in Wilmington last
Tuesday morning.
IL was a narrow, but fortunate es.
cape. As II is, every member who was at
work last week has plenty TO do now.
and has good living ahead Of him all
Summer.
Still, many Of them are restless and
feel that just the opposite course should
have been taken. Meanwhile, however,
they are subservient to the instructions
Of their unions officers.
Debs Sent a Telegram.
It seems that the Wilmington shops
Of the Pullman Company had been doing
such good work and aie being now so
Chicago leaders, especially CzRr Debs,
were vexed, and last Saturday night
at II o'clock, 4. 3. Robinson. secretary
OF the American Railway Union in this
city, received the following telegram:
You are hereby requested to assist us in
i the present strike by having all the em-
ployos withdraw from the Pullman shops
and the different roads In your district.
Elect good committee, and write us the
name OF chairman stating road they repre-
| sent. Commit no violence
All the boys OF all the roads will stand to-
gether. None will return until all return.
1 Pledge full protection to all whether mem
/ bers or not.
Secretary Robinson, after a consults-
tion with President s. ID. Knee, lasting
till a. M, wired Mr. Debs that they
could not comply with his request
owing TO such small membership.
wrestled Nearly All Night.
Il was at this conference that the
union leaders burned the midnight oil
and wrestled one with the other In the
depths Of the vital discussion. Fortu-
nately it was a cool night and Secretary
Robinson kept cool There was plainly
nothing else TO be done than to mutiny
against official orders. To attempt to
order out only their union men and then
petition other workmen TO leave good
Jobs and loaf awhile would be worse
Job than shovelng snow in the heat Of
summer. Therefore the message Of
refusal was flashed back.
Irs NobodY's business.
Secretary Robinson, Of the Wilmington
union, was found hard at work in the
Pullman yard to-day and greeted the re
porter very pleasantly until he was re
minded Of the burning Of the midnigat
oil and the wrestle with Debs's telegram.
THAT Is nobody's business but the
Wilmington unions, he replied, and ]
positively refuse to be interviewed omit.
1--WE don't propose, continued the
secretary, ito hold our union meetings
or cabinet meetings public, or to publish
In the newspapers the private business
that we transact there
But" asked the reporter, you are
not ashamed to tell about your refusal oi
Debss specific order, are YOUR
81 will tell nothing. You have The
facts now, haven't your and what more
do you want2" and he moved on a
, though too busy to think Of such thing
as strikes and riots.