Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-07-20
REFUSE TO STRIKE.
American Federation of Labor Takes a
1atriotic stand.

The conference of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor in session at Chicago
decided against a general strike. The
action of President Debs and the
American Railway Union was Endorsed,
however, and 81, 900 voted for a de-
Tense fund Tor the coming trial of Debs.
An address to the public was issued,
which in substance says:
After careful, calm and full consid-
Grafton of the great industrial up
heaval and in view of complications
we are forced to the conclusion that
the best interests of the unions atfil-
lated with the American Federation of
Labor demand that they refrain from
participating in any general or local
strike which may be proposed in con-
nection with the present railroad
troubles. 1t must not be understood
that we are opposed in any way to the
labor organizations struggling for
right and justice. The public press
has maliciously misrepresented mat
tiers in favor of corporate wealth. We
are patriotic and law abiding, we pro-
test against the assumption by certain
corporations that because we oppose
them we stand for lawlessneSs and
anarchy. The trades union movement
is one of reason, one of deliberation
and depending entirely upon the vol-'
untary and sovereign action of its
members; it has its origin in economic
and social injustice. Industrial con-
tests cannot be entered into at the
behest of any individual officer of this
conference, regardless of the position
he may occupy in our organizations.
While we may not have the power to
order a strike of the working people
of our country, we are fully aware
that recommendation TO them
to lay down their tools would
largely influence them to do so,
and approaching the responsibility we
declare that we believe general strike
at this time inexpedlent and unwise.
We further recommend that all con-
nected with the American Federation
of Labor, now out on sympathetic
strike, should return to work, and
those who contemplate going out on
sympathetic strike are advised to re-
main at their usual vacations. Mr..
Pullman, in his persistent repulses of
arbitration and in his heartless, auto
cratic treatment of his employees, has
proven himself public enemy.
For years the railroad interests have
shown the lawless examples of defiance
to injunctions, and have set aside laws
TO control them. They have displayed
the utmost contempt for the interstate
commerce law. have avoided the pen
alties and sneered at its impotency to
prevent pooling, determinations and
other impositions on the public. In
this disregard of law these corpora
tions have given the greatest impetus
TO anarchy and lawlessness. Still they
do not hesitate when confronted by
outraged labor TO invoke the powers of
the state. the federal government,
backed by United States marshals, in
functions of courts, proclamations of
the President. aud sustained by the
bayonets of soldiers and all the civil and
military machinery of the law have re-
lied on the summons of the corporations.
Against this array of armed force and
brutal moneyed autocracy, would it
not be worse than folly TO call men
out on general or local strike in these
days of stagnant trade and commercial
depression.
No. Better let MS organize more
generally, combine more closely with
our forces, educate and prepare our
selves to protect our interests, and that
we may go to the ballot-box and cast
our votes as American freemen, united
and determined TO redeem this country
from its present political and indus
trial misrule, TO take it from the hands
of plutocratic wreckers and place it in
the hands of the common people.
] Don't take tbs from fiattery's tongue.