Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-18

AMONG THE STRIKERS.
Feeling Of Apprehension EXISTS az
Chicago.

Si,esial Dispatch From q STAFF q -respsnd.-nt
CHICAGO. July ls.-Days aud nights OF
careful investigation irto strike con iitions
in this city have convinced me that there
is much misunderstanding as 10 the state Of
affairs. and a Possibility of Numbering.
Unless the signs are all wrong. there is in
existence a general belief. centering in
Washington. that steady progress is here
being made toward permanent peace.
Greater error than that could not well he
made That there has been a slight
vivsl of business during the past three OF
four days is evident. and that the number
of assaults upon property and individuals
has decreased. Is a matter OF record. but
no one should for a moment entertain the
noticn that tranquility prevails. lei hose
who desire to measure thesituatIon bear ip
mind the lact that there are in Chicago
more anarchists and nihiiists and other
varieties of disturbing lists than are C. NJ
sresated In any other city the ia ce Of
the globe.
Then let there be recognition Of the hor-
rible truth that. by reason OF commercial
depression and the added incubus OF the
strike, thousands upon thousands OF the
laboring classes are. at this moment suf-
fering the panss OF hunger. and e on the
verge of desperation that never stops TO
count the cost. and recks not OF conse-
quences.
Much of the past three days q nd nights I
have devoted TO Investigation Of a most I'm
partial sort. Forsaking' what are reg arded
among the strikers and their sympsthiYers.
and have talked with sH sorts and condi-
tons Of men Gathered around the almost
innumerabie cheap saloons ,n the sjocy
yards district. and on the west side. are
knots OF strangely quiet men. lro~sy and
ill-clad women, and children that are prac-
tically without clothing or cleanliness: OF
the latte. there Ii none to be seen. To 10
clean is TO be an object Of SUSPICION
Under all manner OF pretexts I have con
versed with hundreds OF these people, gain.
ed the confidence of many and have truly
sympathized with few A handful OF
crackers given to starving child would
bring tears to a no less hungry mothers
eyes and speech to lips that before were
pers.sten1y silent. The money with which
a loaf OF bread and quart OF milk were
prrchas ed was the key to one fathers
tongue. A prefer Of coin with which 20
purchase a couple OF cigars wss- atcept-d
By caunt Yet magnificent. specimen OF
nannocd.and with the dime tightly eTasped
food for a wife and two ifitief osia who
We're. when I followed him INTO his hoyei
home. so weak as 10 have lost locomotive
power. - -Oirra
rhere is hunger az Pullman and thither
supplies are daily being sent. Srt Pullman
n S Soos soSn sp' 4 ep Within
S eas pr propsr , larsy Eessl,ags fVCm ,Ss
that matter, anywhere else. have no con-
ception. CO.
But my inquiries were Ret>svsd4ed to the
suffering classes. nor to- the ana rchical
element. although they nserslls received
most attention. The police have been
talked TO. and there mas bees a rfYPral in
terchange of news with those who, keeping
stores and petty gin mills. are In close
touch with the discoRtented-
The boiled-dovn result OF the Iconversa-
tons and condolences Is a deeply-root a
conviction that peace in Chicago exists only
because the strong arm of the United States
Is visible here -....-r ..-f
Hundreds OF mea snd Nomen have as
sured me that the present calm is entirely
superficial and that when the troops are
removed. as some folks here think they
soon viii be. there WIFI follow outburst
of riotoUsness at which the civilized world
will be appalled, This is no aiarniist state
ment. no effort to hold troops here, no part
of plan to establish at Chicago a great
military pest: IL is the plain. Unpublished
truth. confirmed and reconiirmed. corrob-
GRATED ny testimony. which the authorities
will do well TO heed