The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-12

Eaions ample power 10 enforce any just
demands against the companies. bat the
American Railway Union of Deos and its
boycott will be resisted at all cost and
hazsrd By the Iav-abiding people OF the
United States who believe in the Amers-
can tag and ali il implies Debs
and the American Railway Union
is no more the government OF the
United States than the Masons, the Odd
Railway Union, under tbs leadership of
Dehs. takes period OF extreme de-
preston and forces a strike when there IS
vast amount Of labor seeking employ
nent; it throws out Of employment
thousands of men who would receive no
benefit even If 1t won, and who are sacri-
heed IN s quarrel that is none OF their
business. Debs Is most egregious hum
bug. and his American Railway Union is
the victim of his folly and insane love of
notoriety.
Labor pays rent and salaries to such fell
lows as Debs, who are always doing some
thing TO benefit themselves or show their
own importance. These fellows telegraph
right and left; they travel to and fro, and
deluded labor pays the bills OF these cum
ming blatherskites. To make the men be-
lieve they are doing something, big SYM
pathetic strike is declared. If they are
arrested for conspiracy against the COM
mon veal labor pays all the bills and the
vaingiorious leaders enjoy the sense of
publicity and power.
Ii does not make particle OF difference
whether the Pullman Car Company has or
has not furnished a cause of complaint.
II has nothing to do with the attempt of
Debs to stop the railroads upon which the
whole business of the company depends in
order to force them TO break contracts
under which they are bound to use and
pay for Pullman cars. The New York
Tribune says on this point:
ITO the meanest understanding ii must
be apparent that the public has para
mount right 10 demand from the trans
porting companies, ana from the men they
employ, faithful performance of the serv-
ices which both have undertaken to rem
der. In entering such a service the hands
took upon themselves an obligation which
break. namely 10 serve the public
faithfully In the running of rail-
road trains. The railroads have
obtained franchises and grants and public
support for many years on the same con-
dition, and are bound by the same obliga-
ton. The roads would violate their obli-
CATION if they should refuse or neglect to
run needed trains without an adequate
reason. Exactly so the hands violate their
obligations 10 the public If, without an
adequate reason, they deprive the public
of railway facilities. The courts ought to
be able to compel both the companies and
the men TO perform their duties"
There never has been in the whole his
tory of labor troubles in this country a
strike so wanton, so causeless as this of
the American Railway Union. There is
nothing to arbitrate, nothing TO discuss,
no matter whether Pullman treated his
men well or all, because this man Debs,
the leader of the American Railway
Union, apparently is determined to put
the railway world under the control of
new union, which seeks universal do
minion in its desire for great power.
There is only one question before the
American people, and that is to clear the
tracks, suppress the rioters and maintain
order while the railroads re-man their
trains and resume business. This govern
ment and people of the United States
will never abdicate to Debs and his union,
which cannot be allowed to increase the
cost of living and destroy the means of
subsistence.
Senator DAVIS, OF Minnesota, is just
right when he looks upon the present
strikers forcible stoppage of trains as an
act of war against the public which should
be met as such. 1t is intolerable that the
business of the whole country should be
disarranged and millions of people put to
Inconvenience, loss and danger because
handful of Pullman's discontinued work
men cannot have their way.