Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-07-27
DEBS OFFERS PEACE.
TERMS TO END THE GREAT
STRIKE SUBMITTED.
The Railroad Managers Asked TO
Reinstate All Strikers Not
Charged with Crime, But They
Refused to Treat With Debs-
Shnt Down nv Re0uIaPs

u
Reinstate All Strikers Not
Charged With Crime, But They
Refused to Treat With Debs-
Shot Down by Regulars.
The great strike at Chicago and I'm the
territory tributary to that city OF railway
men in sympathy with the striking working
men at Pullman ended in conditional sur
render Of the strikers. President Debs
of the American Railway Union, sent
TO the Board of General Manager.
through Mayor Hopkins. of Chicago, an
offer to declare the strike of II the man
ayers would agree to take back the meD
without prejudice, excepting those con-
victed OF violence. The General Managers
returned this letter TO the Mayor I'M
answered on the ground that they could not
recognizes the American Railway Union.
Mr.. Debs said that the rejection of his offer
would cause renewal OF the fight, and that
all his resources would be devoted to its
maintenance.
President Debs submitted certain terms to
the Association OF Railroad Managers. In
brief they we're
~ That arbitration as proposed by Presi-
Lent Cleveland be entered upon.
49, That all the striking employees, except
those who had been guilty Of criminal mis-
conduct, shall be restored to their positions
without prejudice by the railroad COM
panies.
He said that the proposition was inspired
bv desire to subserye the public good. as
the strike small and unimportant In its in
ception had extended until ''it now involves
or threatens not only every public interest.
but the peace, security and prosperity OF our
common country.
This proposition was signed by Debs. How
ard and Keliher, the principal officers OF the
American Railway Union. 1t was taken by
tn HOnkinG IN of Of
presented it to Chairman St John, of the
General Managers Association. The as
ISOLATION was not in session, but after the
Individual members had been con-
suited. the paper was returned TO Mayor
Hopkins without answer and with the iu-
formation that no communication whatever
from Debs, Howard and Keliher could be
received or considered by the Managers
Association.
This action of the strike leaders was taken.
they assert not because of impending de-
feat, but in order that they should be IN har-
mony with the suggestion President Cteve-
land made in announcing that no would ap-
point q commission to investigate the strike
troubles.
The refusal Of the General Managers even
TO consider the proposition, the acceptance
OF which would make necessary the dis
missal of all men engaged to fill the strikers
places and would place them again in the
power of the organization which had
paralyzed their lines for days, was considered
by many a decided setback to the union.
Following it came the result of the two
DAYS deliberations ofthe conference of la
Dor leaders called by Samuel GOmpers. of
the American Federation OF Labor. The
leaders of all the big organizations out
side the American Railway Union and
the knights of Labor decided not TO
involve the men they represent in any local
or general strife. They expressed sympathy
with the Pullman employees, but declared Il
strike at this time of general business de-
preston an act of folly.
as the roads were concerned. the strike was
already at an end. If the men wished to
stay out of work, that was none OF the hus;-
ness of the General Managers. All the roads
were running in nearly as good order as at
first and the managers had nothing TO
saw beyond the fact that they felt
they had been previously in iured an | that
much of their property bad heen wantOnly
destroyed, and they did not SEQ why they
should grant favors to the people who had
2cne them all this harm.
Mayor Hopkins made Il strong plea for g
settlement of the whole matter. He pointed
out that if the General Managers refused to
accept this proposition, the troops must ba
kept guarding the city for at least two weeks
more. entailing loss OF many thousands OF
dollars on the State, and that there might
be more riotng and blOOdshel.
While these measures to en1 the strike
were being taken in Chicago stirring occur
rences were wtnesse in the West. Tho
killing of four members Of Battery l. Of tho
Fifth Artillery, Unitel States Army, in the
train wreck at the trestle two miles from
Sacramento, Cal, was in a measure avenged
by regulars belonging to the same company,
two men, both, however, disclaimng to he
strikers, being shot. One WIS mortaly
wounded
Shortly before II o'clock Division Superin
tendent Wright ordered switch engine aud
fiat car to clear the track along Front street
contiguous to the headquarters of the strik-
erS.
Fearing that an attempt would be madeto
shoot the engineer and fireman, Captain
Roberts and Lieutenant Skerrett of Battery
L, with number of men, went along on the
fiat car. The men jeered at the soldiers, ah
Roberts ordered his men to charge them
with bayonets.
Just then several shots were firel, but
whether from the crowd or from the roof of
the freight sheds, occupied by Il umjer OF
men. it IS not positively known. But this
was just the moment the regulars had been
waiting for. and they returned the hra. As
the reports of their rifles rang out the crowd
fell back and two men dropped to the
ground.
The news of the shooting once again
threw the city into a great state of excite
ment, and the streets in the vicinity rapidly
filled with people, who, however, were Dis
PeESsl pS tlo IIOO)S Will itttiS TSSlSIduC'
United States Marshal BaldH in role
through the lower portion of tie city with
thirty cavalrymen late in the afternoon and
proclaimed martial law. He ordered all peo-
pie to disperse and return to their homes uD-
der penalty Of punishment by the law.
The New York express train Oil the Big
Four, westbound, was wrecked at Fontanet,
Ind. large mining settlement. and the
engineer and fireman were killed and two
postal clerks were injured. No :ssenger
was hurt The train was running at
high speed when it struck mis-
placed switch The engine, baggage,
postal and express cars ana a coacl were
piled in a ditch. All day the company met
with serious distractions. The freight
blockade had been lifted and freight trains
made up by new switchmen and with nom
union firemen were sent out for the
first time in week. Some of
the miners at Fontanet stopped
the first Of these trains by tagging
il aud then drove the fircmen and brakemen
away. Though there was no evidence that
the miners threw the switch causing the
holF