Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-14
The Strike.

MCCrlilen, vi SulCeSo; SooU0AuoJ N
on Messrs. st. John and Egan of the
managers association of railroads with
q proposition from the labor leaders in
reference to q settlement of the strike
troubles.
Mr.. st. John said he would receive
the proposition and lay it before the
next meeting. He was requested to
call special meeting, but declined to
do so. He consented 30 listen to the
gentlemen because they were the
Mayor and prominent member of the
city council He declared that he
would have nothing to do with Debs or
any other labor leader. After leaving
the proposition with Mr.. ST. John, the
mayor returned to his Office. Mr.. St.
John had previously said that the gen
eral managers would not recognize the
labor leaders in any way, and it was
because of this statement that Debs,
Howard and Sovereign did not present
their proposition in person, but dele
gated the presentation to the mayor.
Debs's proposition was returned to MIN
unopened, with the information that no
communication from Debs would be
either received or considered.
Chairman Egan said informally
THE general managers will, under no
circumstances, have conference with
Mr.. Debs on any subject. They will
retain in their employ the men who
filled the strikers places and who are
competent"
Mr.. St. John said later, that the
proposition would not be submitted to
any meeting of the general managers
that day and would not be considered
by them before their regular meeting to-
day, ''if,n he added significantly, lit be
considered at all"
When Debs was asked by Sovereign
what would be done in case the general
managers refused TO reinstate the men,
Debs replied 1--WE shall call our ex-
ecutive board together and determine
upon a course of action"
A joint meeting of the executive
boards of the A. r. U. and the knights
of labor was held at Uhlrich's Hall at 5
p. m. Yesterday to consider the treat
ment which the railway unions posi-
ton TO the General Managers Associa-
ton received. An informal discussion
was followed by an adjournment to ten
O'Clock this morning. The feeling
against the general managers was very
bitter.
Debs said at the close of the meeting
that the union had made its last over
ture to the general managers. 1t had
gone more than half way. If the pres
ent proposition was ignored orrejectcd,
the strike would he renewed with
greater force and continued until the
railway people gave in. Debs added
that there had been no relaxation OF
the strike. 1t is on in full force and
would remain so until an affirmative
answer came from the general mana
gers. If such an answer were received
the strike would end in twenty min
utes. He intimated that the union had
other forces which it could call into ac-
ton, aud they would be felt in their
full strength if necessary.
The American Federation conference
held its second days meeting yester-
day. The session was hot one, and
many strong speeches were made as to
whether or not the American fedora
ton of labor should order general
strike of all its members in sympathy
with the Pullman strikers and at the
request of the A. r. L.
Several speeches were made in favor
of a general strike being ordered by
all of the labor organizations of the
country:
Mr.. Drummond took the side of OPP
position, and discussed at some length
the inadvisability of q general strike
He said: II want Debs TO understand
that it is unnecessary for US to order a
strike. He wishes to shift the re-
sponsibility off his shoulders on to us
and | object to it. If he has started il
and cannot win, let him lose it. If we
should order strike now, the fnancia
situation of the country is such that 8
great number of our members would
not go out, and all vacancies would be
filled with non unionists. l belive that
the condition Of this country is such
that general strike would not win.
do not want the reputation of having
our federation losing this already .lost
strike"
Patrick McBryde, representing the
coal miners, next said ''Ifa strike is
ordered, let it be for ourselves and not
for Debs He has not managed the
thing right, and now he wants help,
and | am not in favor of giving it. A
general strike ordered by this confer
ence in sympathy for the A. r. Z
would be of no value to us, and il
would break our contracts, change the
present arbitrated scale of wages, and
be of a general disadvantage to US.
President Gompers said that there
was too much contention among the la
Dor organizations of Chicago to be vic
torious in general strike. He asked
every member to think over the reso
lutions and be satisfied in the way he
wanted to vote.
P. H. Morrissey, vice grand master
of the brotherhood of railway trainmen,
and T. w. Arnold, secretary of the
brot 1erho)d of locomotive firemen,
made stirring speeches in opposition to
Debs and the course pursued by the A.
r. U. P. J. Mcclure, first vice presi-
dent of the federation OF labor, argued
that the Pullman strike was purely To-
cal and should be dealt with by the peo-
pie Of Chicago.
Finally the federation concluded not
to order general strike and in an adj
dress advised all those who had quit
work to return, and those who contem-
plate going out on sympathetic strike,