The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-06
DEBs ON THE DEFENSIVE.
He Issues a Statement Trying to
Justify the Strike.


Justify the Strike.
Chicago, July 5-Eugene V. Debs, pres
ident of the American Railway Union
has issueda long statement in justifca-
tion Of the great strike, of which he is
the central Agure. The article is ad-
dressed To the public" and reads in
part as follows;
The Pullman employees who struck on May
last did so entirely Of their own accord. he
officers of the American Railway Union used
all their influence to pacifv the employees
and advised them repeatedly not to strike,
but to ear patiently their grievances until a
peaceahje settlement could be effected. To
the truth Of this statement the employees
themselves Will bear willing testimony
Hut the grievances OF the employees. men
and women. had become so aggravated, so
calling, that patience de serted them and they
abandoned their employment rather than
submit longer to conditions against which
their very souls rebeled. The Pullman com
pany. he it understood, owns the town of
Pullman. owns the houses. the homes of the
employees. controls the light and water, and
wages are so adjusted to living
expenses, that in large majority of cases
the enpl yes are barely able to support their
families st the time they struck the en-
ployes were IN arrears TO the Pullman com
pauy S7O,GuU for rent alone. Wages had been
repeatedly reduced, hut rent and other eX-
penses remains the same.
The employees, from the beginning. have
been willing to arbitrate their differences
with the company but the company AFRO
gantly declined TO arbitrate. If this he true
why not allow tOard OF fair and impartial
ar0trators to determine the facti
Committee after committee waited upon the
officials Of the Pullman company. but all their
advances were repelled.
Finally on June - the delegates Of the
Amer!r an Railway Union, representing
425 local unions of railway employees
located along the principal lines of the Amer
lcan railways. considered and discussed the
Pullman trouble at Chicago, and as a last
resort tho delegates determined that unle SIS
the Pullman company could agree to do
Justice to their employees within i've days,
the members OF the order would decline to
haul Pullman cars This action, be it remem-
bered. was not taken until the strike had
been on six weeks.
HOW TIE TROUBLE EXTENDED.
Up TO this point the trouble was confined to
the Pullman company and its employees. How
then did the strike extend to the RAILWAYS ?
Let the answer he given in accordance with
the facts. The day lefore the order of the
delegates declining to haul Pullman cars went
into effect the General Managers Association
representing the principal western railways
met and passed series OF resolutions de
claring In suDstan that they would uphold
the Pullman company in its fight upon
the employees, that they would haul
Pullman cars and that they would stand to-
getner in crushing ont the American Railway
Union. 1t Will thus be seen that the railway
companies virtually joined forces with the
Pullman company, went into partnership
with them. SO to speak, to reduce and de
feat their half starved employees.
in this way the trouble was
extended from system to system,
until a crisis has been reached. Tho
business Of the country is demoralized to an
extent that deties exaggeration. To say that
the situation is alarming, is entirely within
the bounds Of prudent statement Every cit
izen must view the outlook with grave con
cCrn. Something should, something must be
done. The American people are peace loving
people they want neither anarchy nor
reYolution. They have faith in their
Institutions they believe In law and order
they believe in good government; but they
also believe in fair play. once aroused, they
will not tolerate arbitrary and dictetorial de
fiance, even on the part of the alliance OF
rlch and powerful corporations.
HOW TO RESTORE PEACE.
What can be done to dspe the apprehen-
sion that now prevails restore peace and con
tdences The American Railway Union by
whose authority and in whose behalf this
statement is made, stands ready--has from
the beg inning stood ready-to do anything in
its power, provided II is honorable
TO end this trouble. This, briefly
stated. is the position the organization occu-
pies. IL simply insists that the Pullman
company shall meet its employees and do
them justice. We guarantee that the latter
Will accept any reasonable proposition. Let
them agree as far as they can, and where
they fail 10 agree. let the points I'm dispute be
submitted TO arbitration, The question Of the
recognition ot the American Railway Union.
or any other organization. is waived Let the
spirit of Cancellation. mutual concession and
compromise animate ana govern both sides
and there Will be no trouble in reaching "a
settlement That Will be- satisfactory 10 all
concerned. This done, let the railway com