The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-07-14
PROTEST AND APPEAL.

The American Railway Union and HniShes
of Labor Present Their Case to fresf-
dent Cleveland rs the Statement of Lonz-
Suffering and Starving Laboring Men
Against Grasping and Grinding corpor-
ate Employers
CHICAGO. July s.-After consultation
between the board of directors of the
American Railway union and General
Master Workman Sovereign of the
Knights of Labor, the following was
sent to Washington last evening:
CHICAGO. July ., 1904
To Hon. Grorer Clsreldnd. President Of the
United States. Erecntire MaRsioR Washington.
ID. C.: -s-- =
DEAR SIR:-ThroGgh long period OF depres-
sion enforced idleness and low wages, result
ing in widespread poverty. and in many cases
actual starvation, the working people have
been patient and law-abiding. and not until the
iron heel of corporate tyranny was applied
with the intention TO sublugate the working
people to the will Of arrogant monoDolies did
they make any effort to stay their oppressors.
The Pullman strike was not declared until
the employees OF the Pullman company were
driven to the verge Of starvation, their en-
treaties spurned with contempt, and their
grievances denied a hearing. No refusal 70
handle Pullman cars was declared by any rail-
way employe until all propositions looking to-
wards arbitration and Cancellation were re-
jected by the Pullman company. Notwith-
sranding the facts set forth above, which were
known TO the public and the national authort-
ties you have seen fit, under thesyuise Of pro-
tecting the mails and federal.property, to in
woke the service of the United States army.
whose very presence is used to coerce and In
timidate peaceable working people into q
humiliating obedience to the will OF their op-
preSSorS.
BY your acts. in so far as you have sup
planted civil and state authoritieS with the
federal military power, the spirit Of unrest
and diStrust has so far been augmented that
deep-Seated conviction is fast becoming prev
alent that this government Is soon to be de-
clared n military despotism The transmits
sion OF the United States mails is not inter-
rupted by the striking employees Of any rail-
way company. but by the railway companies
themselves. who refuse to haul the mails on
trains to which Pullman cars were not at
tached- II il Is criminal interference
with the United States mails for the en-
ployes of a railway company TO detach from
mail train Pullman palace car, contrary to
the will OF the company, then II holds true
tha: II is the same criminal interference when
ever Pullman palace car is detached from
mail train in accordance with the will OF a rail-
way company, while said mail train Is in
transit. The line Of criminality in such case
should not be drawn at the willingness or un-
willingness Of railway employees, but at the act
itself. and. inasmuch as 1t has been the COM
mon practice Of railway corporations to attach
and detach from mail trains Pullman palace
cars at will. while said trains are in transit
and carrying the maNs of the United States,
it would seem an act Of discrimination against
the employees Of the railway corporations to
declare such acts unlawful interference with
the transmission of the mails, when done by
emDloveS with q without the consent OF their
employers.
In view OF these facts We look upon the far
fetched decision OF Attorney-General Olney,
the un American iniunctions against railway
employees and the movements OF the regular
army as employing the powers Of the general
government for the support and protection OF
the railway corporations in their determine
tion to degrade and oppreSs their employees
The preSen' railway strike was precipitated
by the desire Of the railway corporations ode-
strOy the organizations OF their employees and
make the working people more subservient to
the will Of their employers; and as all students
of government agree that free institutions de-
pend for their perpetuity upon the freedom
and prosperity Of the common people, 1t would
seem more in consonance with the spirit Of
democratic government II federal authority was
exercised in defense OF the rights of the toll
ing masses to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness. But. on the contrary, there is not
tween the corporations and the people, the
strong arm Of the military power has been en-
plOycd to protect the working people and the
industrial masses from the ravages and perse
cutiOn Of corporate greed. But the measure Of
character has been in the line Of declaring the
corporations always good and in the right, and
the working people always bad and in the
wrong.
Now, sir. we pledge TO you the power Of our
respective organizations individually and COL
lectively for the maintenance OF peace and
good order, and the preservation Of life and
property, and will aid in the arrest and pun
ishment of all violators of the civil and crimi-
nal laws OF the state OF nation.
In the present contest between labor and
railway corporations we shall use every peace
able and honorable means at our command
consistent with the law and our constitutional
rights to secure for the working people just
compensation for labor done and respect
full consideration in accordance with the
inherent rights OF all men and the
spirit Of republican government. In doing so
we appeal to all the i5erty-loving people Of
the nation TO aid and support us in this most
Just and righteous cause
THE AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION,
BY Eugene V. Debs, President.
ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR,
J. R. Sovereign, General Master Workman.