The evening world., 1894-07-17
DEBs DUMPED THEM.
Inside Story of the Conference
Called by Mr. Gompers.
Patrick McBryde Tells Where the
Delegates Laugh Came In.
While They Waited for Debs the
Oaer OF Surrender Went out.

COLUMBUS, O, July li-"rhc confer.
cn.r lately held IN chicago, under t.,
au.pl,es OF the American Federation ut
Labor ran one Of tho most important
labor gatherings over held IN this couu.
r,." said Patrick MrBryde. Secretary
Treasurer of the United Nine Workers
70 day.
1T aecmg that the olsanizers Of the
A. u. L! had been 80 inGiscrcCt as 10
coures8 that they INTENDED TO break ny
the older orga nizations, aud boosted
that 1t only required victory of the
present bait IT, in order to be successful.
IT can be readily seen, therefore, that
the boycott at Chicago was not only a
fight against capital but life and
death struggle between the different
railroad organizations.
The older orders being on the side of
the corporations. 1t is but fair 10 state
that some OF the brotherhoods. like the
trainmeI, although opposed to the
strike. allowed the members 10 act for
themselves. and over 1000 of them
Joined hands with the \. r. L.
"'Tou must declare for a National
SUSPENSION said the trade unionists of
." THE fight is a fight of capital versus
labor said Mr. pebs.
You have no right to take sides with
one organization against another said
the brotherhoods.
Have a little common sense and keep
the men you represent out of this mud
die, whispered conscience.
And so the delegates discussed
and talked around the subject
each afraid to sprinS resolution
lest II might be premature. In this con-
ri lNt 70.
he realized the difficult task he had to
perform: the men he was to address were
not amateurs In the methods of labor or
gallizations. 4 number of them had more
experience than himself.
The man seemed an icicle, hut the
voice held his hearers spellbound as he
recited the suffering of the workmen at
Pullman, the high-handed policy of the
Board OF Managers and the determine
ton of the men to fight to the end.
The delegates seemed magnetized
What do you want us to do" exclaimed
claimed, Nothing * long pause, and
then Mr.. Debs said: 4 ask nothing of
YOU, gentlemen, but If | were in your
place ! will tell you what | would do.
Then he stoke In favor of u general
strike.
"a sharp exchange OF words between
Secretary Mcclure. of the carpenters,
the better of 1t; but the discussion broke
the spell. The delegates were once more
business men and Mr.. Debs soon realized
1t. for he changed his tactics at once.
" i have "a telegram from Washington
he said. The President Is going to ap-
point an arbitration committee, so l
have. prepared the following document,
enrc, l would wish President Gompers
present to the Board of General Man
= >rs.
He then proceeded TO read the docu-
ment presented by Mayor Hopkins, call
ing off the strike upon condition that the
I'D men would be reinstated He left
le document, and the conference
torlised to send him an answer.
"A little reflection on the para Of the
Gompcrs was the bearer of the mes
sage and the managers refused TO ac-
cept 1t. the A. +. of l.. would be placed
in an embarrassing position. 1t was re-
solved to tell Mr.. Debs that he could
choose any three gentlemen in the Con-
vention, who. with an equal number OF
citizens and Mr.. Debs should call upon
the Board of Managers, but Mr.. Com
pers must not 90, alone.
waited for Mr.. Debss reply, but none
came until the afternoon papers an
nounced the fact that Mayor Hopkins
had presented the document, and that
President Debs had dumped the confer
enCe.
1.-THE delegates looked sheepish when
they realized that they narrowly escaped
being trapped into bringing all the hor-
rors of a general strike upon the coun-,
try. After a hearty laugh, they issued
the document advising the men to return
which has appeared in the press. and
adjourned to their homes wondering
what took them to Chicago"