The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-07-13
Chicago Rioters and the Presi-
dents Proclamation.

The Illinois Militia found it necessa.
ry last Saturday TO disperse the mob
by firing into them. Many OF them
went down at the first fire but just
how many cannot be fully determined,
because of the number that was car
ried away as either dead or wounded.
A deadly yolley was poured into them
for persisting in the destruction OF
railroad property. 1t is thought that at
least dozen ofthe strikers were killed
outright, while many received wounds
which may prove fatal.
The trouble was begun by the mob.
1t was determined to ourn the round
house of the Grand Trunk Railroad
which was guarded by the State troops.
Though the troops here dispersed
them they rallied again at an other
point and commenced TO up set freight
cars and tear up the tracks, SC. Here
a squad of police drove them off. The
mob again rallied for mischief and 6es-
truction on Forty ninth street, where
a part OF them engaged the attention
of the militia and the deputies while
Others ran freight cars into the pit of
turn-table. The men who attempted
to remove their distractions were set
upon by bowling mob. 1t finally
made rush at the troops and fired a
volley at them and the deputies. The
troops resented the assault by letting
them have storm Of bullets and the
rioters fell right and left in utter dis
may.
The great strike and all the tur-
mol in consequence is now denomi-
mated deliberate conspiracy Oh the
part of the leaders of the various labor
organizations. The names of both
Powderly and Coxey are associated
with the scheme Of general strike
which was planned long before it actu-
ally materialized. 1t dates back to the
day when Powderly was deposed from
his Office as leader of the confederated
labor unions, though it has not trans
pred just in accordance with the
original plan. The plan was laid for a
general strike a month after the labor
Convention which ousted Powderly
from the Office of General Master
Workman, it seems. Anticipating it,
extra assessment was both levied and
collected from members OF the various
labor unions. Coxey was 10 tramp on
ahead and the knights OF labor, 5000
strong, were to bring up, the rear, but
close enough to reach Washington
simultaneously with the western COM
monwealers. Eugene V. Debs was
taken into the scheme and he at once
assumed the leadership from which
Powderly had been deposed. But as
the best laid plans oft go astray, SO it
was in this case, so far as any hope of
ultimate benefit to organized labor is
concerned. The battle against Pull
man was incidental rather than pre-
meditated however. The internal
strife and Jealousy existing between
labor unions seems to have unwittingly
and unintentionally eliminated in its
most aggravated and unreasonable
form against Mr.. Pullman whose his
tory is that OF most Considerate and
reasonable employer in all his past
dealings with wage-earners.
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, BY reason of unlawful
distractions, combinations and assem-
blages Of persons, it has become i'm
practicable in the judgement of the
President to enforce by the ordinary
course Of judicial proceedings the laws
Of the United States within the State
of Illinois, and especially in Chicago,
within said State; and,
WHEREAS, For the purpose of en-
forcing the faithful execution of the
laws of the United States and protect
ing its property and removing obstruc-
tions to the United States mails in the
State and city aforesaid, the President
has employed part OF the military
forces of the United States;
Now, therefore, |, Grover Cleveland,
President of the United States, do
hereby admonish all gool citizens and
all persons who may be or may come
within the city and State aforesaid,
against aiding, countenancing, encour-
aging or taking any part in such unlaw-
ful distractions, combinations and as
semblages and hereby warn all per-
sons engaged in or in any way connect
ed with such unlawful obstr ructions,
XnWiY NEsW