The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-14

CHICAGO, July 13.-The conference of
the American Federation Of Labor ad-
jourued at 7:30 this evening after having
decided against q general strike. Ihe
position of President Debs OF the Ameri-
can Railway union, was Endorsed, how
ever, and 81, 600 voted for defense fund
for the coming trial of Debs The execu-
tive council Of seven will hold final ses-
sion tomorrow. The following address to
the public was issued after long discus
Bion:
TIE ADDRESS.
The great industrial upheavaI now agi-
taling the country has been carefully,
calmly and fully considered IL u confer
ence Of the executive council OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor and of the execu-
tive officers and representatives OF the
national and international unions and
brotherhoods of railway unions, called to
rleet In the city of Chicago on the 1lth day
OF July. 1894. In the light of all the evil
dence obtaiuable, and III view OF the
peculiar complications now enveiop-
ing the situation, we are forced to
the conclusion that the best interests of
the union affiliated with the American
Federation OF Labor demand that they re-
Train from participating ia any general or
local strike which may be proposed IN con-
nection with he present railroad troubles.
In making this declaration we do not wish
u understood hat we are In any way an
tagonistc TO the labor organizations now
struggling for right and justice, but rather
to the TACT that the present contest has
become surrounded and
BEsET WITH COMPLICATIONS
so grs ye in their nature that we cannot
consistently advise "A course which would
but add ID the general confusion. The
public press, ever alive to the interest of
corporate wealth, have, with few eXcep-
tioHs, 20 mallciously misrepresented mat
iers that, in the public mind, the working
classes are now arrayed in open hostility 10
federal authority. This Is position we
do not wish TO bs placed in, nor VIII we
occupy it without II protest. BY misrep-
TeseHtation and duplicity certain corpora
tiOns assume that they stand for law and
order and that those opposing them repre-
sent lawlessness aud anarchy. We pro-
test against this assumption, as we pro-
test against the inference that because
certain individual. or a certain class, enjoy
"a monopoly ia particular Ines of trade or
commerce, that II necessarily follows that
they are entitled to a monopoly IN loyalty
and coed citizenship.
While we may not have the power to
order strike OF the working people Of our
country, we are fully aware that recon-
IneHdation from this conference 10 them
90 lay down iheir tools of labor would
largely influences the members of our
affiliated organizations, and
APPRECIATISG THE RESPONSIBILITY.
resting upon us and the duty we owe to
all, we declare 1t to be the sense of this
conference that a general strike at this
time Is lneXpedlent, unwise and contrary
10 the best interests OF the working people
We further recommend that all connected
with the American Federation OF Labor
now out on ympathetc strike should re-
turn TO work, and those who contemplate
going ont on "A sympathetic strike are adj
SiseG to remain at their usual avocatiops.
In the strike of the American Railway
nnien we recognize an impulsive vigorous
protest against he gathering aud growing
forces OF piutocTatlc power and corporation
rule. In the sympat het1c role OF that or
der to help the Pullman employees they
have demonstrated the hollow shams of
Puilman's pbarisaical paradise. Mr. Pull
man, in hts persistent repulses Of arbitra-
tion, and in his heartless autocratic treat
meDt of mis- employees has proven him self
public euemy. The heart Of labor every
where throbs responsive to the manly pur-
poses and sturdy struggle of the American
Railway union, in their heroic endeavor to
redress the wrongs of the Pullman en-
pleyes."
THE RAILROADS ARRAIGNED.
The address then tates that the rail
road corporations have an utter disregard
for the law and that they have given the
greatest impetus to anarchy and lawless-
Tess. 1t also refers to the display of armed
force at the request of BRUTAL moneyed
nutocracy," and continues: Would it not
be worse than folly to call men out on a
general or local strike IN these DAYS of
stagnsnt trade and commercial depresSioni
No. Better let Us organize more gener-
ely. com ine more closely with our forces.
educate and prepare ourselves TO protect
our interests, ard that we may 90 TO the
ballot box and cast our vote as American
freemen, united and determined TO redeem
tdis country from its present political and
industrial misIule, to take IL from the
hands 81 plutocratic wreckers, and place
IL in the hands of the common peonle"
A resolution was adopted condemning
both the Republican and Democratic
parties and p.edging support TO the Popu-
lists.
The conference then adjourned.