The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-14
After Refusing to Entertain
Any Proposition
FROM PRESIDENT DEBS
He Threatens to Continue the
Strike Indefinitely,
But Apparently Will Not Re-
ceive Support.

o..
the American Railway union, declared at
1880 a. m today that the Chicago, Mil
waukee s. St Paul road was tied up this
morning. He said the men agreed last
night to go out, and that they had
done SO.
On the other hand, the general mana
ger of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St
Paul being shown this statement of Mr..
Debs, says:
lit il utterly false. a man quit work
today but any number Of our old men
were taken back. and we have as many
men as we can use and taking In others
hourly as the work increases. Every
thing Is in better shape today than at
any time in ten days"
Mr.. Debs said: "We propose to pros
ecute this fight with greater vigOr than
ever" He said he had seen Mr.. Pull
mans statement to the public, and the
fact that Mr Pullman had at last conde-
scended to make statment was very
satisfactory to the American Railway
union Mr.. Debs added that the arbitra-
tion commission which President CIeve-
land proposed was apparently now IN
necessary in view OF the action of the
General Managers association in refus-
ing absolutely to have anything to do di-
rectly or Indirectly with the American
Railway union
The president could, Of course. still
appoint such a commission, but MIR. Debs
said he could see no use for such action
by Mr.. Cleveland now. The general
managers" said Mr.. Debs, shave under
taken to crush the American Railway
union and the A. r. Z. will fight back
Chicago il very rapidly resuming its
normal condition The action of the con
ference Of the federation Of labor yester-
ls-y afternoon supplemented by meet
ing of the building and trades Assem- bly,
last night which it was resolved to call
of the strike and resume work at once is
accepted universally as the death blow
of the Pullman boycott OF course Debs
aud Sovereign are saying that it is not
over and that they are going to fight to
the bitter end
To Get The ROys'' Back.
Debs said in a speech last night to five
hundred of the strikers:
t'Ihe only thing that now remains for
us TO accom- plish is to get you boys back
at your work. We made a proposal to
the general managers today regarding
this. We did not ask for recognition for
the American Railway union, because
YOU and / know that nothing will make a
general manager sick SO quickly as any
mention Of the A. r L.
~W e simply made the proposition to
them that we would call the strike off if
they would promise not to be prejudiced
against YOU boys in taNing on employees.
All we asked them to do was to take back
the honest, clean, former employes=the
ones who had not committed any crime.
We offered TO come half way in settling
the trouble.
IF any man here can suggest to us any
fairer proposition want him to do it:
because, you know, we want TO be per
fectly fair in this matter. NV heart
goes forth in these times to the switch
men a. the bravest and most loyal men
that work on railroads today. The
swirchmen have more than once gone
n IN hall he.
conductors; but does any one know of
any of the other brotherhoods ever hav-
ing gone out In sympathy with the
switchmen2
BrotherhoOds Not LoynI
If the engineers and conductors had
shown loyal, brotherly spirit in this
trouble, and acted as the switchmen did.
affairs would now be in 4 very different
condition. l hope, boys, to see the dav
come soon when every railroad man and
labUrer viii be ready and glad to Law
down his work TO fight for the rights Of
any body OF brothers who are being
wronged. Not until you are ready to do
this can labor make any demands on
capital"
This statement. as has been all of Debs'
statements during the last forty-eirht
hours, is accepted as an acknOwledpmen
that he recognizes his defeat, and IS now
engaged in an effort to undo the work he
has been doing for the last two weeks
lie called in conference this morning
the members Of his executive board, but
they did not all spond
For the most part the railroads are
taking back their old employees as fast as
they apply, and there were great many
applications this morning. They are not
discharging any Of the men who we're
employed to take the places Of the stri-
kers, and such of the strikers as are re-
employed are taken as individuals. 1t
necessarily follows that a large number
OF the strikers find themselves unable to
secure employment and those are insist
ing upon continuance Of the struggle.
The federal troops are getting ready
TO leave The camp on the lake front
has been kept busy packing. and orders
for their departure are expected at anv
moment 1t i believed that their desti-
nation is California
The state troops are also on the move.
but enough viii be held in Chicago to
prevent amy possibility OF a renewed
outbreak.
1t may truthfully be said that with
very few exceptions every man in Chi
cago, whether employed BY railroads or
belonging 10 the building and trades
council il seeking work on practically
any terms offered.
General Managers Adjourn
John M- Egans chairman of the Gen