The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-13
LAB0R EEADERs CoNFERENcE.


Trades UnIonIats Many OF Them OPP
posed to striking.
CHICAGO. July 18.=The session of the
labor leaders today was a hot one. and
many strong speeches were made on
both sides of the resolution as to whether
the American Federation of Labor should
order a general strike of the members in
sympathy with the Pullman strikers, and
at the request of the A r. L. several
presidents and secretaries of different
labor organizations of this city came to
the committee room TO get instructions
as to what to do.
They saidsall their men were out and
they had no instructions. They were re-
fused admission. and many grew dis
gusted and walked away apparently
sorry for the step already taken.
A strong speech was made NJ. j. Car
roll of the International Typographical
union in favor of a general strike. He
appealed to the feeling of the confer
ence on the manner in which labor had
been trampled upon by capital, and that
the only way to force a recognition WAS
to order complete rieup.
Messrs. Mcclure and Perkins made
speeches in the same line urging most
emp hatically in favor of the resolutions.
Mr.. DrummOnd took up the side of the
opposition and discussed at some length
the inadvisability of Il general strike.
He said: 81 want Debs to understand
that it is unnecessary for US to order a
strike. He wishes TO shift the RESPONSE
bility off from his shoulders and object
to it. If he has started it and cannot
win let him lose it.
"If we should order a strike now the
financial situation of the country is in
such a condition, that a great many of
our mem bers would not go out and the
vacancies would be filled with non
unionists. l believe that the condition
of this country is in such shape that
general strike would not win l do not
want the reputation of having our fed
Grafton lose, am opposed TO the resolu-
tions."
Mr.. Garland, of the Iron and Steel
Worker said: "sA were unable to form
an effective organization as long as the
Pullman shops were working on the
wages which they are and not until this
A. r. L. strike have we been able to do
anything. In our organization we have
had and still have great strikes, both in
sympathy and for grievances.
Il am opposed TO a general strike now,
because we now have certain scale of
wages adopted by arbitration and If we
strike that scale of wages will be broken
and at this time of financial depression
1 believe that it would be impossible 10
get good a scale of wages again we
have now, and therefore a general strike
would be detrimental to our men, l an
not in favor of Debs request.
He was SO very arrogant in the start,
not even recognizing US, and now he
wants to shift all the esponsibility off
on us and blame us for losing the strike.
Another thing, the Knights Of Labor
is in favor of council and
not of a monarchy. as Debs favors.
This country will not stand that kind of
thing. l do not care how smart he is,
he cannot win. / can call out the iron
and STEEL workers, but l can see no fav-
orable results, and therefore, oppose the
resolution
Mr.. Evans then said: IF the local or
ganizer of the American Federation of
Labor had attended to his business, the
A R L. would not have handled this
strike. | am opposed to the resolutions
and any action in that regard now"