The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-03
STRIKERS SCORED.
st. Louis Merchants Exchange OPP
posed TO Arbitration.

ST. LOUIS. July "A committee of ten
strikers, headed by John Lally. called on
Mayor Walbridge. to-day. to secure his
good Offices in the direction OF arbitration
of the labor troubles now existing. He de-
clared his Willingness TO act in any desired
CAPACITY, but said that the committee must
complete all preparations and secure the
assent of all interested parties before he
would do anything. The committee then
proceeded TO place the matter before the
board of directors of the Merchants Ex-
change. The directors replied as follows:
while the board of directors of the
Merchants Exchange of st. Louis are
heartily in sympathy with all lawful ef-
forts of laboringmen to improve their con-
dition, and greatly deplore the existing diff
culties between the Pullman company and
its employees, they at the same time rec
of the law Of the land is the paramount
duty OF all. and that any Interruption OF
free commercial intercourse is disastrous
to all classes of people. We have been told
by you that you have no grievance against
your employers except in their refusai 10
comply with your demands TO discontinue
the Pullman service. We also have been
told by you that you will enforce your de-
mands. If necessary. by calling out all the
organizations and paralyzinS the business
of the country.
This sleeping car service is provided by
the railroads for the accommoda ton of the
public and has grown 10 be necessity or
travel We do not know the terms OF the
contract between the d1nerent railroad conf
panies and the Pullman company. but
whatever these contracts are the law pro-
tects them and makes their obligations
binding upon the parties. When you de-
mand the railroads, then. 10 dlcontinue the
Pullman car service you ask them 10 vio-
late their contracts. with resulting damage.
Although we would he very much grained
TO see an amicable adjustment between the
Pullman car company and its employees, We
cannot comply with your request and de-
mand that the company submit TO arbitra-
tion, in view of the fact that you now
stand in the position of paralyzing the in
and intention of repeating this course when
ever. in the Judgment of the power rep
resented by you, similar conditions exist.
In other words, you insist upon the ire
sDonsible power of the boycott to bring
misery upon thousands Of helpless families
i'm this city and els where. who have no
possible interest in tie dispute. The stop
page of intercourse means the checking OF
our reviving interests. and the consequent
which conditions 1t may take years to re-
cover. From this state OF affairs, which
you are asserting the right and power TO
create, the innocent laborers will be the
greatest sufferers. We see no justfcatio
whatever for this boycott of the industries
OF the country. II is illegal and Iyrannical
and it involves despotic power "a which
no free people can submit"
In addition the following telegram was
ordered sent to the Missouri Senator's and
Representatives in Congress: THE board OF
directors of the Merchants Exchange of st.
Louis, calls upon the Congress Of the
United States to at once enact such laws
as will prevent unlawful interference with
the interstate commerce of the country