The herald., 1894-07-11
KNIGHTS OF LABOR CALLED OUT,
Master Workman Sovereign
Gives the Order.
A Million Men Requested to Cease
a While From Toll.
The Sacrifice to Be Made In Aid of and
Sympathy With the A. r. U. Boy
colt of Pullman Palace
Cars.
By the Associated Press

CHICAGO, July 10.-The Knights oil
Labor throughout the country, mum ber-
ing nearly 100000 men. have been
called upon to strike for the cause OF
organized LABOR. General Master Work
man Sovereign issued an order late this
evening to all members of the organiza-
tion to cease work until the conflict
originated in the strike CT the Pullman
employees shall have been settled.
CHICAGO, July 10.
To the Knights OF Labor of America
GREETING-A crisis has been reached
in the affairs of this nation that endan-
gers the peace OF the republic. Every
fiber in our civil structure is strained to
the breaking point. The shadows OF
factional hatred hover over our fair land
with terrible forebodings. The arrogant
lash Of superiority lie being applied by
the corporations with relentless fury,
and the chasm bet 1een the masses and
the classes is growing deeper and wider
with each succeeding day. If peace is
restored and this nation saved from acts
repulsive to the coincidence of all Chris
tian people, there must be wise action,
and that quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames of
discord are being purpossly famed by
the railway corporations at the risk OF
the life OF the government, l take the
liberty to appeal TO you and through
you to the conscience of the whole peo-
pie, imploring you to lay down the i'm
plemen.s of toll for short season, and
under the banner of peace, and with
patriotic desire to promote the public
Mi far nf
gated numbers through peaceable as
semblages, to create a healthy public
sentiment in favor OF an amicable settle
ment OF the issues growing out of the
recent strike OF the Pullman employ ees.
And you are further requested not to
return to your usual vocations until
settlement OF the pending trouble is
made known to you through some au-
thentic source.
In the present strained relations be-
tween corporations and the companies,
is involved principle near and dear to
all American citizens, the right OF labor
to present its grievances to the owners
and representatives of corporate capital.
The Pullman Palace Car company re-
fused to arbitrate the differences be-
tween itself and its employees on the
ground that cars were built below cost,
and therefore there was nothing to
arbitrate. But the conclusion OF every
unprejudiced mind must be that if such
were the true facts, it could have nothing
20 fear at the hands of an arbitration
committee.
But the Pullman company goes further
,n ,anrbtIsrase. b5t sacrhsif IL Rolcy Ihan rslasal 70
the business men and the board OF alder
men of Chicago in a committee to dis
cuss the question as to whether there 10
anything to arbitrate or not, and behlnd
this autocratic policy stands the Man
agers' association OF the railway corpora
tions, backed by the United States army
as aiders and abettors OF this social
crime.
Suppose the Pullman company had
invited organized labor to arbitrate and
organized labor had declined the invita-
ton and refused to discuss the question
as to whether there was anything to ar
bitrate or not, it is needless to say
wave of popular Indignation would oollt-
crate it from the face OF this continent.
and no more unions could be formed tor
the next 50 years. The stigma OF such o
position would follow every name con-
nected with organized labor to the
grave.
But in the present crisis the corpora
tions, whose wealth has been created by
labor, take the position that they are
prior, and choke their creator. Like the
brigands of old, they rob the laborlng
masses and employ the sword and the
pudgeon and set up throne on the
bones of tho vsnquished. and declare
their divine right to rule over the bal
ance OF mankind.
The Pullman company claims that
notwithstanding the wages OF Its EN- :
plovses were reduced to the starving
point there ia nothing to arbitrate, be-
seuse its cars have been built at loss,
vet it neglects to state that the stock OF
the company has been watered three
times over, and that the company haa
not been able to pay its regular diyi-
dends on water and all, but that ite
stocks have long been and are at the
present time at a premium on the stock
market.
II the present strike is lost to labor il
will retard the progress of civilization
and reduce the possibility OF labor tc
ever emancipate itself from the thral.
dom of greed The dignity OF labor and
all the victories won in the past are o.
stake in the conflict. 1 beseech you tc
be true to your obligations in this hour
OF trial. Court the cooperation OF the
generous public. Stand firm and unitec
in our common cause, and the victory
will be one of peace and prosperity fol
the faithful.
(Signed): J. X. SOVEREIGN,
Grand Master Workman.
All the Knights of Labor assemblies
in Chicago were notified by the distric
master workman to take action on tb,
! -. .a...od ~ tba racant labor cnn fer