The Washington times., 1894-07-08
ACCUSING THE PRESIDENT
Debs and Sovereign's Lengthy Letter
Of Grievances. -
CAUSE OF STRIKE SET FORTH
Cleveland Charged with Using the Army to
Protect Corporations and Bringing About
aMilitary Despotism- Pledge Them
selves to Preserve Peace.

CHICAGO, July THE following letter was
telegraphed to President Cleveland tonight
by Messrs. Debs and Sovereign OF the A. r.
U. and Knights OF Labor:
CHICAGO, Ill, July 2, 1894.
Hon Grover Cleveland, President Of the
United States, Washington, ID. c.
DEAR sIR:-rhro gin long period of depres-
sion, enforced idleness, and low wages resulting
In widespread pove ~, and in many cases actual
starvation, the working people have been
patient, patri2tic and lawful. and not until the
iron heel Of corporation tyranny vas applied
with the intention 10 subject the working people
TO the Will of recreant monopolieS did they
make any effort TO stay their oppressors The
Pullman strike was not declared until the EN-
ployes OF the Pullman company were driven to
the verge of starvation. their entreaties spurned
with contempt and their grievances denied
hearing.
No refusal to handle Pullman cars was de-
clared by any railroad employe until all proopo-
sltions looking towards arbitration and concilia-
tion were rejected by the Pullman company.
Notwithstanding the facts set forth above were
known TO the public and the national authori-
ties, you have seen ft, under the guise OF pre-
tecting the mails and Federal property, TO invoke
the service of the United States army, whose
very presence Is used 10 coer,e aud intimidate
peaceable working people into humilitating
obedience to the will OF their oppressors.
AFRAID OF MILITARY DEsPorIsa.
By your acts, in SO far as you have supplanted
civil and state authorities with the Federal mill
tary power, the spirit Of unrest and distrust has
so far been augmented that q deep-seated con-
viction is fast becoming prevalent that this gov
ernment is soon to be declared military despot-
ism. The transmission OF tho United States mails
Is not interrupted by the striking employees OF
any railway company. but by the railway COM
panies themselves, who refused to haul the
mails OH trains to which Pullman cais were not
attached
II Il is a criminal interference with the
United States malls for the employees Of rail-
way company to detach from mail train a
Pullman palace car contrary to the will OF the
company. then it holds true that i is the same
criminal Interference whenever Pullman pail
ace car Is detached from a mail train in accord
ance with the will of n railway company while
said mail train is in transit The line of crimi-
nality of such case should not be drawn
al the willingness or unwilltngness OF
and inasmuch as IL has been the
common practice Of railway corporations TO at
tarh and detach from mail trains Pullman
palace cars while said trains are in transit and
carrying the mails Of the United states 1t wou
seem an act of discrimination against the en-
plOyes Of the railway corporations to declare
mission of the mails when done by employees
with or without the consent OF their employers
SUPPORTING THE RAILWAY CORPORATIONS.
In view of these facts we looksupon the far
fetched decision OF Attorney General olney, the
sweeping un-American injunction against rail-
way employees, and the movements OF the reg
ular army, employing the lowers of the gen.
erai government for the support and protection
of the railway corporations in their determina-
ton TO degrade and oppress their employees.
The present railway strike wgs precpitated
by the uneasy desire OF the railway corporations
to destroy the organizations of their employees
and make the working people more subservi-nt
to the will OF their employers; and as all STU
dents of government agree that Tree institutions
depend for their perpetuity upon the freedom
and prosperity Of the common people, It would
seem more in consonance with the spirit
OF democratic government II Federal au-
thority was exercised in defense OF the
rights of the toliny masses TO life, lib
erty, and the pursuit OF happiness But on
the contrary, there is not an instance on record
conflict between the corporate rs and
and the people where the strong arm OF the mill
tary power has been employed TO protect the
people and the industrial masses from
the ravages and pc secution of corporate greed
But the measure OF character has been in the line
OF declaring the corporations always good and in
the right, and the working people always bad
and in the wrong.
PLEDGES OF PEACE AND ORDER
Now, sir, We pledge TO you the power of our
organizations, individually and coll
lectively for the maintenance OF peace and good |
order and the preservation of life and property,
and Will aid in the arrest and punishment of all /
violators CT the civil and criminal laws, state or
national In the present contest between labor |
and railway corporations sail use every 1
and honorable means at our COM |
mand consistent with the laws and our
rights TO secure for the 4
working people Just compensation for labor /
lone and respectful consideration in accord
lnce with the inherent rights of all men, and 4
20 We appeal to all the lIberty-loving people of
he nation TO aid and support in this most
ust and righteous cause
EUGENE V. DEBs President Of the American
Railway Union.
!. Il. SOVEREIGN, Master Workman, Knights of
Labor