Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-16
places.

President Debs and Vice President
Howard evidently thought the reception
of their proposition was not what it
should have been. and. after paying a
| flying visit to Uhlich's hall, they went to
the conference of the Federation of Labor
at the Briggs House, and used the failure
| of their pacific overtures as an argument
to induce Gompers and other leaders to
join forces with them in carrying the
fight to the bitter end, but without sue
cess
President Gompers is quoted as saying:
'There's no sense in any more strikes.
Let the men who are at work now keep on
working and contribute money
To Support Those Who Are Out.
The railroad men are on strike, but moth
ing would be gained by ordering acy
more men to stop earning wages"
Mr.. Gompe-s said when asked about the
reported breaking of his promise to hold
the conference open until the railroad
managers answered, Debs' proposition: II
didn't promise to keep the conference
until an answer was received. but only
until the proposition was made to the
railroad managers" The American Rail-
way union people intimate that Mr.. Com
pers displayed undue haste in declaring
| that he was not in it with them.
The building trades council, an organ
ization represe nting $4,000 Chicago work
ingmen, met Friday night. There we've
100 delegates at the meeting, and for
nearly five hours they discussed the
strike. Then a vote was taken, and the
order issued by the organization calling
its mem bers out last Tuesday, was almost
unanimously rescinded. The strike, so
far as the building trades council is con-
cerned, was thereby declared off
No resolutions of sympathy were
adopted, nor was any sympathy expressed
tor the American Railway Union. This
action practically takes away the sup
port of the Chicago workingmen from
Debs.
John NJ Elgan, chairman of the Gen
Aral Managers association. announced at
1oon Saturday that the action was final
which was taken Friday night in return
ing to Mayor Hopkins the proposition for
l return Of the strikers to work submitted
by President Debs of the American Rail-
way union. The announcement by Mr..
gan was said to be the result of SEES
sion of the general managers which began
about 10 n. m. yesterday.
Returning to Work
Many of the striking employees Mt the
stock yards reported for work yesterday
Thirty switchmen, Is engineers and
more unskilled laborers were given work
Five engines were put into service and
handled all cars received from outside
roads. The packing houses received 5000
cattle, 10000 hogs and 1900 sheep. Ar
mour, Swift and Morris killed during the
lay, and meat trains were sent out.
Debs called in conference Saturday
morning the mem bers of his executive
board, but they did not all respond. For
the most part the railroads are taking
back their old employees as fast as they
apply, and there are II great many appli-
cations They are not discharging any
of the men whe were hired to take the
places Of the strikers and such of the
strikers as are re-employed are taken as
individuals. 1t necessarily follows that a
large number of the strikers find them.
selves unable to secure reinstatement and
these are insisting upon continuance of
the struggle
The federal troops are getting ready to
leave. The camp on the lake front has
been busy packing, and orders for their
departure are expected at any moment.
1t is believed that their destination Is
California. The state troops are also on
the move, but enough will be held in Chi
cago to prevent any possibility of re.
newed outbreak.
1t may truthfully be said that, with
very few exceptions, every man in Chica-
30, whether employed by the railroad. or
belonging to the buildings and trades
council. is seeking work on Dractic,l liz
any terms offered.