The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-11
He Calls on All Knights Of
Labor to Quit.
George M. Pullman is Given a
Severe Going Over.
TALKS ABOUTA CRISIS.
The Peace of the Nation En-
dangered, He Says.

CHICAGO. July 11--Knights Of Labor
throughout the country, numbering
nearly 1000. 600 men, have been
called upon to strike for the cause of
organized labor. General Master
Workman Sovereign issued an order
late last evening to all mem bers of
the organization to cease work until
the conflict originating in the strike
Of the Pullman employees shall have
been settle Following is the text of
the order:
ITO the knights of Labor Greeting:
CHICAGO, July 1O.-Acrisis has been
reached in the affairs of this nation
that endangers the peace of the re-
public. Every fiber in our civil struc-
ture is strained to the breaking poi Mt.
The shadows of factional hatred
hover over our fair land with terrible
fore bodings. The arrogant lash of
superiority is being applied by the
CORPORATIONS with relentless fury, and
the classes is growing deeper and
wider with each succeeding day. If
peace is restored, and this nation is
saved from acts repulsive to the con
science of all Christian people. there
must be wise action, and that quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames
of disccrd are being purpOsely famed
by the railway corporations, at the
risk of the life of the government, [
take the liberty to appeal to you, and
through you to the conscience Of the
whole people, implOring you to Law
down the implements of toll for a
short season, and under the banner of
peace and with a patriotic desire to
promote the public welfare, use the
power of your aggregated numbers
through peaceful Assem- blages to ere
ate healthy public sen iment in favor
r1f n ami "a blf2 Safrlarn0nt r,f fha fGc11oq
growing out of the recent strike of
the Pullman employees; and you are
further requested not to return to
your usual avOcations until settle
ment of the pending troubles are
made known to you through some
authentic source In the present
strained relations between CORPORA
tiOns and their employees Is involved a
principle near and dear to all Ameri-
can citizens, the right of labor to pre-
sent its grievances to the owners and
repre- sen tatives of corporate capital
1.-The Pullman Palace Car company
refused to ar bltrate the differences
between itself and its employees on
the ground that cars were built below
cost and therefore there was nothing
to rarbitrate- But the conclusion of
every unprej JUDGED mind must be that
if such we're the true facts it would
have nothing to fear at the hands of
an ar bi ira ton committee. But the
Pullman company goes farther in its
policy than q refusal
to arbitrate- 1t has refused to join
with the business men and the board
Of aldermen of Chicago in a committee
to discuss the question as to whether
there IS anything to arbitrate or not.
and behind this autOcratic policy
stands the Managers association Of
the railway corporations. backed by
the United States army as the aiders
and abettors of this social crime
Suppose the Pullman company had
invited organized labor to arbitrate
a nd orga nized la Dor had declined the
invitation and refused to discuss the
question as to whe Their there was any
thing to arbitrate or not, It is need
less to say a wave of popular indigna-
ton would Obliterate every Ia Dor or
ganization from the face of the coun-
try. and no more could be formed for
the next fifty wears The Stigma Of such
connected with organized labor to the
grave. But in the present crisis the
whose wealth has been (
created by labor, takes the position
that they are prior and choke their
creator Like the brigands of old.
they rob the laboring masses and en-
Dloy the sword and the bludgeOn and
set up q throne on the vanquished +
and declare their divine right to rule +
over the balance of mankind.
THE Pullman company claims that (
q Notwithstanding the wages of their {
were reduced to the starv-
ing point there is nothing to arbitrate 1
because cars have been built at a loss, I
vet it neglects to state that the stock +
Of the company has been watered 7
three times over and that the COM
Danv has not only been able to nav /
It's regular dividends on water and +
all, but that it's stocks have long
been and are at the present time at a
premium on the stock markets. Mr..
pullman cries poverty to his star wing
and then retreats to his
Drincelv summer mansion on Pullman
island in the st. Lawrence river and
wires the business men of Chicago
that he has nothing to arbitrate. Like
q Nero, he laughs in luxury while de-
voted martyrs burn
ssIf the present strike is lost to la
Dor. it will retard the progress of
and reduce the possibility
Of labor to ever emancipate itself
from the thra1dom of greed. The
dignity of la Dor and all the victories
" on IN the past are at stake in this
conflict / beseech you TO be true to
your obligations in this hour Of trial
Court the CO. cooperation of the gener-
BUS public stand firm and united in
our common cause. and the victory
will be one Of peace and prosperity
y. r.. SOVEREIGN,
Grand Master Workman.
All Knights of Labor Assem- blies in
were notified by the district
master workman to take action on
the plan adopted at the recent labor
conference, all members being ad-
iured to maintain peace and order.
Return to Work.
PUEBLO, Col, July 1.-THE 6remen