The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-01
WANTS NO MORE STRIKES.
Debs Says Hereafter He viii Advocate
Only the Use of the Ballot

TERRE HAUTE, August IA statement
made by President Debs, of the Ameri-
Railway union, at the big reception and
meeting held here, attracts considerable
attention. Mr.. Debs said: so far as
am personally concerned do not believe
I will ever again become identified with
a great strike movement / shall devote
whatever influence L may have toward
educating the laborer TO use the ballot
The meeting. at which Debs made this
statement wzs held at MAYORS opera
house At least 1000 people packed the
house and tried to get a glimpse of him
and to hear him. Hundreds could not
get in at all. On the platform we're
flowers and decorations and prominent
American Railway union men occupied
seats. Mrs. Debs, wife Of the president,
and his aged father and mother sat in
box and were the objects of much re-
spectful attention
When the towering form of President
Debs was seen coming on the stage there
was roar Of applause that shook the
building. Many ladies we're among
those present. 1t was some minutes be-
fore Debs could speak.
Now, he (Debs) was on general princi-
pies opposed to a strike. This was his
twenty years record in labor unions.
But he was not in favor Of relegating
strikes to the limbo of forgotten things.
Time was when not to strike meant
degradation. HWe live under a striking
government" he said There wasn't
star in the American flag from Lexington
to Yorktown that wasn't a strike against
oppression
II the laborers were treated justly
there would not be a laboring union in
existence today. Every organization was
a living evidence of some sort of OppO-
sition. The leader of the Locomotive
Engineers, the oldest of all railway or
ganizatiOns, had told him (Debs) that
that order was started as a result of
tyranny on the Michigan Central in 1868.
Debs says he did all in his power to
prevent the Pullman strike. He was
charged with personally ordering the
strike. He had no voice in it. The
American Railway union convention
unanimously voted on the strike. It was
in behalf Of humanity. He had no apol-
ogies to make for it. Pullman had cut
the wages of his wOrkmen three times
during the year, and had treated his men
with superciliOus contempt Three Of
the committeeman who called on Pullman
for a redress of their grievances were
discharged the next day. Then the men
struck.
Il am a Populist out and out" he said.
"There is no difference between Demo
Gratis and Republicans, so far as labor is
concerned l am ashamed to say that
voted for Grover Cleveland three times"
Debs left today for Chicago. where
conference of A r. =. leaders will be
held
Debs Reftsrates It.
CHICAGO, August III will never
again be connected with any strike or
ganizatiOn." said President Debs of the
A r L. today. This strike has devel-
oped the fact that the sentiment of the
people of the country is against strikes
and that the government stands ready to
put down such movements at the point
of the bayonet l shall hereafter advise
all workingmen to seek redress at the
ballot
De bs arrived from Terre Haute before
noon and was met at the depot by a com
mittee from the A r. U. He went i'm
mediately to Uhlich's hail, where direc-
tory meeting was held and arrangements
made for the convention to meet