The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-17
bEBs DUMPED Them.
inside Story Of the Conference
Called by Mr. Gompers.
Patrick McBryde Tells Where the
Delegates Laugh Came In.
While They Waited for Debs the
Oner Of Surrender Went Out.
NV Associated Press.)

COLUMBUS, o., July 1.-THE confer.
.nce lately held in Chicago, under the
suspices Of the American Federation of
Labor. was one of the most important
labor gatherings ever held In this coun-
nv said Patrick McBryde, Secretary
treasurer OF the United Mine Workers,
to-day.
at seems that the organizers of the
A. X. L. had been so lndiscreet as to
confess that they intended to break up
the older organizations. and boosted
that 1t only required victory of the
present battle in order to be successful.
1t can be readily seen, therefore. that
the boycott at Chicago was not only a
fight against capital, but q life and
death struggle between the different
railroad organizations.
THE older orders being on the side Of
the corporations, II is but fair to state
that some Of the brotherhoods, like tho
trainrnen, although opposed to the
strike, allowed the members to act for
themselves, and over 1900 Of them
Joined hands with the A. Il. u.
"'You must declare for a National
suspension said the trade unionists of
Chicago.
THE fight is a fight Of capital versus
labor, SAID MIR. Debs.
you have no right to take sides with
one organization against another said
the brotherhoods.
Have little common sense and keep
the men you represent out of this mud
die, whispered conscience.
each afraid to spring a resolution
lest IT might be mature. In this con-
dition Mr.. Debs found the, conference;
perform; the men he was to address were
not amateurs in the methods of labor or
ganizations, A number of them had more
experience than himself. !
The man seemed an icicle, bat the
voice held his hearers spellbound as he
recited the suffering of the workmen at
Pullman. the high-handed policy of the
Board of Managers and the determine
ton OF the men to fight TO the end.
The delegates seemed magnetiZed.
What do you want us to do?' exclaimed
II tone St deep sorro% psbS . en
then Mr.. ,Debs said: ! ask nothing of
you, gentlemen, but II | were in your
place ] will tell you what ] would do.
Then he stoke in favor Of general
"A sharp exchange of words between
Secretary Mcclure, OF the carpenters
and Mr.. Debs followed, MIR. Debs having
the SPELL Fl The I s Were onae p more
business men and Mr.. Debs soon realized
II, for he changed his tactics at once.
" i have a telegram from Washington,
he said. The President Is going to ap-
point An arbitration committee. SO /
have prepared the following document,
which, with the consent of this confer
ence. would wish President Gompers
to present to the Board OF General Man.
ayers
HE then proceeded to read the docu-
ment presented by Mayor Hopkins, call
Ing of the strike upon condition that the
old men would be reinstated. He left
the document. and the conference
promised to send him an answer.
"A little reflection on the part Of the
delegates, and they realized that II Mr..
Gompers .was the bearer of the mes
cept II, the A. +. of l.. would be placed
In an embarrassing position. 1t was re-
solved to tell Mr.. Debs that he could
choose any three gentlemen in the Con-
vention, who, with an equal number or
etizens and Mr.. Debs should call upon
the Board of Managers, but Mr.. Com
pers must not go alone.
waited for Mr.. Debss reply, but none
came until the afternoon papers an
nounced the fact that Mayor Hopkins
had presented the document. and that
President Debs had dumped the confer
ence.
, "The delegates looked sheepish when
hey realized that they narrowly escaped
eoeins trapped into bringing all the hor-
rors of a general strike upon theScoun,
Ye,e document advising the men TO return
achich has appeared In the press, and
asst journed to their homes wondering
ho lat took them to Chicago"