New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-08
DEBS TO THE PRESIDENT.
THE STRIKE LEADER FOLLOWS ALT
GELDS EXAMPLE.
4 LOT OF, FINE PHRASES ABOUT THE GREED OF
CORPORATIONS AND THE LIBERTY OF THE
PEOPLE-HE CHARGES MR. CLEvE-
LAND WITH ABUSE

Chicago July AT conference between Grand
Master Workman Sovereign. OF the Knights Of La
Dor and President Debs and others of the Ameri-
can Railway Union. the following to Presi-
dent Cleveland was drawn up by Mr.. Sovereign, and
will be forwarded to Washington tomorrow morn
ing:
Dear Sir: Through long period OF depression. en-
forced idleness and low wages. resulting In wide
spread poverty. and in many cases actual starVa-
ton working people have been patient patriotic
and law-abding and not until the iron heel Of cor
porate tyranny was applied with the intention 70
subJugate the working people TO the Will Of arrogant
monopolics did they make any effort to stay their
The Pullman strike was not declared until the
employees Of the Pullman Company were driven to
the verge of starvation. their entreaties spurned
ing No refusal 10 handle Pullman de-
clared by any railway emp,oye until al propositions
looking toward arbitration and Cancellation were re-
jected by the Pullman Company Notwithstanding
the facts set forth above were known TO he puzzle
and the Nationa, authorities. Won have seen nj,
under the gulse Or protecting tNe mars ana rsu
eral property to invoke the services of the United
States army, whose very presence Is used TO CO.
cree and n;imdate peaccable working people into
a Illuminating obedience to the VIII OF their OPP
pressors.
BY your acts. in 50 far as you have supplantsd
civil and State authorities with the eieral !nlll
so far been augmented that n deep-seated cOnvc-
ton Is fast becoming prevalent that this Govern
The transmission Of the United States mails is not
interrupted by the striking employees OF any ran
selves. who refuse TO haul the mails on trains 20
which Pullman cars We're not 5ttafh ntcd state
mails for The empi3yes Of rarUa e Oni9cn car
| contrary to the will Of the company men men
holds true hS it Is ins s Snsce ear IS
detached from a nail train IN accordance with me
will Of a railway company. while said mall ram y
IN transit. The line Of crimnality In sucn las
should no, be drawn at the willingness or nnWillhb
ness Of railway employees. but at the act nsrli ana
nasmuch as IT has been the common prdS S 80 .,
railway corporations to attach and Ge'ach from
mail trains Pullman palace cars at VIII VINE ., 7 sho
United States il would seem an act OF discr,n1l,a-
ton against The employees Of the r@why ceerpctas
tons to declare such acts unawtOl .n,"ri IL
with the transmission OF mails when done by en-
poyes with without the consent OF thelr en-
n view Of these facts look upon the far
fetched decision OF AttorneyCieneral Oney the
sweeping un-American Injunction against riliroa.
employees. and the mOvem .nts OF the REGULAR Army
~ 's.,is 81. ~ ,e.fo, of Tho rov,av cor
poratons In their determination 70 degrade and OPP
The presen, railway strike was precipitated by the
desire II the railway corporations 20 destroy me or
ns people more suhseryent 20 the VII u heir en-
powers. and as a.. students Of governments agree
! mon the freedom and prosperity ~ tho common
I people Il would seem more in consonance with the
sp.ri, Of democratic government II '"iera authoT-
nv vas exercsei in the defence Of the rights % the
! toi.ng masses - NE. liberty AMI the pursuit of
instance record whore IN any conhci between the
| corporations All the pe}pie. IN. strong arm o.
|
Inc v"rll-., naap,e and The Industrial masses from
! no ravar4s and persecution Of corporate greed.
| But The measure % character has been IN the Inc
! az declaring the corporations always good and In
the right and the working peop.e always IN the bad
| AMI n the wrong
! Now Sir W. pledge TO YOU the power OF our
respective organizations individually for The main
feuancc Of peace and good ORDER and tho prestrva-
! lion OF NE and property. and VIII aid in the ar
! rest and punishment OF all viOlators OF the civl
aud criminal laws OF State Nation. in the pres
! ent contest between labor and such corporations
W. shall ever peaceabe ana honor.
| with law and constitutional rights TO
! secure for the working people Just com
| persatlon for labor done and respectable consid.
| Grafton In accordance with the inherent rights OF
| All men and the spirit OF republican government.
! In doing 50 We appeal 10 all the berty-ovine peo-
pe OF the Nation 10 aid and support us In this most
| lust and RICH ieous cause
| Tho American Railway Mon , -, ,,.
| ' nv EUGENE Y. DEBS. President
| orlar Of m, knights Of Labor J. r. SOVEREIGN,
General Master Workman.