The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-10

Allied Trades Unions Decide to Sup
port Debs.


Allied Trades Unions Decide to Sup
port Debs.
CHICAGO, July 9.-If the Pullman Car
Company does not come to an understand
ing with its ex-employes before o'clock
Wednesday morning the allied trades OF
Chicago will be called out at that hour
in support of the Debs boycott.
Probably never before In the history of
this country a meeting of organized
labor called together that was fraught
with more Importance than that which met
at Ulrich's Hall last evening. That all was
not harmonious, notwithstanding fiery
speeches by Messrs. Sovereign, of the
Knights cf Labor, Debs. of the American
Railway Union. Mcbride, of the miners,
and other labor leaders, is evidenced by
the fact that ii was o'clock this MORN
ing when the convention finished balloting
on the proposition to strike. The question
was decided in the affirmative by over
whelming vote. however, and the above
ultimatum propounded. A committee of
was appointed to wait on Mayor
Hopkins to endeavor to have him make
last effort to bring about arbitration.
The committee is composed of J. w. Has
tie. T. ]. Elderl1in. E. ]. Lindholm, ]. J.
Ryan, James Currie, A Cattermull and
the city will be affected. including the
street car men.
Shortly before o'clock a motion was
made providing that George NJ. Pullman
be given until o'clock this afternoon TO
decide whether he would submit the differ
ences between the company and the former
employees to arbitration. If he refused to
comply with the demand then the strike
was to be considered on. Some of the
delegates wanted to leave the matter un-
decided and take the final action after Mr.
Pullman and the railroad managers had
declined to arbitrate Earnest speeches
were made on both sides of the question,
but ii was voted down on a viva voce
vote. motion then made to call
out every union at o'clock Wednesday
morning unless meanwhile some adjust
ment could be made with Pullman, and
roll call this was adopted.
1t is understood that this move is much
less important than was at first supposed,
for several reasons. First, it is claimed
that number of the unions, including the
printers, the marine engineers and the
brickmakers. will refuse to be bound by
the order; second, very large percentage
Of the the other men mar are & already de because
suited from the coal famine.
The following resolutions We're passed.
Whereas, The struggle OF the American
sion and starvation wages has for it
the sincere sympathy Of organized labor;
and.
the city of Chicago belonging to the Amer
lean Federation of Labor have pledged
their support to the members of the Amer
lean Railway Union, and,
Whereas, The gravity OF the situation
has become such to necessitate the pres
ence in this city, the headquarters of the
present battle for labor rights of the chief
of the great labor organizations of the
Resolved, That the unions affiliated with
the American Federation OF Labor repre-
sented in this conference declare that the
immediate presence of Samuel Gompers in
Chicago is imperative AID of more i'm
portance than. his presence in New York;
Resolved That the officers of this con-
ference be instructed to notify President
Gompcrs TO that effect and request that
he come West at once.
Resolved That a committee of twenty
one be appointed by this meeting TO wait
on the City Council and request that it de-
mand Of President Cleveland that he with
draw from the city the United States
The following letter was ordered sent TO
Governor Altgeld:
.In view of the occupation of the State
of Illinois by armed forces of the United
States without proper demand having been
made by the constituted authorities OF the
State and in defiance OF the Constitution,
legal steps TO compel the withdrawal Of
said army forces at once, and pledge your
EXcellency the support OF the laW-lOying
organized trades in Chicago i'm the accom-
plishment OF this result
Thomas /. Kidd, secretary of the Nation
al Wood Workers Union, was elected pres
ident. and Harry Mccormick, OF the Car
penterS' Council secretary. Among the
leaders present were J. r. Sovereign. Of
the X. OF L.; +. V: Debs, Of the A. r. l.;
George Howard. vice president of the -
r.. o; James Mcbride, president of the
National Mine Workers Union: w. B.
Prescott, president OF the International Ty-
biographical Union; James Mahan, presi-
dent of the National Organization OF Street
COR Man Nod nf ffa srFg
Grafton of Labor; Richard Powers. presi-
dent OF the Seamen's Union; James O'Con-
nell president of the Machinists Organl-
cation, and r: G Martin, OF the executive
board, K. OF L.
The committee of seven. appointed by the
labor leaders, called upon Mayor Hopkins
promptly at 10 o'clock to-day The men
asked him to arrange for a citizens COM
mittee, drawn from influential business
men, which should undertake 10 force Pull
man 10 submit TO arbitration. Mayor Hop
kinS referred them to the coInmittee ap-
pointed for this purpose by the City Coun-
ell a week ago, and they arranged TO meet
that committee at ! O'Clock. They told the
Mayor they were under orders TO report
early "Wednesday morning
Grand Master Workman Sovereign. Of
the knights OF Labor, said this
morning he had determined to de-
lay the order for strike of
his order until Wednesday, He said: Il
make this postponement to await the out
come of the night among Chicago trades
unions. do not consider il impossible that
the tremendous importance of a paralysis
OF Chcago's industries will force Mr. Pull
man and the railroads TO meet the railway
men half way in measures for a settle
ment. 1T Is high time that public sentiment
should move the corporations 10 arbitrate
Mr.. Debs has all along evlnccd his will
ingness for ar6itration. and the general
managers should assume that manner too
As soon as the result OF the conference he.
tween Mayor Hopkins and the union com
mittee Is known then we shall take up the
question OF calling out the knights OF la