The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-09
A STATEMENT FROM DEBs,
Giving n History of the Trouble Wits
Pullman and the Employees.

Chicago, July 6.-Eugene V. Debs, presi-
dent of the American Railway Union, has
issued a long statement in justification Of
the great strike Of which he is the central
figure The article is addressed "To the
Public" and reads in part follows:
THE Pullman employees who struck on
May 9Th, last, did entirely of their own
accord The officers Of the American Rail-
way Union used all their influence to pacify
the employees and advised them repeatedly
not to strike, but to bear patiently their
grievances until peaceable settlement
could be effected. To the truth of this
statement the employees themselves VIII
bear me up. But the grievances Of these
enployes-nen and women-had become 50
aggravated, so CALLING, that they abandoned
their employment rather than submit longer
to conditions against which their very souls
rebelicd. The Pullman company, be 1t I'M
der.tood owns tine town Of Pulman-0WnS
the houses the home of the employees; con-
trolls the light and water and other recess
sdrieS OF life, ana wages are so adjusted 70
the living expenses that in large majority
OF cases the employees are barely able to
support their families. At the time they
struck the employees were in arrears to the
Pullman company 7000O for rent alone.
Wages had been reduced, but rent ana other
expenses remained the same.
The employees from the beginning have
been willing to arbitrate their dlifeFen@eS
gantly declares that there is nothing to
arbitrate II this be true, why not allow a
board of fair and impartial arhitratorS to
determine the fact. Committee after COM
mittee waited upon the officials OF the Putt
man company, but all of them were re-
pAlled Finally, on Tune 18th, the delegates
of the American Railway Union repre-
senting 425 local unions OF railway employees,
discussed the Pullman trouble at Chicago,
and as q last resort the delegates deter
mined that unless the Pullman company
could agree TO do justice TO their employees
within five days the members OF the oroef
would decline TO haul Pullman cars This
action be It remembered, was not taken
until the strike had been on six weeks.
'ITp to this point the trouble was con-
fined to the Pullman company and It's eH-
ployes How then did the strike extend to
the railways? Let the answer be given n
accordance with the fact: The day before
the order OF the delegates declining to haul
Pullman cars went INTO effect the General
Managers Association, representing the
principal western railways met ana passed
a series Of resolutions, declaring in sub
stance that they would uphold the Pull
man company in its fight upon the en-
nloyes: that they would haul Pullman cars,
and that 1hey would stand the ground IN
crushing out the American halfway IN
ion It viii thus be seen that the railway
cornpanies Virtually joined forces with the
Pullman A''NA
with them so to speak, 10 reduce ana de-
feat their half-starved employees. In this
wav the trouble was extended from sys-
tenn to system, until the crisis has been
reached The business of the country is
dam0rslized to an extent that deies eX-
argera ton. To say that the situation is
charming is entirely within the bounds Of
prudent statement Every good citizen
must view the outlook with grave concern.
Something should something must be done.
The American people are a peace-loving
neople: they want neither anarchy nor
revolution. They have faith in their in
etitutions: they believe in law and order;
thew believe in good government but they
believe in fair play. What can be done TO
dispel the apprehension that now prevails
and restore peace and confidence? The
American Railway Union, by whose, au
thorItv and in whose behalf this statement
is made stands ready-has from the begin
nine stood ready-to do anything in its
mower provided it is honorable. to end this
trouble.
This, briefly stated, ia the position the
oreanizatio occupies It simply insists
that the Pullman company shall meet it's
employees and do them justice We guar
antee that The latter will accept any rea-
sonable proposition. Let them agree, as
far as they can, and whore they fail 10
agree let the points in dispute be submitted