The evening world., 1894-07-14
WATCHING CHICAGO.
Local Labor Leaders Puzzled BY
the Turn of Affairs.
They Believe the Strike Is Not by
ANY Means Ended.
Threats Of Debs and Sovereign Diff
ferently Regarded.

Few Of the labor men in the city seem
+ to know how to interpret the action of
the leaders of the Chicago strike. They
seemed satisfied yesterday that the
strike was over. and that all danger Of
Its spreading to thisc ity had passed.
This morning, however, they are not
half as sanguine, and some of them
actually believe that instead OF its being
dead, the strike has just begun.
This latter belief Is based on the re-
fusal of the railway managers to treat
with Debs in any shape or manner.
This, they say. will bring hosts of
friends to the A. r. L.
They also think the threats OF Debs
and Sovereign to fight to the last ditch
was intended for all it was worth.
The action OF President Gompers and
the other officers of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor in refusing to join in
the strike. 1t is claimed by antl-Federa-
ton men. will not seriously affect the
result.
General Secretary Rechers, OF the Ma
tional Garment-W Workers of America. one
OF the biggest of the organiza tons at
tached to the Federation OF Labor, said
MANY people seem TO think that MIR.
ompers had the power 10 order out a
general strike of all the Federation or
CARNATIONS, and he Is criticized for not
having done so. As a matter Of fact, he
had no power to do anything of the
kind.
IF the public thinks that on his yes
or no every organization would go on,
it Is making a big mistake. If he gave
Nd for AIT.
ton to that effect l would not pay any
attention to it.
I'VE look upon Mr.. Gompers as care
full, conservative man. and we sent him
TO look over the ground for us. OF
course, his views will have their proper
weight. I believe his decision not to
order a general strike was based on the
idea that Debs had declared the strike
off. Debs having done so, that lief,
nothing to arbitrate, and Gompers was
right in his action.
Now, however. that Debs says he
never declared the strike off. but tina
II is on and in full force. There is q
possibility for organized labor getting
together and making bitter fight Of It
do not see why the Federation's las
statement must be considered as final, ir
THE action of the Railway Managers
peace and arbitration, puts them on the
same plane with Pullman. rhes' have
all organized to crush labor, and IT Is
time for labor men to get together and
1T does not follow ,ha: because We
have had many quarreis with the *. Of
l.. Central Federation and other bodies
that we should go on arriving each Other
m In Ia n al IN
gether for the common cause and set
ting our own fights afterwards.
II believe that General Master Work
man Sovereign. made great mistake II
should have invited all organize lions L
= conference and offered to, share tn
honors. The Federation would have gon
In, and fought with him.
AS ] say. however. the strike doe
not appear to be over by, any means
time. The. trouble may even reach New
Ernest Bohm, Secretary of the Contra
Labor Federation, said:
lessly tangled. hut from the Chicago re
still on-in fact that 1t has only jus
"rhe ,spurnins of Debs's offer by tn
railroad masnates will bring lots o
friends to the strikers. and Sovereign
Iecldration that the nght VIII be 10 IN
death is not an empty threat by an.
means, ! take, it that he will now b
compelled TO call the knights out every
where, a = II so, of course New Yorl
Will get its share Of the excitement.
The Central Labor Federation stand
IN the same position II did at first. W
are willing to help organized labo
everywhere, and if Debs or Sovereig
calls upon us to go out, we will doubt
- shall hold on to the same belief
however. that, II one half the eners
used up in this fight had been use
10 perfect a political organization an
preparing for the ballot much bette
results would have been obtained"
Secretary Murphy. of n. A, 40, had re
CeiVed no word from General Mastc
Workman Sovereign up to noon, hut h
day.
We are still waiting" he said. IAN
me moment I hear from Chicago off
iqNather."
~ = of the officials of the America
alton was OH hand this morning
II he clerks had heard nothing froi
ago. Gompers is not expected baC
several days.