The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-18

Of the wealthy producers 10 conquer their
rights from the wealth absorbers, we may
by our intelligence and persistency. by the
earnestness OF our purpose, the nobility
Of our cause work out through revolu-
tionary methods the final emancipation Of
labor.
while we may not have the power to
order a strike of the working people Of
our country we are fully aware that rec
Ommendation from this conference to
them 10 lay down their tools Of labor will
largely influence the members of our af-
flliated organizations, and approaching the
responsibility resting upon us, and the
duty we owe to all. we declare il to be
the sense of this conference that a general
strike at this time is inexpedient, unwise
and contrary 10 the best interest of the
working people.
I'VE further recommend that all con-
nected with the American federation of
labor now out on a sympathetic strike
should return to work. and those who
contemplate going out on a sympathetic
strike are advised to remain at their
usual avocations.
Lesson OF the Strike.
I'm the strike Of the A. r. u. we recog-
nize an impulsive, vigorous protest
against the gathering. growing forces Of
plutocratic power and corporation rule In
the sympathetic movement of that order
to help the Pullman employees they have
demonstrated the hollow shams Of Pull
mans pharisaical paradise. Mr.. Pullman
In his persistent repulses OF arbitration
and in his heartless autocratic treatment
or his employees, has proven himself
public enemy. The heart of labor every
where throbs responsive 10 the manly
purposes ard sturdy struggle Of the A.
X. L. and its heroic endeavor to redress
the wrongs of the Pullman employees. In
this position it effectually reiterates the
fundamental trade union principle that
working people, regardless of sex, color,
nationality, politics or occupation should
have one and the same interest in one
common cause for their own industrial
and political advancement.
BY this railway strike the people are
once more reminded of the immense
forces held at the call Of corporate
capital for The subiugation of labor.
For years the railroad interests have
shown the lawless examples Of defiance
10 injunctiOns. and have set aside laws
20 control them. They have displayed
the utmost contempt for the interstate
commerce law. have avoided its penalties
and sneered at its impotency to prevent
pooling, determinations and other i'm
positions on the public. In this dlsre-
gard Of law these corporations have given
the greatest impetus to anarchy and law
lessness. sui they do not hesitate.
when confronted by outraged labor TO
invoke the powers OF the state. The
federal government backed by United
States marshals injunctions OF courts,
proclamations Of the president. and sus-
tanned by the bayonsts of soldiers and all
the civil and military machinery Of the
law, have rallied on the summons OF the
corporations.
Against this array OF armed force and
brutal, monied autocracy would il not
be worse than folly 70 call men out on
general or local strike in these days of
stagnant trade and commercial depres-
sion2 No. Better let US organize more
generally, combine more closely with our
forces educate and prepare ourselves 10
protect our interests, and that we may
go 10 the ballot-box and cast our votes
as American freemen, united and de-
termined to redeem this country from its
present political and industrial misruie,
TO take IL from the hands Of plutocratic
wreclSers and place it in the hands IT the
common people"