Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-07-27
mnAr SOVEREIGN SAYS.
Text OF the Manifesto to the national
knights of Labor.

:
knights of Labor.
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE manifesto Of
General Master Workman Sovereign to
the Knights Of Labor was issued to- night.
1t is as follows: Chicago, H., July 10,
1894. To the Knights of Labor OF Amer
lea - Greeting; A crisis has been
reached in the affairs OF this nation that
endangers the peace OF the Republic.
Every fiber in our civil structure is
strained to the breaking point. The
shadow OF fractional hatred hovers over
our fair land with terrible forebodings.
The arrogant lash OF superiority is being
applied by the corporations with relent-
less fury, and the chasm between the
masses and the classes is growing deeper
and wider with each succeeding day.
If peace is restored and this nation
saved from acts repulsive to the con-
science of Christian people, there must
be wise action, and that quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames
of discord are being purposely tanned by
the railway corporations, to the risk OF
the life of the government, / take the
liberty to appeal to you and through you
to the conscience of the whole people I'M
ploring you to lay down the implements
of toll for short season, and under the
banner of peace and patriotic desire to
promote the public welfare, use the
power of your aggregated numbers
! through peaceable assemblages to create
healthy public sentiment in favor OF
amicable settlement of the issues grow
ing out of the recent strike of the Pull
man palace car employees; and you are
| further requested not to return to your
usual vocations until a settlement of the
pending troubles is made known to you
through some authentic source.
| "In the present strained relations be-
tween corporations and their empoyes
| is involved principle near and dear to
all true American citizens-the right OF
labor to present its grievances to owners
and representatives OF corporations ana
capital. The Pullman Palace Car Com
pany refuses to arbitrate the differences
| between itself and its employees on the
ground that cars were built below cost,
and therefore, there is nothing to arbl-
| trate. But the conclusion of every un-
prejudiced mind must be that, II such
we're the facts, it could have nothing to
/ ItdT DIT lllC lldiltlG vi al bibi QUINN tCiii
mittee. But the Pullman Company goes
further in its autocratic policy than u
refusal to arbitrate. 1t has refused to
Join with the business men and the Board
of Aldermen of Chicago in a committee
to discuss the question as to whether
| there is anything to arbtrate or not, and
behind this autocratic policy stands the
General Managers Association of the
railway corporations, backed by the
! United States, as the aiders and abettOrs
of this social crime.
"Suppose the Pullman Company had
| invited organized labor to arbltrate and
organized labor had declined the invita-
ton and refused to discuss the question
as to whether there was anything to ar
bitrate or not? 1t is needless to say a
wave of popular Indignation would OBJ
literate every labor organization from
the face of the country, and no more
could be formed during the next fifty
wears. The stigma of such a position
would follow every man connected with
organized labor to the grave. But in the
present crisis the corporations, whose
wealth has been created by labor, take
the position that they are prior to and
above their creator. Like the brigands
of old, they rob the laboring masses and
employ the sword and bludgeon and set
up a throne on the bones of the van
qushed and hold their divine right to
rule over the remainder. Pullman claims
that, notwithstanding the wages OF the
employe were reduced to starving point,
there is nothing to arbitrate because cars
have been built at q loss, yet neglects to
state that the stock of the company has
been watered three times over, and that
the company has been able not only to
pay its regular dividend on water and
all, but its stocks have long been and at
the present time are at a premium on
the stock market.
pullman cries poverty to his starving
employees, and then retreats to his
princelY summer mansion on the st.
Lawrence river, and wires the business
men of Chicago that he has nothing to
arbitrate. Like Nero, he laughs in lux
ury, while his devoted martyrs burn.
If the present strike is lost to labor, it
will retard the progress of civilization
and reduce the possibilities of labor to
ever emancipate itself from the thrall-
dom OF greed. The dignity OF labor and
all the victories won in the past are at
stake in this conflict. | beseech you in
your obligations in this hour of trial.
Court the cooperation of a generous
public, stand firm and united in our
common cause, and the victory will be
one of peace and prosperity for the faith
full. (Signed) j. B. SOVEREIGN,
General Master Workman"
Ex-President Harrison's Views.