The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-07-18
INSIDE HISTORY

enee lately held In Chicago under the
auspices Of the American Federation Of
Labor was one Of the most important
labor gatherings ever held in this eOun.
try," said Pat McBryde. secretary.trcas.
urer Of the United MIno Workers to-
day. Said Nj. McBrydo: A couyen-
ton Of local unions had declared in
favor Of o general strike aud demanded
the presence OF Mr.. Gompers in Chicago.
Mr.. Gompers recognized the gravity Of
the situation and sent kilograms 70 all
the national and international trade
unions and 10 different railroad brother
hoods OF fremen and trainnen. Prosi.
dent Arthur, Of tho engineers, wrote he
was unable 10 DO present.
As tho conference was about TO con-
veno q delegation from local unions
that bad already left work informed the
delegates that II they did not ngree to
call q national suspension tho strike
was lost, and that tho conference would
be held responsible for the defeat. Tho
delegation was quietly but firmly in-
formed that the conference would tako
such action 20 it believed TO DO Ia tho
interest OF tho workiugmen Of tho coun-
try. Alter tho delegates had left
statement made by Mr.. Debs and in
vestiguted for themselves into the
trouble at Chicago peculiar state OF
Affairs presented itself.
Thore was Mr.. Debs aud the Ameri'
can Railway Union on ono side and
thore was Mr. Pullman, the railroads
and tho different brotherhoods on tho
othor. Tho representatives OF the fire.
mon and tho trainmen, while opposed
TO the strike, or rather 10 the boycott,
lad nothing but words Of praise for Mr..
Debs; for his associates they had moth
ing but words OF condemnation; indeed,
1t has seldom been my lot 70 hecr mon
get such O scoring as Mr.. Howard and
other members oil tho American Rail-
way Union board. except 1t be tho Ian
guaqe used against p. M. Arthur, Of the
engineers, by the trades union delegates
OF the conference.
II seems that the organizers Of tho
American Railway Union had been so
indiscreot as to contess that thoy In
tended to broak up the older orRaniZa.
tons and boastod that It only required
victory OF tho present battle in order to
be successful. 1t can DO readily seon,
therefore, that the boycott at Chicago
was not only fight against capital BY
life and death struggle between tho
different railroad organizations. Tho
older orders being on the side Of tho
corporations 1t lie but fair to state that
some Of tho brotherhood like the train.
men, although opposed TO the strike,
allowed oil members to act for them
selves, and over $4,000 Of them joined
hands with tho American Railway
Union. "You must declare for na-
tional suspension" said the trade union
lists Of Chicago. Tho fight is fight
OF capital versus labor" said Mr.. Debs.
"You havo no right TO take sides with
ono organization against another, said
tho brothsrhoods.
"Havo a little common sonso and
keep the mon you represent out Of this
muddle," whispered conscience. And
go the delegates talked, discussed and
talked all around the subject, each afraid
TO spring resolution lest it might be
premature. In this condition MI Dobs
found tho conference, he realized tho
difficult task no had to perform tho men
no was to address wero not Hmateurs In
tho methods OF labor organization. A
number Of them had moro experience
than himself. Tho man seemed an
iciclo, but tho voice hold his hearers
spell bound as no recited tho suffering
Of tho workmen at Pullman, tho high
hand policy Of tho board OF managers
and tho determination Of the mon to
fight to the end.
The delegates seemed magnetizcd.
"What do you want US to do? OK
claimed ono. Then tho matchless abil-
ity OF tho man was manifested. In q
tone OF deep sorrow no exclaimed:
Nothing" a long pause, and then
Mr.. Debs said: II ask nothing of you,
contlemen, buff were in your place
will tell you what l would do"
Then Mr.. Debs spoke in favor OF
general strike.
A sharp exchange Of words between
Secretary Mcclure, OF the carpenters,
aud Mr. Debs followed, Mr.. Dcbs hav-
ing the best OF 1t, but the discussion
broke the spoil, the delegates were once
moro business mon, and MIR. Dobs soon
realized II, for he changed his tactics at
once.
~ have a telegram from Washing.
TOM no said. "Tho President Is going
TO appoint an arbitration committee, so
l have prepared the following document
with tho consent OF this conference
which would like President Gompors
to present to tho board OF general man
ayers" 10 then proceeded 10 read the
dor ument presented by Mayor Hop.
kins, calling of the strike upon condt'
ton that tho old mon would be rein
stated. Ho left tho document and tho
conference promised to send him an
answer, A little reflection on behalf OF
the delegations and they realized that
II Mr.. Gompors was tho bearer OF the
message, and tho managers refused to
accept it, tho American Federation oil
Labor would DO placed In an cmbar'
RAISING position.
II was resolved to tell Mr.. Dobs, that
no could name any gontloman in tho
convention, who will, with an equal
number OF citizens and Mr.. Debs call
uuon tho board OF managers, but Mr..
Gompers must not go alone.
Hour aftcr hour tho conference wait
ed for Mr.. Dobs's reply. but mono came
until nftcr tho papers had announced
tic fact that Mayor Hopkins had pre-.
sonted tho document and that President
Dobs had dumped tho conference.
The delegates looked Hheepish when
thoy realized they narrowly escaped be-
ing trapped into bringing all .tho hor-
rors OF general strike upon tho coun'
After hearty laugh thoy issued tho