The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-01
TRADE UNIONS TAKE A HAND
Ihey Oher TO Assist the American Rail-
way Union In its Pullman Boycott.
REACHING ALARMING PROPORTIONS.
Number of Other Roads Included In the
Boz cott-The Railways show No
Signs of Weakening.

izations in Chicago was held at the head
quarters OF the American Railway Union
to-day for the ostensible purpose OF pass
ing resolution denouncing the hiring of
armed forces by the corporations to op-
pose the contestants of the rights OF
labor. The question announced as in
volved was barely touched upon at the
meeting, the resolution passed bearing
chiefly. on the attitude of the state OF
things. and asking the abrogaton Of the
franchises held by the railroads under
the State law. which. it is claimed. are
being violated by the roads In refusing
to supply transportation facilities unless
they are permitted TO run Pullman cars.
The most important clauses OF the reso-
luton hearing upon the acticn OF tEe
State officials were drafted by woman
Mrs. Fanny Kayanaugh. The swinging
into line Of many trade unions present
was brought atCut by speeches made Dy
all of the prominent labor leaders OF the
city and the State.
While not acting in concert, the unions
were all pledged at or before the meet
ing to Join i'm supporting the railroad
men in their struggle and at later meet
ing Of the trades and labor assembly
the central division of the United Labor
Unions, committee was APPOINTED 20
wait upon the officials Of the American
Railway Union and offer the united
strength Of every trade and labor organ
ization in the city. The tender was made
at headquarters this afternoon, and 1t was
pledged that every union man in the city
would go ont on strike Immediately II
the officers of the Railway Union deemed
II necessary. The proposition made and
accepted was that in case the trouble
between the union and the railroads
was not settled within the next day or
two every union man in the city Of Chi
caeo, from the highest to the lowest,
would be called out in sympathy with the
railroad men. At the lowest estimate this
will mean a strike among the labor unions
alone Of over 10000 men. Added TO this
will be the many thousands who will be
thrown out of employment by the forced
shutdown Of all Industries affected by
labor agitation. 1t Will mean, for Chicago
alone. the enforced idleness of at least
| A,OOJ men, not counting the railroad men
who are now out of work. 1t will mean
cTippling Of industries and great financial
loss 10 hundreds OF factories and cor
porations. The immensity of the lockout
or strike cannot be estimated correctly
| at the present time, and the ultimate
| disaster which is bound TO follow is suffi-
| cient in appearance 10 cause the most
| courageous TO shudder.
THE OFFERS AccEPrID BY DEBs.
When the proposition was made to the
union officials to-day there was scarcely
a man who did not pause 10 estimate the
consequences After a lengthy discussion
Railway Union President Debs accepted
the sofiers Of the unions on condition
that they would not strike until called
upon to do so by the union. Whether
this call is issued is dependent upon the
action Of the railroads who are now fight
| ing the union. Labor leaders and their
followers al over The city nave caught
the strike fever, and in many quarters
| any waiting for orders from the Ameri-
can Railway Union officers, but that
| strikes will be declared next week. The
| news of the action Of the trades union
was not believed at first. but when fully
authenticated. the result among business
men was plainly noticeable. Not one IS
| there 10 predict other than the most
| Widespread disaster in case the union de-
| cides TO call upon the labOring classes for
assistance An almost complete paralysis
| of the business interests viii result, and II
| is needless 10 say that every effort is
being made 10 induce the labor leaders
to reconsider their action.
MORE ROADS ADDED TO THE BOYCOTT.
With the issuing OF boycott and strike
orders to-day, the American Railway
| Union added several more roads 10 the
list OF corporations already ane' ted 1he
first road 10 which the union directed the
attention OF the men was the ROCK Is
land Orders 20 tie up that road were
issued Yesterday, and went into effect
early this morning All Of the yardmen
struck Ihe snOpmen Will 80 out Monday,
and the union has directed a general tie
up OF the line from chicago 70 Texas.
The strike on the Nebraska division was
ordered late this Afternoon
On the Northwestern the full strength
of the union was shown when an order
TO the rOadmen on the Galena division
was issued and promptly obeyed. The
nremen. tranmen, operators and clerks
were all reported out tonight on the diVi-
sion mentioned. and further orders were
issued TO tie up the Wisconsin division
as soon as possible.
The most important tie-up to-day Of a
new line was the strike ordered on the
Chicago and Calumet Terminal. The men
we're out at 6 o'clock tonight and the
walk-out has resulted in the closing down
OF a number Of factories using oil as fuel.
IL was reported at headquarters that the
Calumet strike would result In the closing
of the Standard Oil Company's plant and
the Chicago Sugar Refinery. About 5000
men are employed by the oil company
here and about 5000 at the refinery will
be affected.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL FIREMKS STRIKE.
Reports at headquarters tonight were
TO the effect that the hremen on the Ilii-
nois Central road engines had gone out
in body. The firemen division on the
Illinois Central numbers about three nun
dred men. The fremen on the Santa Fe
met this afternoon, and after discussing
the situation the members voted to with
| draw from the Brotherhood and join the
| American Railway Union. Formal notice
| of the surrender OF the charter of the
| lodge was sent out. and the men all quit
work this afternoon. In the Panhandle
yards all of the firemen and engineers
| Joined the strikers, as did a number Of
| the Fort Wayne men. on the Santa Fe
| fifty freight handlers refused TO handle
cars switched by nOn-uniOn crews, and,
striking. they marched in a body TO the
union headquarters, where they organized
a local union of their own.
on account Of the action OF the Mil
waukee In handling one Pullman car
and refusing 10 withdraw from the
Managers Association a general strike
on that road was ordered. but the men
returned TO work at 2 p. NJ. a COM
mittee Of men. not members OF the
union, waited upon the union officials
this evening to try 10 have the strike
ordered postponed until definite arrange
ment could be secured from the com
pRny. but the request for delay was re, re
fused and the order is now In enect. Inc
men, however, will not strike untll ihoih-
ing.
THF RECENT ADDITIONS.
The action Of General Manager Newsh
OF the Lake Shore in working the sWilci
tower for Rock Island trains, Sausen e,i
the Union Board TO declare a strihe '..,.4 D,4
that road this afternoon. STlKes ths
also declared on the Nickel flsISS' ,hs
Northern Indiana, Big -Four, am anu ,ba
Colorado Midland. on the bis pill
complaint Is that the company has S -
man cars at Cincinnati. The ordsr lOa 10,
a general strike on the Gould system
was also issued this afternoon teine
count of the Michigan centrai n,5 o,In55
member of the Managers Assoclatloii