The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-19
THE GREAT STRIKE ENDED
DEBS AND HIS PARTY GIVE UP
THE GHOST.
They Ask Reinstatement of All Strikers
Who Have Not Been Arrested for
Crimes - General Managers
Refuse to Consider the
Proposition.

Proposition.
CHICAGO, July 13-Mr. Eugene V.
Eebs, early this morning, called his
executive officers together. They
held a closed conference for some
thing like an hour and about $3.50
Mr.. Debs appeared and said: In
view of the enormous proportions
this strike has assumed and the tre-
mendous sacrifice to public and prl-
vate interests we will toby submit
a proposition to the General Managers
association declaring the strike OIL on
condition that they relnstate
our men, The proposition
offered them was formulated
last mig hit, and it was agreed that In
case the general managers refused to
meet the wishes of Debs, Gompers
could call out the National Federation
of Labor throug hout the country. The
proposition has two conditions:
First-That arbitration as proposed
by President Cleveland be entered
into.
Gecond-That all the striking en-
ployes except those who had been
criminal should be restored to their
positions without prejudice by the
railroad companies. --,
After Debs mad inside this startling
statement LIE was asked what would
be the effect in case the managers re-
fused to re.instate the men. Hes SAID
ne thought the strike was practlcaliy
ended and regarded it as great tri-
umph for labor. After pause ne
said: The strike will settle oack then
to the original strike between full-
man and his men."
Here Debs left U.rich's hall To cali
on the mayor. At the mayors Office
they held a conference for about hve
minutes. AT its conclusion May or
HOPKINS said: "lhese gentlemen
came to me with proposition to call
the strike off IL Inc General Man
ayers, association will agree to take
back all employees who have not been
arrested, They asked me to go with
them, 1 told them l would gladly go.
Meanwhile Alderman MCCLELLAN,
chairman of the committee on arbi'
tration, had been sent for. He ar
rived AT 10 As and after Il few minutes
talk with Debs and Sovereign the
MAYOR and Alderman Mcclellan went
70 the office OF the association, while
Debs, Howard and sovereign re-
turned to their hotels,
When the mayor arrived at the
office OF the general managers he
found that the regular meeting had ad-
iourned and Mr.. st. John OF the Rock
| island, the only one present. MI. ST.
John said he would receive the prop
osition and lay it before the meeting.
He was requested to call speclai
meeting, but declined to do so. lie
consented to listen to the gentlemen
because they were the mayor and q
prominent member OF the city council.
He declared that he would have moth
ing to do with Deb5 or any labor
leader.
After leaving the proposition with
Mr.. st. John tine mayor returned TO
his office Mr.. st. John had previous
lv ssid that the general managers
would not receive the labor leaders in
any way, and it was because of this
statement that Deb5, How ard and
Sovereign did not present their prop
osition in pers IN. but delegated its
presentation to the mayor.
Chairman Egan said: "The general
managers will under no circumstances
have any conference with Debs on
any subject. They will retain in their
employ the men who filled the
strikers places and are competent
Mr., st. John later said that the
proposition would not be submitted tC
any meeting of the general managers
and would not be considered by them
before their regular meeting tomor'
row.
Debs was asked today by Sovereign
what would be done in case the gen
eral managers refused to reinstate the
men. Debs replied: 1--WE shall cal
our executive board together and de
termine upon course of action"
Sovereign said that as soon as the
strike was declared off by Debs hi
, should issue an order calling off tina
: of the knights of Labor.
: Asked to state what bad happened
in the office of the general managers
Mayor Hopkins said: "We were
: courteously received by Mr.. st, Joh1
and Manager E<an, of the Genera
3 Managers association. We mad
known the object of our visit. MI
Egan, who did all the talking, saiC
that while the association would hav
accented no proposition presented b,
MIR. Debs in person, he having mao
hem trouble enough the last FEY
,yooLu thev would consider a prODO
0 sition presented through the mayo
of Chicago. The General M 81
b ayers association had scjoubt