The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-07-27
THE PULLMAN BOYCOTT.
Labor Union Officers Appeal to the Public
to Refuse Patronage to Pullman Cars
Aid Asked for the Defense of Debs.

Labor Union Officers Appeal to the Public
to Refuse Patronage to Pullman Cars
Aid Asked for the Defense of Debs.
CHICAGO. July 90. = Messrs. Debs,
Howard. Keliher and Rogers, the A. r.
U. officials, to-day issued an address to
the public the substance of which is as
follows:
To the American Public:
HEADQUARTERS AMERICAN RAILWAY UNION.
COOK COUNTY JAIL. CHICAGO, July Eft Is
almost universally conceded that the Pullman
Co., through the oft repeated reduction OF
wages, excessive rents and other causes, has
grievously wronged its employees. and whatever
may be said about the great strike which has
resulted In consequence OF such grievance, the
arbitrary refusal Of said Pullman company to
submit to arbitration in any form teyen to de-
eide the question II there was anything 10
arbitrate) is proof that said company had no
faith in the justice Of its cause and fears the
disclosures that are certain to result from an
honest investigation and in view OF the heavy
losses entailed upon the country, such obstin-
acy on the part OF the Pullman company Is de-
serving OF the severest condemnation.
We propose that the Pullman company shall
be brought to justice and in way that shall
rot necessitate a strike with its attendant ills.
We have faith in the American people: they
uphold Justice they love fair play. And now,
in the name Of justice and fair play, we appeal
to the great American public, to every good
man and every good woman. not to ride In
Pullman car until the Pullman company does
justice to its employees. Let the cars run alb
solutely empty. No friend Of labor no friend
OF humanity will occupy a seat or a berth In
Pullman car. Let this policy be inaugurated
and we will then see how long the railway
companies will be bound by their contracts, as
they have induced the public to believe, to haul
Pullman cars.
We propose to continue this fight against the
Pullman company through good and evil report
and without regard to consequences until JUS
tice shall be done. There will be no surrender.
We will use every available and lawful means
to press the contest. 1t is requested that all
papers throughout the land favorable to labor,
to justice to humanity, copy this statement in
full and keep 1t standing as long as possible.
Earnestly appealing to the great public to
aid US in this unequal contest, and relying
with implicit faith upon the final and power
full triumph of the right, we subscribe our
selves, very respectfully yours.
EUGENE V. DEBs,
President.
GEORGE w. HOWARD,
Vice President
SYLVESTER KELLER,
Secretary.
L. W. ROGERS.
Editor Railway Times
IN DEFENSE OF DEBs.
New YORK, July 23.-Now that the
bitter railroad strike is over the leaders
of the local labor organizations are
taking up the matter of securing the
proper defense for Eugene V. Debs,
president of the A. z. U. This activity
is in accordance with an appeal issued
by President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, which will be
published in the August number of the
American Tolerant, the official organ
of the federation. 1t reads as follows:
Eugene V. Debs stands as one of the most
conspicuous and interesting figures before the
country. None doubt his honesty and devotion
to the cause OF the wronged against the
wrongdoers. Yet he is in Jail awaiting the
action of the United States courts upon
the charge of contempt of its iniunctions.
He is requested to appear before
four different courts. located hundreds
OF miles from each other. at one and the same
time. He is under indictment for conspiracy
for obeying the instructions of his organiza-
ton and requesting the railroad men to quit
work to aid their struggling fellow worimen.
The corporations have their claws ready to
fasten upon the body Of DebS. not simply to
try and crush him. but they hope to force the
men of labor into silence and slavish submis-
sion.
mat purpose Caniot' udre not anu Will hot
succeed. Debs must be defended, and ably
defended. In person at this time he repre-
selts the rights of labor. Eugene '. DcbS
Is n poor man: he has no money: his trial
and preparation for it will require consid-
cradle amount, and we know that the work.
ers of the country have never yet been
appealed to in vain to help the cause of justice,
humanity and right. All unions should con-
tribute. We ask all lab0ring men to open sub
scriptions for the "DebS Legal Defense Fund"
BY order of the executive committee OF the
American Federation OF Labor.
SAMUEL GoMPERs, President.