The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-11
Formal Appeal 10 the Knights Of Labor to
Join the Strike.
CORPORATIONS R0UNDLY SCORED
They Are Compared to the Brigands
of Old Who Rob the Helpless-CaIls
Attention to the Fact That Pullman
Stock Is Still Valuable-Knights Are
lmplored TO Stand Firm and Re.
fran from Violence.
CHICAGO, July 10.
G7HE manifesto of General Master
Workman Sovereign to the
Knights of Labor rs issued to-
u night is as follows:
CHICAGO. ,Tulv 10
To the knights of


CHICAGO, July 10.
To the knights Of Labor of America
greeting:
A crisis has, been reached in the affairs
of this nation that endangers the peace of
the republic. Every fibre of our civil
structure is strained to the breaking
point The shadow Of factional hatred
hovers over our fair land with terrible
forebodings.
The arrogant lash Of superiority is be-
ing applied by the corporations with re-
lentless fury and the chasm between the
masses aud classes is growing deeper and
wider with each succeeding day. IL peace
is restored and this nation saved from acts
repusiye to the conscience of Christian
| people, there must be wise action and that
| quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames OF
discord are being famed by the railway
corporations at 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 imploring you to lay
down the implements Of toll for q short
session, and under the banner of peace and
with patriotic desire to promote
the public weifa q use the power OF your
aggregated numbers through peaceable
assemDlages to create healthy public
sentiment in favor Of an amicable settle
ment of the issues growing out of the re-
cent strike Of tie Pullman employees and
! you are further requested not to return to
your usual avocations until a settlement
of the pending troubles is made known to
you through some authentic source.
| In the present strained relations be-
| tween corporations is involved principle
near and dear to all American citizens
tho right of labor to present its
grievances to the owners and
representatives of corporations cap
| ital. The Pullman company refuses
to arbitrate the differences between itself
and It's employees on the ground thas cars
were built below cost, and therefore there
is nothing to arbitrate. But the con-
clusion Of every unprejudiced mind must
be that if such were the facts it could
| haveno fear Mt the hands of an arbitration
committee.
| But the Pullman company goes further
in its autocratlc policy than refusal to
arbitrate. 1t has refused to join with
their men and the board Of aldermen of
Chicago in a committee to discuss the
question as to whether there is anything
to arbitrate or not aud behind this auto.
cratic policy stands the general managers
association of the railway corporations,
backed by the United States army as the
aiders and abetters of this social crime.
Suppose the Pullman company had in
vited organized labor to arbitrate, and or
ganized labor had declined the invitation,
it Is needless to say wave Of popular in
dignation would oblterate every labor
organization from the face of the coun-
try and no more could be formed dur
ing the next fifty years. But in the pres
ent crisis the corporations whose wealth
has been created by labor. take the posi-
tion that they are prior and above their
Creator.
Like the brigauds Of old they rob the
laboring masses and employ the sword and
budgeou and set up throne on the bones
of the vanquished and declare their divine
right to rule over the remainder of
mankind. The Pullman company claims
that Notwithstanding the wages of
its employees were reduced to, the
starvation point there is nothing to
arbitrate because cars have been built at q
loss, yet 1t itneglects to state that the stocks
of the company have been watered three
times over and that the company has not
only been able to pay its regular dividend
on water and ALL but that It's stocks have
been and are at the present time at a
premium on the stock market.
Mr.. Pullman cries poverty to his starv.
ing employees and then retreats to his
princely summer mansion on the st. Law
renee river and wires to the business men
of Chicago that he has nothing to arbi-
trate.
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 thraldom OF
greed.
The dignity Of labor and all the victories
won in the past are at stake in this con-
flict.
Ibeseech you to be true to your obligd-
tions in this hour Of trial. Court the CO.
operation Of generous public, stand firm
and united in our common cause, and the
victory will be one of peace and prosperity
for the faithful.
(Signed ]. B, SOVEREIGN,
General Master Workman.