Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-23
The a. R. q. Officers Reply in the
u D oceedi o.
THEY MAKE S EEFPlNNl DENIALO
Power Retained in the Hands of
the Unions Members.
THE LABOR SITUATION

nled today by the attorneys for the officers
OF the American Railway Union in the
contempt proceedings IN the United States
court growing out of the alleged violation
OF the federal Injunction against interfer-
ence with the mails and Interstate COM
merce.
They admit that on the I'd day of July,
1884. the United States Of America caused
TO be filed in the Office Of the clerk of said
court for said district a certain complaint
or bill in equity, and that writ CT in
junction was issued by said court upon
said bill.
They admit that the A. r. U is a vol
untary association. of which many thou
sand employees were at the time of filing of
said bill. and are still, members; that the
defendant. Eugene V. Debs, is president of
said association and George W. Howard,
vice president; Sylvester Keliher, secretary
treasurer, and l.. w. Rogers one OF the di-
rectOrs. and that all of said defendan IS
were and are directors OF said AR. U. They
alIeBe tnat the purpose of said a. r. u. and
the purpose and intent of the organization
and the maintenance thereof was the pro-
lection OF all its members in their rights
and interests as the employees of the various
systems Of the United States, and to pro-
cure by all lawful and legitimate means
reasonable and adequate compensation for
all its said members for the service per-
A-R-U. was open to every employe Of good
personal character and reputation engaged
upon the railway systems of the United
States. and that to better secure AMI effec-
tuate the purposes and objects Of said AR.
L. as herelnbefore set forth, 1t was the de-
sire and one of the purposes of the said
A-R-U- to procure all such persons to be-
come members of such organization.
Power of the officials.
They deny that it was at any time the
a
officers or directors thereof. OF these defend
ants. or either or any of them, to concen-
trate the power and Jurisdiction of said A.
r. U. under one official management and di-
rection. with power to order strikes or
discontinuance of the service of such EN-
plOyes at any time the board Of directors of
the A r L. should elect to do as alleged IN
said Information or otherwise. and they allexs
that. by the organization of the said Ameri-
can Railway Union. strikes could be de-
clared or discontinued by the vote OF the
majority OF the members OF such American
Railway Union employees in the service af-
fected by any such strike. and that the only
power. authority or office of the said Off
GERS or directors Of said American Railway
Union, or of these defendants, or either of
them, in respect to said matter was to
notify the members of said American Rail-
way Union in the service Concerned in such
strike action taken by such majority.
Voluntary Strike.
They deny that on the 26th or 9th Of
June last past. or at any other time, the
American Railway Union or it's board of
directors. or other officers. or these defend
ants, or either of them, had directed apd
ordered the members OF said American Rail-
way Union engaged in the service Of the
Illinois Central Railroad Company to leave
the service of said company. or alleged in
said information or otherwise, or that at
any time any orders were Issued to the
employees of the railroads mentioned in the
complaint, or any OF them, to leave the SER
vices Of such company, but they allege that
on or about said time majority Of the
members of said American Railway Union,
employed upon said Illinois Central railroad
and upon said other companies referred to
in said Information. did for themselves,
without any order, direction or control of
the said American Railway Union, or Of its
officers or directors, or of these defendants,
or either of them, voluntarily determine by
their votes that they would strike or leave
the service of said railway companies and
that, In pursuance of said vote, said en-
ployes did, on or about Said time. leave the
service Of said railway company freely and
voluntarily of their own accord. without any
order, direction or control on the part of
said American Railway Union, Its officers
or directors, OF of these defendants. or any
Of them. Upon information and belief the
defendants deny that said employees so leav-
ing the service OF said railway companies
as aforesaid, did so for the purpose of him
dering, preventing and delaying said rail-
way companies in the Operation of trains
engaged in the transportation of the United
States mails and interstate commerce over
the respective roads of said companies.
Further Deninls.
They admit the organization OF local
unions upon railroads in the northwest aud
east from Chicago after the service of the
Injunction. but deny that after the service
OF said injunction they or either Of them,
carried on the work of organization other
than by generally advising railroad en-
ployes to become members of such union.
They deny that the officers of the union
had the authority to order strikes upon said
roads or that the employees were subject to
their authority. The defendants deny that
any one of the kilograms set forth In said
Information was sent or caused to be sent
by them or any Of them. or that they au-
thorized or approved the same, or any one
thereof, except a certain telegram, dated
July 9. 1894, In the words and figures fol-
lowing:
I'VE have assurance that within forty
eight hours every labor organization in this
county will come to our rescue Inc nSht
is on and our men are acquitting them
selves Ike heroes. Here and there one
weakens, bu, our cause is strengthened by
a dozen going out in his place. Every true
man must quit
They deny that any member OF the y. r.
L. participated in the acts Of violence re-
ferred to and that violence and unlawful
conduct necessarily follows strikes. but on
y.
strikes as far as the A. Il. L. IS concern
ed contemplate nothing more than the
uu;et peaceable and lawful cessation OF
work 10y such Iusmbers when ami for such
periods as they shall for themselves de-
Violence Not Advised.
Defendants expressly deny that they or
arv Of them dil. 1T the times mentioned in
said information. or Il: any Other time or
de-, direct for the counsel. advise. or
recommend. o. approve the act Of vioIance
IN said Information set forth. or any of
them or any violence or unla vful acts OF
any kind or character: hut. on the contrary
aIlege that they did. at all said times cCun-
sci and advise all members Of the said A
Y. L., with whom they were in com .uIInyca-
ton. 70 at all times abstain from violeucc
threats an1 intimidation. ana to at ali
times respect the law and the officers there
OF.
They admit that cn the 18th day OF July
.sa4 the con.rnunicat ton set out III said IN
IO-ma ton was addressed to the railway
managers and signed by the defendants
whose names are aflNe1 thereto. but al-
lege that so much OF said communication as
implies CT assumes any right. power au-
thority In said Defendants or either CT
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