The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-17
EBS DUMPED Them.
inside Story Of the Conference
Called by Mr.. Gompers.
Patrick McBryde Tells Where the
Delegates Laugh Came In.
Ubile They Waited for Debs the
Ofer of Surrender Went Out.


coIJMBI'S, o., July 1.-THE confer
nee lately held In Chicago, under tae
uspIces OF the American Federation of
abnr was one of the most iinporta mt
bor gatherings ever held in this cuun-
ry." said Patrick McBryde, Secretary
treasurer of the United Mine Workers,
|o-day.
"It seems that the organizers of the
II. L. had been SO indiscreet as to
rontess that they intended to break up
the older organizations, and boosted
that 1t only required victory of the
bresent battle in order to be successful.
can be readily seen. therefore, that
he boycott at Chicago was not only a
ght against capital, but life and
cath struggle between the different
abroad organizations.
"rhe older orders being OH the side of
he corporations, it is but fair to state
that some of the brotherhoods, like the
trainmen, although opposed to the
strike allowed the members to act for
themselves, and over 1900 of them
Joined hands with the A. r. U.
"'You must declare for a National
suspension said the trade unionists of
Chicago.
1.-The fight is fight of capital versus
labor said MIR. Debs.
"'You lave no right to take sides with
one organization against another said
the brOtherhoods
" Have little common sense and keep
the men you represent out of this mud
die whispered conscience.
And so the delegates discussed
each afraid to spring a resolution
lest 1t might be premature. In this con
dition Mr., Debs found the conference;
he realized the difficult task he had to
perform: the men he was TO address were
not amateurs In the methods of labor or
Eanizations \ number of them had more
experience than himself.
THE man seemed an icicle, but the
voice held his hearers Spellbound as he
recited the suffering of the workmen at
Pullman. the high handed, policy Of the
Board Of Managers and the determina-
ton of the men to fight to the end.
THE delegates seemed magnetized.
What do you want MS to do exclaimed
onG In t9ne of deep Torow s nses ex
then Mr.. .Debs said: ! ask nothing of
YOU. gentlemen, but IL were in your
place | will tell YOU what would do
Then he stoke in favor of general
strike.
Secretary Mcclure. of the carpenters,
and Mr.. Debs followed Mr. Debs having
the better of 1t: but the discussion broke
the spell. The delegates were once more
business men and Mr.. Debs soon realized
1t. for he changed his tactics at once.
81 have A telegram from Washington
he said The President is going to ap-
point an arbitration committee, so I
have prepared the following document,
which. with the consent of this confer
ence, / would wish President Gompers
to present to the Board Of General Man
ayers
He then proceeded to read the docu-
ment presented by Mayor Hopkins, call
Ing off the strike upon condition that the
old men would be reinstated. He left
the document, and the conference
promised to send him an answer.
"A little reflection OH the part OF the
Gompers was the bearer of the mes
sage and the managers refused TO ac,
cept 1t. the A r. of l.. would be placed
In an embarrassing position. 1t was re-
solved to tell Mr.. DebS that he could
choose any three gentlemen in the Con.
vention, who, with an equal number OF
citizens and Mr. Debs, should call upon
the Board of Managers, but Mr.. Com
pers must not go alone.
Hour after hour the conference
waited for Mr.. Debs's reply, but none
came until the afternoon papers an
nounced the fact that Mayor Hopkins
had presented the document and that
President Debs had dumped the confer
ence.
THE delegates looked sheepish when
they realized that they narrowly escaped
being trapped into bringing all the hor-
rors of a general strike upon the coun-
try After u hearty laugh, they issued
the document advising the men to return
which has appeared in the press, and
adjourned to their homes wondering
what took them to Chicago