The record-union., 1895-09-02

CHICAGO, Sept. IA morning paper
says ex-Mayor Hopkins advised the
great railway strike of 1894, which ended
in such disastrous loss of property and
life, and confirms the statement OF inter-
views with President Eugene '. Debs or
the American Railway Union in Wood
stock Jail. and ex-Vice-President George
w. Howard in this city.
Mr.. Howard declares that some time
previous to the ordering of the strike
against the railroads the American Rail-
way Union officials received word that
Mayor Hopkins would like to see tnem.
a meeting was arranged, at which Debs,
Howard, the Mayor and his business
partner. Mr.. Secord, one or two city otil-
cials and a newspaper representative were
present. The prospective strike was the
chief topic of conversation.
Howard said his plan was to have work
stopped at the Pullman repair shops at
St. Louis and Ludlow, ky. and to have
the car inspectors on the different roads
refuse to pass sleeping cars q need OF re-
pairs. rs the railroads would need to
have The usual number OF sleepers, they
would demand that Pullman live up TO
would be unable TO do 80, and the roads
would be only too glad to get out from
under his monopoly and he would have
to do something.
Secord spoke very emphatically against
Howard's proposition, and said his idea
was that the trainmen should refuse to
haul Pullman sleepers. IL that was done
on one or two of the roads it would shut
off the revenue and bring about settle
ment.
According to Howard. Mayor Hopkins
then said: THAT'S right; tie 'em up
Debs, tie 'em up. If you only get one or
two roads 1t will shut off the revenue. and
bring the old man TO arbitration. | knew
him for great many years, and L know
he will continue the fight. The shops
don't cut much of figure; money goes
out there. as we'll as it comes in. As
Secord says, the railroads will make the
repairs on his cars and he can shut down
the shops and keep them closed until the
men starve. The only thing to do is TO
tie up some of the lines that haul his
cars"
Debs, when seen at the Woodstock
jail, said: That statement is substan
TALLY correct. l don't feel that it would
be quite right for me TO repeat
has been good while since then, and
no public mention has ever yet been
made of the conversation. / would not
of my own accord repeat ii, but since
you ask me whether it is true, L can't
deny it without telling an untruth, and
if l refuse to discuss the matter its
truthfulness will be taken for granted. [
don't understand that the conversation
was altogether private. Secrecy was not
enjoined, but at the same time l have
some delicacy about speaking Of it. If
the Mayor thought he was right, l don't
see why he should hesitate to stand by
what he said"
Debs said there would be no more
great strikes The strike of last summer
was the climax of railway disturbances,
and this country would never see an
other one like it. The time had gone by
for that method of settling difficulties
between railway companies and their
employees.
Asked if he considered himself mar
tyr, Debs said: mo, sir. 1t requires no
courage to bear the penalties of ones
honest convictions. 1 am not vain
enough or presumptuous enough TO lay
any claims to martyrdom. 1t is by the
merest chance that / am in Jail on ac-
count of the strike. 1t might have been
any other one out of the millions of
people in this country"