Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-02
DID HOPKINS ADVISE IT2
A Chicago Paper Charges That He Precipitated the Great Railroad Strikes-What
 Mir. DebS Says.

Chicago, Sept. IA morning paper says Ex-Mayor Hopkins advised the great railroad strike of 1894, which ended in such disastrous loss of property and life, and confirms the statement by inter- views with President Eugene V. Debs of the American Railway union, in Wood stock jail, and Ex-Vice-President George w. Howard, in this city.
 MT. Howard declares that some time previous to the ordering of the strike against the railroads the American Railway union officials received word that Mayor Hopkins would like to see them. A meeting was arranged at Which, Debs, Howard, the mayor and his buS- mess partner. MT. Secord. one or two city officials and a. newspaper representative were present. MT. Howard said his plan was to have work stopped at the Pull man repair shops at St. Louis and Lud- low, Ky, and then have the car inspec- tors on the different roads to refuse to pass sleeping cars in need of repairs. As the railroads would need to have the usual number of sleeperS they would de- mand that Pullman live up to the terms of his contract. Pullman would be una ble to do SD and the roads would only bd too glad to get out from under his monop- oily, and he would have to do something. MT. Secord spoke very emphatically against Towards proposition, and said his idea was that the trainmen should refuse to haul Pullman sleepers. IT that was done on one or two of the roads 1t would shut off the revenue and bring about a settlement.
 According to MT. Howard, Mayor Hop kinS then said
 That's right; tie them up, Debs, tie them up. If you only get one or two roads it will shut off the revenue and bring the old man to arbitration. l knew him for a good many years, and l know he will continue to fight. The shops don't cut much of figure. Money goes out there as well 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 have his cars."
 MT. Debs when seen at the Woodstock jail said: "The statement is substantial ly correct. I do not feel that it would be quite right for me to repeat what MT. Hopkins said on that occasion. It has been a good while since then and no public mention has ever yet been made of the conversation 1 would not of my own accord repeat it, but since you ask me whether it is true, l can't deny it without lying, and if I refuse to discuss the matter it's truthfulness will be taken for granted. I do not understand that the conversation was altogether private. Secrecy was not enjoined. but at the same time l have some delcacY about speaking of it. If the mayor thought he was right I do not see why he should hesitate to stand by what he said"
 Mir. Debs said there would be no more great strikes. The strike of last sum- mer was the climax of railroad disturb ances, and this country would not see another one like it. The times had gone by for that method for settling difficult ties between railroad companies and their employees.
 Asked if he considered himself a mar tyr, MT. Debs said: "No, sir. It requires no courage to bear the penalties of ones honest convictions. I am not vain enough or presumptuous enough to lay any claims to martyrdom. It is by the merest chance that I am in jail on account of the strike. It might have been any other one out of the millions of people in this country"
 MT. Debs has served over three months of his jail sentence and says he will be glad when the remaining three are over Meanwhile he spends sixteen hours a day over his books and correspondence. He looks well and is enjoying good health.