The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
A. R. U. STRIKE
kx.Vice President Howard Says Iayor
Hopking Of Chicago
Did II.
II Was Upon His Advice That th
Fight on the Railroads
Was Begun.

prints the following in it's news columns:
"Ex-Mayor Hopkins, of this city, advised
the great railroad strike Of 1894, which
ended in such disastrous loss Of property
and life."
This assertion is made by George w.
Howard, vice president and ex-member
of the board of directors Of the American
Railway Union, and is confirmed by Eu-
gene v. Debs, president of the American
Railway Union.
Mr.. Howard said today: Mayor Hop
kins did advise Debs to tie up the rail-
roads, and there are witnesses to prove
It, 1t is the truth, and the ex-mayor can
not deny it. ] remember the meeting
well. 1t happened in this way: The
convention was in session at Ulich's hall,
and the question was how to bring Pull
man to terms. 1t was ONE time previous
to the ordering of the strike against the
railroads that we received word that
Mayor Hopkins would like to see us.
"Debs and 1, Of course, were willing to
meet the mayor. We met him at the
Sherman house. There were with him
his partner, Secord. and one or tow city
officials and newspaper reporter. The
other persons were Debs and myself
They met in the lobby near the clerk S
desk. Introductions followed, and then
the prospective strike became the topic
said 1 believe know how we can bring
Pullman to terms. I have thought it out
to my satisfaction. If we can stop
work at his repair shops we can eventu-
ally stop the running of his cars. Within
snort time car inspectors will refuse to
pass sleepers in need of repairs. AS the
roads must have the usual number they
will demand that Pullman live up to the
terms of his contract. He will be unable
to do this, and the roads will be only too
glad to get out from under his monopoly,
and he will have to do something
Mr.. Secord spoke up and said the best
thing was to refuse to haul Pullman
sleepers.
Mayor Hopkins then spoke up and
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. 1 knew
him for good many years, and 1 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
What did Mr.. Debs say?"
He had little to say, but he made some
remark to the effect that he believed the
mayor was right about the best way to
bring Pullman to some agreement"
What other conference did you have
with the mayOr?'
II do not recall any subsequent ones at
which Mayor Hopkins offered advice.
Soon after the meeting the boycott was
declared and the trouble spread. as is
well known. 1 do not care to speak of the
effect of the mayors attitude on the po-
lice, or what we learned of the way the
department was conducted"
A representative of the Times-Herald
visited the McHenry county Jail at Wood
stock where Eugene Debs is serving the
sentence imposed for contempt of court.
Towards statement as given above was
outlined to him.
THAT statement" said Mr.. Debs "is
substantially correct. 1 do not feel that
it would be quite right for me to repeat
what Mr.. Hopkins said on that occasion.
1t has been good while since then, and
no public mention has ever vet been
made of the conversation. 1 would not
of my own accord repeat it, but since
you ask me whether it is true, l cannot
deny 1T without lying, and if I refuse to
discuss the matter it's truthfulness will
be taken for granted. l do not under
stand that the conversation was alto
gether private. Secrecy was not enjoined,.
but at the same time I have some deli
cacy about speaking of it. If the mayor
thought he was right, do not see why
he should hesitate to stand by what he
said
Il was very much impressed with what
Mr. Secord and Mayor Hopkins said
about bringing Mr.. Pullman to terms by
refusing to handle Pullman cars We
thought at the time that the public would
be with us, and we were willing to ham
die all trains if the sleepers were discon-
nected."
Mr.. Hopkins was at one time an en-
ploye of the Pullman Company, but was
discharged by Mr.. Pullman.