The Irish standard., 1895-10-26
rho Facss Rogardinu ths CREST 1trlks
Il which Eus ems nebs l.si Il Il.
# Figured. b
HE WAS III IT WITH TEE REST.
The Growth Of tho Order ot the q. =. y.
Is Discussed by Score Y5.s
tsry ksllher.


stock Jail, two months ago. He says that
affairs have taken a favorable turn dur
ing the past two months, and he is now
satisfied the A. r. IT, will soon attain the
strength and influence which it had be-
fore the grea. strike. Some time since,
George Howard, who was one Of the di-
rectors created something of q, sensation
by saying that John Patrick Hopkins,
while mayor. Of Chicago, had advised the
strike In regard to this statement, Sec
retary Keliher says: ,.,..
Mayor Hopkins was not at all respon-
sible for the strike. He was in hearty
sympathy with the Pullman strike and
he showed this in many ways. One OF
the most substantial ways in which he
demonstrated his feelings in this direc-
tion was when he and his partner con-
tributed 81 800 worth of groceries for the
relief of the strikers and their families
No one man was responsible. The con-
vention of the order had been in session
several days = before the sympathetic
strike was ordered. President Debs, as
well as the other officers of the union, are
still of the opinion that it was a proper
init that the results were sadly disap-
pointing Mayor Hopkins was very nat
III ally interested in the situation and the
probable action of the union. He kept
In close touch with the officers and pos
sibly the feeling which he had in regard
to the Pullman strike had its effect upon
the members of the order whom he came
in contact with. There was not very
much of a sentiment in favor Of the
strike the first day of the convention.
Parties of 10 and Is members would go
down to Pullman in the evening, and at
tend the meetings which were held there.
What they heard and What they saw
seemed to be enough to stir them up to q
high pitch Of indignation. This was the
thing which seemed to influence the con-
vention more than anything else. The
men who visited Pullman came back to
the convention hall fully convinced that
something extraordinary had to be done
in behalf of the much-abused Pullman
employees. If President Debs and all the
other general officers had opposed the
strike it would have done no good. The
delegates Thought there was nothing to do
render upon the part Of the Pullman COM
pany would have Suficed. The general
officers of the, union did not have a vote.
Possibly, if we cold have foreseen tine re-
suits, we would have used our utmost en-
deavors to prevent the strike, but doubt
If that would have done any good. Do
not understand me as anxious to have
the officers relieved of responsibility In
this matter While the strike was dis
appointing, some very good results will
follow
HAS President Debs& any political as
pirations, Secretary Keliher?"
l. "He has none whatever. He is by far
b1e greatess labor leader in the country.
Naturally enough, a good many men
have talked about him as good presiden-
tial material, and all that; but he is not
In the least disposed to encourage that
SORT of thing. 4 good many people who
called to visit l,s at the Woodstock Jail
urged that President Debs was looked up
to as an honest, conscientious and capa-
BILE leader, and suggested thousand
times that ha would be wanted for some
high place some day. But these kindly
and well-meant sayings never had the
effect of swelling the presidents head or
making him for a nlc1nent forget that his
best energies belonged to the beloved or
der which he Thought would be the IN
strument through which a very large ele-
ment of working people might secure
emancipation. President Dehs thinks
that the conditions which should exist
can be brought about mainly through po-
itical action. He strongly favors the
Idea of working people taking an active
part in politics, but he believes that more
effective work can be done by the wage
Farmers in this direction if they are thor
oughly organized, and can move with
some degree OF system aud intelligence
President Debs thinks that as political
parties are today, the Populists offer the
working people the greatest encourage
ment."
1T was claimed by good many OF the
delegates who attended the annual con-
vention of the Illinois Federation Of La
Dor at Springfield the other day that
TTSSlNellt llCES 'WSS WOkhlAS, aSt5ltlSl
trades unions. How is this, Mr.. Keli-
her?'
There is no excuse for any such idea.
President Debs is not an enemy of trades
unions. On the other hand. heiis friend
ly to them. But he thinks more can be
accomplished by orga.zing* into bodies
which Will represent all branches Of a
particular industry It has been demon
strated that the several railroad unions
and hTotherhoods ere not q success. As
q result of their uselessness, or com par
ative uselessness, they are going to
pieces. Thssss especially the case with
the firemen 81 bros herhooG. = T -s 5ss$ \
what L ~ he membership Of the a. r.
u. today u. 5ss ssS4
1 .Ity is abolN 10000. A year ago last
July there was a memb bershipsof about
125, 700. A great many Of those are be
/ hind in the matter Of paying dues ssIf
you count the men who are out because
their dues are not paid aud those who
are in good standing today the number
will be somewhat in excess sof the mem
bership at the time the strike WslE or
dered It is hard TO give figures, but II
should say something like zoo, ,lO0ss par
ticfpated In that great stI ke. The raj
road companies appeared sdAtermin not
to reinetate the men who went out snnsa
strike, but al sa general thing The strifsra
& have got back 80 not ~. Sros
on some 0thets and ins BtFa InSn tfs
Il % sin saf & I'D tta1a assa