The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-29
FEARS OF COL. w. P. REND
THINKS PROMINENT LABOR LEAD.
ERS ARE PLOTTING MISCHIEF.
Says Debs, Sovereign and RatchfOrd
Will Try to InauEurate "a Gem
eraI Strike at st. Louis.

CHICAGO Aug. 2S.-"The promoters of
the ST. Louis labor convention to be held
next Monday will try to use the miners
struggle as a pretext for the inauguration
of a general strike in every trade and in
dustry throughout the land" Col. w. +.
Rend, the well-known mine owner, made
this statement tonight. He continued:
IAN attempt will be made to create a repe-
tition of the Pullman strike on far more
extensive scale. Appeals in lurid language
will go forth to the American workingmen
telling them that they are being enslaved
by capitalistic and judicial tyranny. With
all the grandiloquence of spurious patriot
ism. the leading orators born in Europe
or of European parents, will proclaim that
they are being robbed of the precious
rights and priceless liberties purchased by
the blood and treasure of their American
forefathers. To regain lost liberties, to re-
store free speech, to rebuke despotc
judges and to save the country Will be the
theme and song of socialistic spouters-
They will raise the cry that labor must
unite in general sympathetic strike that
will stop the mines the mills and factories
and the wheels of every industry
"A triumvirate of agitators has been
formed to formulate this purpose and ex-
ecute this conspiracy. The workngmen of
the country should be warned in advance
of this dangerous plot. Who are its projec-
tors? Who are these great champions of
labor's cause? One is an extreme Socialist;
another is an industrial tirebrand, and the
remaining member OF this trio or Sed1tlOn
is a Judas and a traitor to the cause Of
labor.
"Debs Sovereign and Ratchford have
united together in this evil design: Such a
general strike as contemplated by them
would be a colossal crime against the en-
tire country. But the wOrkingmen of
America viii not heed the evil counsels nor
follow the fatal leadership of these three
ConSpiratOrS.
when the strike was declared it ap-
peared the part of wisdom to settle it as
speedily as possible on some basis just to
both interests | saw Ratchford and Of
fered for myself a proposal OF settlement
by arbitration. He positively refused the
offer. On July Is l again wrote him, re-
peating the offer His letter of reply con-
tanned another emphatic refusal In the
claimed that he desired arbitration, while
treating every propose! to arbitrate with
THE earnest effort during the past week
put forth by the Pittsburg operators to eff
feet a settlement by arbitration failed
through the unyielding obStinacy of Ratch-
ford who refused in succession five pro-
posals. Everything that fairness and JUS
tice could suggest was offered by the opera
tors at the joint conference. No fair-mind-
ed man in the country can deny this. But
RatchfOrd wants no immediate settlement.
He wants to enlarge the scope and char
acter of this strike until it becomes ma
tional war between labor and capital. He
and his associates have called the St. Louis
convention to denounce and reVile the cOun-
tryS judiciary and to aSsail and paralyZe
our country's business. Inflammatory APP
peals will be issued to the workingmen to
rekinde a con1lagration of passion and
prejudice. The man belonging to a union
has the same rights as the rest of us, and
no more. The laws and edicts of the Ia
Dor union must not be placed above the
laws and DEGREES of our state and federal
courts. Often the labor leaders usurp pow
er more despotic than those asserted by
any civilized government Tire present
strike illustrates this dangerous usurpation
of authority.
THE courts do not go far enough. They
should send to the penitentiary the con-
spirators that rob men of the right to use
what is their own by laws of civilized So
ciety and the laws of Almighty God.
Things have come to a pretty pass in
America when a coterie of such men can
declare industrial wars at their will and
pleasure. Is it rot time for the Ameri-
can people to wake up to a realization of
| these grave perilS that confront them?
IF my counsels had been needed a. just
mutual concession or by arbitration. and in
| a few weeks when existing complications
| caused by contracts taken last spring,
would be removed, I would then advocate
| the granting of the full siXty-nine-cent rate
| of mining demanded by the miners. This
strike will soon end. The miners will then
| condemn far moro severely than / have
| done the fatal course and insane conduct
| of their leaders. ="