New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-23
CHICAGO STRIKE RECALLED
President Cleveland Sent Troops
There to QuelI Disorders.
LOSS WAS S8O,OOO,0 900
Debs and Other Leaders Were
Arrested for Conspiracy
Trouble Started at Pullman.

| The last big strike OF the engineers oc-
Cured M Chicago in the early summer OF
1894 Beginning with local strike at the
works of the Pullman Company at Pull
man. ILL.,. a suburb OF Chicago, the dispute
was taken up by the American Railway
Union, Of which Eugene " Debs was presl-
dent and ended with a practical te-up OF
| train and mail service on all railroads "a
dating from Chicago.
In the disorder that followed trains were
ditched, baggage was strewn along the
| tracks, and an enormous loss OF property
and injuries were the results OF countless
riots. Matters were finally brought TO
head by a proclamation issued on July by
President Cleveland. in which the strikers
we're declared subject to arrest unless OBJ
struction to the United States mail service
ceased. After troops had been IN Chicago
for several weeks and Debs and other off,
GERS OF the Railroad Union had been ar
rested on a charge Of conspiracy. the strike
was broken and order was restored in Chi
cago.
| IL was said the Pullman Company black
listed discharged employees, which created a
strong feeling OF resentment. During this
period OF unrest a large number Of en-
ployes were laid off and the wages OF those
retained in service reduced 90 per cent.
| Five-sixths OF the men promptly went out
on strike. Many of them were members OF
the American Railroad Union, which held
convention in Chicago that summer
! A resolution was adopted at a session Of
| that body. declaring that unless the Pull
man Company came to an agreement with
Its men before June rs the members OF the
union would refuse to handle Pullman cars.
| No heed was paid to the unions demand
and the order went into effect Switchmen
refused to attach Pullman cars to trains,
and when they " ere discharged whole train
crews left. In less than a week after the
strike was declared all roads running out
OF Chicago were practically at a standstll.
1t was ordered by Debs that no violence
was TO attend the strike, and this order
was respected until the last day OF June,
when a mail train was stopped near Chi
cago. simultaneously other trains In the
Pacific States, to which the strike had al
ready extended. we're interfered with, and
disorder throughout the strike zone became
general
ties. and as riots intimidations, assaults
murders arson, burglary and lesser crimes
became frequent, the government was ap-
pealed to- On July President Cleveland
ordered Colonel Crofton, in command ut
Fort Sheridan. to enter Chicago with the
entire garrison Of infantry, cavalry and
artillery. Later General Miles took COM
mand, and orders were given to fire upon
persons engaged in any overt hostile act.
Then followed the arrest and indictment
of the strike leaders, and upon their re-
fusal to give bail they were sent to prison
Deprived OF their leaders and driven by
want, the strikers gave up the fight. and
in less than a month after the general
strike began the federal troops were re-
called from Chicago.
The losses resulting from the strike, In
Guiding the earnings OF the railroads, wages
Of employees and the cost involved in pro-
tecting property, together with incidental
expenses, was estimated by Bradstreetss
10 be in the neighborhood of $50, 900 900.