Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1914-11-04
SHALL We CALL THE STRIKE oFF???

The Strike Bulletin belongs to the aptators in the la
bor movement. ! am their servant.
The executive council of the railroad department OF
the American Federation of Labor recent conference
in Kansas City decided to do two things:
F;rst-To discontinue the payment of all strike ben
efits on the illinois Central Pere Marquette and Hartman
lines after December !, 1914.
Second-To submit the question of calling off the
strikes the Illinois Central Pere Marquette and Harr-
man lines of the who left their Jobs because
these companies refused them the right organize into
System federatons.
am unalterably opposed to the calling off of this
strike
In making my position known, am moved by but
one consideration and that is prevent the labor
from making surrender that involves the integrity
and morality of the The crises presents ques
ton OF personalities. his not the time for personal
controversies. We face face with situation that
demands best intelligence and appeals the puest
of motives.
On September 80, 1911 $1,000 of us gave up our
jobs because the Illinois Central and Hartman lines said
could not organize into System Federatons. We con-
tended that the right organize the right of every
wokingman. We maintained that this right
sary existence free American workingmen
This is right worth fighting for is right that
cannot be surrendered without abandoning every funda
mental principle Of unionsm. While only $4,000 OF us
directly involved card carrier in America
interested If we had given up right to organize
the and form necessary in order to enforce
reasonable demands would have compromised the
entire labor movement What does the right to organize
mean unless the men have the night to determine the
method and form of their organization? If we
accept the dictates of bosses the form and char
acer of unions. may well tear up union
cards and confess the meaning of the labor
movement
This them is the cause Of three-year struggle
Now we are asked to decide whether will surrender
and abandon this
To call off the strike on the Illinois Central and Har
nman lines one of two things:
First-Ether wrong when we lett our jobs
September 80. 1911.
Second-We were right then and willing now to
abandon right to organize see tit.
write these facts as living truths Who can or will
dare to contradict them?
They are as true today they on September
50. 1911 We cannot escape the truth. Whatever our
decision may be. we CANNOT CHANGE IHEFAClS
To be beaten is one thing; to surrender is quite an
other If some think that this strike lost will be lost
and time usfes their belief then it we refuse to
surrender by calling the strike Off the worst record OF
our struggle will be that were beaten But beaten
dishonored In such defeat the IN
tegnty of the labor movement survives. voluntary
surrender leaves the movement weaker In this case 1t
'acnces the and dearest principles OF un'onlsm
If the cause of this strike was wages and hours we
would lose much But when the cause IS the very
ife principle of unionism--Tf1E RlGHl 10 OKGAN-
ZE-then to surrender is like desertng your better self
being untrue to your ideals sacrificing the truth OF the
thing you love most-freedom.
One thing looms up big. 1t demands an answer
Answer that question before you vote hat question 49,