The New York herald., 1922-07-18
.DEBS SAYS STRIKE,
VOTE, FIGHT AS ONE
Adds Calling of Troops in
Seven States Indicates the
Action Meant.
CALLS ON THE STRIKERS
Need for Solidarity on All
Fronts the Big Thing in j
Labor, He Thinks.

CHICAGO, July 17.-Eugene v. Debs.
leader of the great American Railway
Union strike in 1894. issued a statement
to-day to the striking railroad men and
other unions that the time has come
for the rank and file to unite and strike
together. vote together and fight to-
gether,"
There has been some slight disorder
and few scabs have been hurt" Mr.
Debs said. This has been the extent of
the violence. but it has been sufficient
to bring to the strikers what they fought
for in the late world war. The Federal
Government announces through the De-
partment of Justice that 1t will stand
no trifiing on the part, of the strikers.
and that If necessary armed force will
be employed at once for their suppress
sion.
THE Governors of seven States have
simultaneously announced that they
have the National Guard in their respec-
tive States modified and ready to move
at command when the exigencies of the
situation demand action.
You will have no trouble in guessing
what kind of action is thus meant on
the part of the national and State Gov
ernments which you shouted for. voted
for, invested your last dollar for and
crossed the Atlantic to fight and be
gassed and die for in the war to make
the world in general and America in
particular safe for democracy and lib
erty.
"And now that the war Is over and
kaiserism is dead and democracy and
liberty are on top this same crowd. to
a man, to whom you rallied in such
frenzy Of enthusiasm. to compensate
you for your noble patriotism, is now
lined up against you in battle array and
ready to shoot you down like dogs
'It is true, Mr.. Union Man, that your
craft union leaders. with scarcely an
exception, stood with the Wall Street
profiteers in bowling for war and rush
ing you. the common herd, into the
trenches. to be gassed. mutilated and
murdered, while they remained in the
rear to receive the plaudits Of the pluto
cratic press for their patriotism. But
that does not excuse you, for you chose
those leaders and were responsible for
them and after all the leaders are about
as fit or otherwise as the rank and file
that elects them.
IF in the light Of this situation you
90 not TeailZe tHe Crying neeQ IOr unity,
fer solidarity on every front, regardless
Ct creed or color, you are indeed In a
pathetic plight and your case is all but
hopeless. Your weak craft unions have
got to be converted into a powerful in
dustrial union and you have got to cut
loose once and for all from the rotten
political parties Of your masters. -. .
Your interests as workers and pro-
ducers are absolutely identical and
there is no earthly reason why those
who are employed in the same industry
should belong 10 different unions or
give their votes to different political
parties.
THE struggle. is entering upon its
critical stage, and whether the toiling
hosts shall emerge in triumph and es-
tablish Industrial and social democracy
in the world or go down in humiliating
defeat for another historical period of
economic bondage depends entirely upon
the capacity of the workers to muster
their forces and stand together, strike
together. vote together and fight to-
gether all along the line