People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1894 — A SWEEPING ORDER. [ARTICLE]

A SWEEPING ORDER.

Strikers Enjoined from Interfering with Trains of Any Description. Artion Taken by the Federal Court* at Chicago The Injunction Greeted with Jeers by Striker* at Bine Island. UNCLE SAM TAKES A HAND. Chicago, July 3.—The United States government has taken a hand in the warfare against the boycotters and rioters. Judges Woods and Grosscup in their chambers were presented with a bill for an injunction, most sweeping in its nature, prepared by United States District Attorney Milchrist and Special Counsel Edwin Walker, and the order of the court was that all strikers and rioters be restrained from interfering with the operation of railroad trains under the interstate commerce law and the statutes of the United States governing the transmission of mail. Under the jurisdiction of Judge Woods it can be put into operation throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Five hundred copies of the injunction have been made and will be served on Debs, Howard and the directors of the American Railway union at once. Gist of the Injunction. The order of the court that acts in the nature of an injunction is, ’n brief, as follows: It is directed to E. V. Debs, G. W. Howard, L. W. Rogers and all other members of the American Railway union; also strikers and other persons whomsoever who meet with the above named, or who intend to act with them in deeds of violence. All are enjoined from interfering with the business of the twentyone railroads, the same being those represented in the General Managers’ association. The injunction restrains all persons from interfering with the business of these common carriers whose business it is to carry passengers within the state and between the several states: also to restrain the interference with express and mail trains. The injunction also restrains all persons, both those named and those to whom the injunction applies, from entering the grounds of the said railroad companies, their yards or terminals, and from destroying any of the property of the said railroads. The injunction further restrains all persons from attempting to interfere with the business of the roads by seeking to induce employes to stop work by threats, violence, intimidation, promises or otherwise, also to restrain all persons from attempting to intimidate, threaten or force employes recently placed upon the roads to stop work. The order goes into effect immediately and notice will be served upon the above named and promulgated to the public. Reading the Injunction. Hisses, shouts and derisive jeers greeted the order of the United States government to all people to cease interfering with mails or the business of the railroads as common carriers. This order was brought to Blue Island by Marshal Arnold, who attempted to read it from the platform of a car. The reading was greeted with hisses, laughter and derisive howls against the interference of the government. No consideration was shown for the authority of the United States whose court had issued the injunction. Time and again Marshal Arnold was stopped, and during the intervals he begged the men “to listen, to wait.” When he had finished he asked them, in the name of the government, to disperse and allow the mails to proceed. Warned the Strikers. Marshal Arnold warned the men it was a serious matter to interfere with the United States mails and that violence against the government was a crime receiving severe punishment. Trains were to be moved at any cost. A sufficient force was on the way to see that the company be allowed to do business. Bloodshed might be necessary, but in the name of law and order he cautioned moderation. Then the rioters howled defiance at the marshal and his deputies and promptly violated the injunction by throwing a box car across the tracks and stopping all traffic for the night. The marshal immediately reiterated his demand for United States troops. Michigan Central Protected. Judges Woods and Grosscup have issued the injunction prayed for Saturday by Attorneys Winston & Meagher for the Michigan Central railroad restraining the strikers, including switchmen, firemen and all employes who opposed the operation of the road. The injunction is based upon the interstate commerce act and directs that all who interfere with the performance of interstate business be amenable to the laws. * Roads Are Badly Crippled.

The general situation shows little or no improvement. Every railroad entering Chicago is crippled. Many of the trunk lines are paralyzed. Traffic has been entirely suspended on some of the lines. All the roads entering the Polk street station arc particularly affected by the strike. The Santa Fe succeeded, after much trouble and many delays, in bringing in several passenger trains from the west. The suburban service of the city is practically at a standstill, engineers and firemen being tacitly allied with the strikers. Outside Chicago the situation in the west is practically unchanged. Troops are being moved to raise the blockade in California, but there is a prospect that they will be stopped in transit by engineers who are in sympathy with the strikers. There have been many collisions between the officers and the malcontents of the union, but thus far there has been no loss of life or serious' destruction of property.