People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1894 — THE INDUSTRIAL WAR. [ARTICLE]

THE INDUSTRIAL WAR.

Come of the Events Incident to the Great Pullman Boycott. Ominous Torn of Affairs in California— The Allied Trades FaU to Go OatOutlook Brightens for Chicago and Other Centers. TO PROBE THE STRIKE. Washington, July 14.—1 t was officially announced at the white house Thursday night that the president will Appoint a commission by the authority ffiven him by the arbitration act of 1888, to investigate the labor troubles at Chicago and elsewhere, and report to the president and congress. This determination on the part of the president was arrived at after an interview with Secretary-Treasurer Hayes, of the Knights of Labor, McGuire and C. K. French, of the executive committee, mud Mr. Schoenfaber, who were introduced to the president Thursday afternoon by Senator Kyle and who came bearing credentials from the American Railway union, the Pullman employes And several labor organizations. Riots at Oakland. San Francisco, July 14. Early Thursday morning a mob of several hundred strikers rushed into the yards on the mole. The}' killed all the locomotives that had been fired up, and blockaded the tracks by derailing a locomotive and a long line of coaches. Later in the day another crowd wrecked a turntable and did some damage a the roundhouse. Trouble came to an end, however, in the evening when a force of marines from Mare island were landed. Refuse to Treat. Chicago, July 16.—The General Managers association refused to even consider the peaceful overtures which were made to that body by President Eugene V. Debs of the American Railway union. The proposition was not only not considered, but It was returned to Mayor Hopkins, who took the letter to the association, with the information that no communication whatever from the officers of the American Railway union could be received or considered by the association. At 10:80 a. m. Friday President Debs And Vice President Howard, of the American Railway union, called on Mayor Hopkins and presented Jihn with a document containing a proposal for a settlement of the strike i Which they asked him to hand to the ' General Managers'association and use j bis influence to have that organiza- i tion indorse it. The plan pro- ■ posed agreed that the strike would be declared off if the railway companies will take hack the old men, except those who were arrested and those who have committed acts of violence. W ill Remain at Work. Chicago, July 1C. —'she executive committee of the American Federation of Labor and the representatives of j the national organizations which have been meeting at the Briggs house for | the last two days on Friday decided 1 Against ordering a general strike in j support of the American Railway j onion. The conference also decided against local sympathetic strikes by the trade unions, and requested the members of the organizations already out to return to their places. There was but one expression of opinion Among delegates as to the justice of the strike of the American Railway onion, but there was pronounced op- ' position to involving other trades of the country. Wrecked by Miners. Indianapolis, Ind., July 16.—The miners, of Fontanet, a station on the Big Four a few miles west of Terre Haute, on Friday, ditched a train. The engineer and fireman were mangled to death. The wreck was undoubtedly the | Work of a lawless mob of miners that ! possessed Fontanet all day Thursday j and stopped and sidetracked five Big Four freight trains to show their Sympathy for the railroad strikers. The trouble was so threatening that Sheriff Stout, of Vigo county, and Several deputies went to Fontanet Thursday afternoon. No passengers Were seriously injured. Under Martial Law.

Sacramento, Cal., July 16. Friday Was one of the most exciting days in the history of the strike, and martial law has been proclaimed. Two men lie wounded in the receiving hospital, while several others are reported dead or injured. Shortly after 10 o'clock Friday morning a switch engine was proceeding along Front street to clear the track. A company of regulars, under Capt. Roberts. of Battery L. Fifth United States artillery, accompanied the engine. As it reached 1 street it is said a gang of strikers fired on the troops. The soldiers returned the fire and several men were seen to fall. Two of them were picked up by the police and removed to the receiving hospital. United States Marshal Baldwin was at the head of the troops and proclaimed martial law. He called upon the people in the name of the United States to go to their homes ana remain there until the trouble is over. A few obeyed but the majority remained on the streets in defiance of the marshal’s Order. A Brighter Outlook. Chicago, July 17. —Railway ®tanaffers declared Sunday that the strike Was a thing of the past. They claim to have many of their old men back at work and are rapidly supplying the places of others. Trains are running with something of old-time regularity. Freight is being moved but the congestion is not ended. Trades’ union men called out to support the strike have mostly resumed work. Uncle 6am’s troops are still encamped on the lake front. Telegrams from other railroad centers are more emphatic than ever before to the effect that the American Railway union strike is at an end Outside Chicago From Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and otio' -mints the news is much *> Kodne effect —that most of the railroads *re running freignt

and passenger trains on .schedule time, that men who deserted their posts at the order to strike ar» applicants for reemployment; that new men are plentiful enough to supply the needs of the railway managers and that some of the roads emphatically refuse to reinstats former employes who deserted at the dictates of the union. Managers Quit. Saturday the General Managers’ association adjourned sine die. Recognizing that the railroad strike was virtually ended, the members felt that there was no further need for their daily meetings. Before the meeting Chairman St. John and Strike Manager Egan both reiterated the statement that the General Managers’ association would not recognize Mr. Debs or any of his associates in the settlement of the strike. It was also said emphatically that none of the old brotherhoods was involved in the settlement of the strike. Leaders Confer. At a conference held at the Revere house on Saturday, at which President Debs, Vice President Howard, Secretary Keliher and Director Rogers, of the American Railway union, General Master Workj man Sovereign, of the Knight of | Labor, and Grand Chief Stephenson j and Secretary Rodemos. of the Na- ! tional Brotherhood of Railway Car- ! men, were present, it was agreed | that the Knights of Labor in ‘Chicago and other points in the ; west where there is trouble I with the railroads will be called | out. Knights of Labor at other places will remain at work and will contribute their moral and financial support to the strikers. When the meeting had adjourned it was announced that the leaders, in addition to ordering a strike of some Knights of Labor, had j decided to call out ail carmen and track- | men; to appoint a number of ad- ‘ ditional managers of the strike; to appeal to Chief Arthur to forbid members of the Engineers’ brotherhood working with non-union men, and to push the strike and boycott more vigorous- 1 ly than ever. Took an Oath of Fealty. Richard Powers stood before 2,500 persons at Bricklayers’ hall Sunday night and bound the assembly by asol- ; emn oath to renounce the two old political parties and espouse the cause of the people's party. The scene was dramatic in the extreme. The speaker had just finished an arraignment of the two political machines, which he blamed for the present depressed condition of the country. Then he told the assemblage to repeat the oath after him. “With my hand uplifted"—the multitude roared the sentence —“and before the everlasting God!” The audience repeated after the speaker, and the noise had scarcely ended before he continued: “I renounce all parties—” The rest was drowned in the shouting. Every hand in the hall was held high and the rest of the oath was lost in the noise. It was an indorsement of the people's party. At this same meeting resolutions were adopted hailing with joy the action of the trades union, the farmers’ alliance, the single-taxers, the socialists and populists in joining hands in a common effort to restore the liberties of the people by means of the ballot; renouncing unconditionally allegiance to either the democratic or republican party; declaring in future, as trade unionists, socialists, federationists, single-taxers and all other elements outside the old party machines, for independent political action, and that to make a straight fight in accordance with this resolution they w’ould rally under the banner of the people’s party. Refuse to Yield. The Pullman strikers were given the opportunity Monday night to go back to work. No conditions were attached. They declined to accept the invitation. Col. Turner and Dr. 11. W. Thomas acted q,s peacemakers. During the day placards were stuck up around town calliug for a mass meeting at 8 o’clock in the New Market hall. More than 1,000 men and women attended. To the advice of Col. Turner and Dr. Thomas to return to work a unanimous shout of “Never” was returned, and the object of the meeting proved fruitless. During the day negotiations looking to the opening of the works and the reemployment of the old men were conducted between Messrs. Turner and Thomas and Vice President Wickes. The latter agreed that if the men stated their willingness and desire to return to work the company would consider the proposition. Trains Moving In California. San Francisco, July 17.— A1l trains are moving approximately on schedule time. The west bound overland train, which has been tied up at Ogden, arrived at Sacramento Sunday with a number of passengers.