The Pullman Strike, by Arieh Sclar

“With the coming of darkness last night Dictator [Eugene] Debs’* strikers threw off the mask of law and order and began the commission of acts of lawlessness and violence. A Pan Handle train carrying seven sleeper cars was flagged at Riverdale and the engineer and fireman, under threat of being killed if they moved, were forced to hold the train while a mob of 800 men detached the Pullmans…the mob grew in numbers and resisted efforts of the train men to recouple the Pullmans.”

- “Law is Trampled On,” Chicago Tribune, June 30, 1894

“At noon today, U.S. Marshall Byington received telegraphic instructions…to move all mail trains that were being detained in this city on account of the Pullman boycott. He…notified the…American Railway Union…giving them until 2pm to decide whether or not they would offer any interference. A committee of strikers called on [Byington] an hour later and informed him that the trains would be allowed to proceed…Passenger trains on the Ohio & Mobile roads were allowed to go out this morning without sleepers.

“Mail Trains Must Move,” Chicago Times, June 30, 1894

[if !supportLists]1. [endif]Can the excerpts be used as evidence to confirm the following sentence: “America was deeply divided over the impact of industrial Capitalism during the Gilded Age”? Provide two other specific examples between 1876-1894 that would either confirm or challenge this notion.

[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Why does the Chicago Times reference U.S. Marshall Byington and how does this reflect government involvement in economic matters during the Gilded Age? In your answer, provide one other example in which the government became involved in a labor dispute.