Hill refused to recognize it and fired ARU members. The union struck, with Debs telling the workers that if they acted as men, “they would not want for the support of courageous manly men.” He appealed to the citizens of towns along the Great Northern route for support against “this unholy massacre of our rights.” In a West full of antimonopoly sentiment, he got it. When attempts to get the government to intervene failed, Hill agreed to arbitrate. Debs bested him. The arbiters, led by William Pillsbury of Pillsbury Flour, gave the ARU 97 percent of its demands.
