The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-07
The RaiIlCay Problem.
COL. THOs A. sCOTT's VIEWS ON THE LATE
LABOR INsURRECTIoN.

LABOR RESURRECTION.
The leading article in the North Amert-
can ReoisD for Observation-Disclosures is time
ly contribution to the discussion of the re
cent and still pending differences between
the great railway companies and their en-
atives Itisentitled "The Recent Strikes"
and is from the pen of Col. Thos. a. Scott,
who, who, after reciting the history of the
troubles and reviewing the necessities OF
the railroad companies, makes the follow
ing deductions:
This insurrection. which extended through
fourteen States. and in many cases successfully
d,tied the local authorities, presents a state of
facts almost serious as that which prevailed
at the outbreak of the civil war. Unless our
own experience is to differ entirely from other
countries-and il is not easy to see why 1t
should with The increasing population of our
large cities and business centres and the inevi-
table assemblage at such points OF the vicious
a prelude to other manifestations of mob vio-
lence, with this added peril, that now, for the
Srst time in American history has an oruuuized
mob learned its power to terrorize the law
abiding citizens of great communities. With
our recent experience before US. ii is believed
that no thoughtful man can argue in favor of
delay by the proper authorities In dealing with
leads to destruction of properly and may lead
in the end to destruction of life. The force
used to repress such assemhlages should be as
which 1t deals. The interests concerned are too
grave To admit of delay. The raising of the
black flag and the stOppage OF all vessels on the
great lakes and on the Mississippi aud Ohio
rivers would not produce one tithe of the dam-
age to the whole country that has resulted from
the recent st"ppaee OF the great trunk lines.
The burning of the vessels and their carYocs on
these waters would raise a storm OF wrath
which no mob would dare to face, and would
he visited by the United States Government,
punishment. But what distinction can be
tab'ished between such crime and the hdeous
destruction at Pittsburg of over S0J cars laden
with the products at the var GUS States. togcth-
er with tae engines ready TO move them TO
their destination. and the station buildings aud
machine shops that were absolutely essential tn
their proper and movement, and which.
with other like dOingS. resulted in the StOppagc
of all commerce Hnd business relations between
.he states not oEly on one highway, but
many important lines, through .he concerted
action OF the mob aud its leaders, In the city
of Pittsburgh much human life and many pri-
need as the result OF mot violence; +; indeed II is
almost a marvel that large portion OF that
city was not destroyed by hre. Only the pre-
va1iin2 direction OF the wind aNerted greater
and more general disaster.
THE FEDERAL AUTHORITY.
The authority of the United States, now pO-
tent to protect commerce moving upon the
waters, should tie equally potent Wien the
same commerce IL exposed To greater peril upon
band / his brings us, then, To the practical
question: In what shape can this protection
be put SO as To be extend most tfhcIently and
WIN the least delay The present regulations
nii favor, uninfcntIonaiIy. the rioters and the
MOB. In tne hrst place the Mayor of city
must exhaust hIs power. the sheriff of the
county must essay his strength; then, while
precious time Is cXpendlnR-tor Il mob con
sthntly attracts dangerous elements and grows
WIN lhpunitJ ana success me Governor OF
the State must be called upon Ivy the Sheriff of
county II the State happens to have an ef-
1ectlNc military organization, which the
present Time is the case III perhaps not more
man nv1 out of the tni-ty-seven States OF the
| niOn, the Governor can call out the military
forces and suppress the riot. 1t the State has
10 such organization, OF it the military forces
OF the State prove inudequare to the eInergen-
cy, the Governor is paralyztd aud must call
upon thc United States Tor assistance. If the
authorities OF any State should Tor any cause.
4 mil ItJ ~,
GoFcrnment. what possible remedy or protec-
ION rs ielt TO lie and property within the lin
It's OF that Common wealth?
IL can readily be seen what frightful pOSsibi-
ities of mischief afforded by The necessarily
long interval which must elapsc in the present
State oil our laws before the Federal authority
can intervene in cases where it's Intervention is
most imperative. In fact, us our recent expe-
rlcnce has shown, the only roads which could
procure prompt protection aud immunity from
interference were thuSe whose miStortuues had
IN zoe them hankrupt aud placed them in the
airect custody OF RecelNers appointed 10y the
the United States Marshal could call United
states troups, aud no rioter cared To resist the
power represented by The small but admirably
disciplined attachments quartcred near the
scenes OF The recent Iruubos. 1t Will hardly
De contrndcd ihu; the railway companies must
become bankrupt in order TO make secure the
uninterrupted movement of traffic over their
lines, or to cqtitle them to the efficient protec-
tion of the United States Government, II "A
bondhOlder or other creditor is entitled to the.
protection of the Federal courts to prevent the
threatened impairment of the value of a pro.
perty through legal proceedings, he certainly
shouid not be lett without remedy against law
less violence which has actually des royed the
security Ter his nvest mcnt, and has. as at PITTS
burgh, converted millions of dollars into scrap
IRON ana aShe5. The laws which give the Fed
crai courts The summary process OF Injunction
TO restrain so comparatively irilliEga wrong as
an infringement OF n patent right, certainly
must have been intended or Ought To give the
United States authority to prevent Al wrong
doing which not only DESTROYS a partictI.ar
road but also paraiyZes the entire commerce of
the country aud wastes he nat tiOnal wealth. 1t
is iemonstrnble that during the recent disturb
Hict,s the Government oil the IIuiJp1 States
Itself direct loser, and through the govern
ment the tax payers of the Whole counfry 10 a
very large amount by the diminu:iou OF the
national revenues, arising from the inuerriip-
ton OF business aud the interference with many
OF the operations on which the internal taxes
OF the country are levied, well as by the di-
minution of the .customs revenues as All rho
imports during this period. instead of being
forwarded To their destinations, were nec,.ss;,-
rily placed in store of course ,yithnut M, yn,r't
VI any uuty To the government Tor the time
being. suppose that this state of things had
continued for sixty days, would not the United
nearly all the revenues on which il relies to
meet its current obligati ,ns?
WHAT NEEDED,
Certainly it cannot; have been contemplated
IN IN tne formation of our government that the
United states authorities should submit to see
the transportation of the mails, covering th,.
enormous financial and business TRANSACTIONS
OF 'hc whole country, amt the movement of
supplies required Tor its own various depart
m'.nts, inade dependent upon the grace and fu-
Nor OF rioters whose misconduct in almost any
other form would have secured their immediate
arrest and conGi9n punishment. During the
troops was lmpeded at several points, and la rye.
Quantities OF ammunition and other Federal
stores on their way to The Pacific coust were.
iorcloy detained for days. The operations of
Ihe national government in some parts of the
country were as completely blocked as in ths,
eatly uays OF the civil war. There certainly
should be protection against such dangers
aiid remedy Tor such wrongs III the GOVERN
meht OF the United States is to exercise. it's
power of projections or OF remedy, IT perhaps
can do so only through an adequate exhibition
o, the military force that may be gwen it for
oI, oucn PURPOSES 10y Congress. The important
question is to ascertain IN what wny the gov
erhhent can SO exhibit its military force as TO
secure the utmost possible efficiency in the en-
Iorcenent OF law and order without jarrinp or
uistufDing the general framework of our Insti-
tutions ana our laws. 1t seems tn be iudisprn-
sioic, IN the light OF recent events, that what
ever force is TO be used by the government I'm
sich encrgencIes should pe 50 distributed und
controlie4 that IL may be concentrated upon
ahy point or points thar may be Threatened
"itHlh n rev hours OF any outbr ak. Several
cohpanies nt reg uidr troops that were quarter
en e at baltimore. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
neaoing' Scranton, Louisville, Chicago and
othtr places, during the recent riots had TO he