The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-13

the courts. counscllcd moderation. there would
have been grave trouble a few weeks ago.
PennsyiVnnIn's Narrow Escape.
HISTORY or THE AvERrED CONFLICT THAT. uS-
cufcKfp, WOULD HAVE REPEATED THE WORST
FEATURES or THE RIOT IN PITTSBURGH.
Trrusv1LLE Pa, Nov 4.-Thc fact is, the
state OF Pennsylvania has had n narrow escape
from an Internal war that would have required !
ali its resources to control and check. and the |
danger is not over yet. Tho hanging Of Me- |
Candlcss in cfilgy only let of the surplus fury. |
Had certain mon given the word. that act would |
havo bcen the signal for the outbreak which |
contemplated the seizure Of the railroads and |
running them. the capture and control OF the |
United Pipe lines property. and in all proba-
bility the burning Of all the property OF the |
Standard Oil Company in this region The men
who would have done this. and may do II yet
are not laborers nor tramps. They are men
who believe in law and order and have business
to attend to. But they say If tho law no longer
protects them or their property, they must 20
back to tho law OF nature Many producers
doubt the ability Of the trade TO get any relief in
Pennsylvania. They say the Pennsylvania
Railroad is bound hand and foot to the Standard
and can't get away. and that there is no hope of
relief from the State from the expressions of that
corporation. They say however. they will wait
and see what the effect Of the present action OF
tho Producers in tho courts will be- IL IL brings
relief. well and good II not. -.
The Producers Union decided last summer
to begin operations by going to Gov. Hartrantt.
strong committee went to see him. and laid
| their ch argos before him.
The Governor listened at first patiently. then
nttentively; then rising excitedly he said
Gentlemen. put your statement in the form
OF an afldavit.'
They did So and the Governor went with them
! 10 tho ofico OF the Attorney General for the pur-
pose Of instructing him to lay the complaint be-
! fore the Supreme Court. and ask that the Court
take such legal steps-not to go into the techni-
| calities Mt this time-as would substantiate or
disproyo the charges OF the Producers. and. II
substantatcd. that such process should issue
against the Pennsylvania Railroad MS would
put u stop to the iniustices that corporation
was perpetrating. in collusion. as alleged with
the Standard Oil combination.
| The Attorney General advised concllation
Il direct you to do this in the name Of the
Commonwealth" was the Governors answer
and the Attorney General had no option. The
proceedings we're begun. and the Pennsylvania
Railroad must answer at Pittsburgh on the lith
OF November.
But the Producers did not stop with one iron
in the fire. They formulated changes against
the Pennsylvania Railroad. the Erie. the New
York Central. and other roads. and against the
| United Pipe Line. upon which they are entirely
dependent to get their oil 10 the railroads and
market accusing the former OF rcbating freight
l in favor OF the Standard Oil Company not only
on the freight shipped by that combination,
but paying the standard rebate on AL
oil shipped by any one else. and also dis
criminnting in other ways. SO that 1t was almost
impossible for any outside party to get OIL
shipped at ALL These charges were presented
I TO the Secretary OF Internal Affairs. McCand-
! less. aud he had no option under the INV but to
examine them. But not one of the officials of
any OF these corporations although summoned.
attended the hearings or gave evidence ana the
Secretary had no power 10 compel them to ap-
pear A large number OF producers however did
r. | appear. and swore to statements that seemed
, 70 suiistantiaie the charges. and they thoug9t
: they had made good their case. because the OF
ficials charged had treated the summons To mp
pear and testify with contemptj had made no
tary McCandess had what they call the audaclty
to report TO the Auorney-General that the
q ated'T" aus 8 '"' ~ ~ 1Y
A This set the oil producers wild. Tho men who
! through. You will have your pains for moth
ing. There is no relief Tor us IN ms 81 Ne
r but by force 1t looked very squally In sohe
I've good mind to drive a pickaxe througi
my tank sad one gloomy producer IN Brad
have the Standard do it,"
About this time there was a count Of mon.
woiSy sSSy o II was Ts'SSG ognd hs arc Wcr1
, about 1000 men ready on the word 70 shoulder
u the musket and seze the railroads anu run
them for the people. It was not their purpose
4 to destroy property. but to control II for the
a been a signal. however. that would have been
1 beyond the power OF the 1000 10 control. II
. | was found that there were IN the Bradford dis
+, trct 5000 bummers and vagabonds. They
would have seized the opportunity for genera
t riot and hayoc. and it was determined to endure
This gentleman would not admit that he was
o a member OF the secret order, but he says INA
4 | fttstll h.h hau rA : M
: project is to seize the railroads and nited Plp'
Line and control them for the equal advantage
7. the courts and this has nothing to do with th'
10 general incendiary talk that you hear every
whore in the oil regions.
j. Gov Hartranft heard that matters were VERY
II desperate IN the oil regions. ana WIN the mem
T. Ory OF Pittsburgh in his mind he spent som
time here investigating the cause OF th'
trouble. He was very nervous. he knew ina
1nSsI nno tGat MS Would be- bloody before II" Il was over
am soon 10 retire from political HE. Ia
: said TO gentleman, aud the saddest remem
y, brance that | shall carry away Will pe that o
|. Pittsburgh. l shall always regret that wa
" not in the State when those riots broke out,
x want 10 say now that any othor attempt at VIC
Is lence will be met at the outset, and with all III
a., power that exercise rs Governor"
IIo cOunsecd patience, ana urged the lfo
70 ducers to exercise all their influence 10 tha
- tbey would do ali they could; but they kneN
10 there was a powerful clement among them tina
y might get beyond control. II convinced that the
"a were not to be relieved from what they believe
10 be the tyranny OF u monopoly. The GoVernO
4 went away satisfied that tho Producers wer
ID suffering whether he believed that the caus
10 OF that suffering lny at the doors Of the Stand
Oh ard oil monopoly he did not say, but throug
~ his help the case is now before the Suprem
Court in Il suit which the Producers hop9 WI
10 result in comu ling the Pennsylvania RAlroa
- and all other railroad companies in the state
, show discrimination 70 no shipper but 70 trea
IL all alike and which will aso compel the Unite
r Pipe Lines to treat all alike.
n, For tho result Of these suits the Producer
are waiting and holding their breaths.
=" The story In Detail.