New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-21
PAJLRO4DS And The PEOPLE.

1t is a Measure to he able to agree with Mr..
ConkIing. aud to commend his efforts as en-
tirely in harmony with the public interest.
The argument that the State cannot undertake
to run railroads by writs of mandamus Will
have weight with public opinion, and the ar
gument also opens the broader question as to
the right of the State to allow its powers to he
us,d for the benefit of private persons. Two
classes of individuals are engaged III the rad
upon railroad corporations to which the State
has lent its aid Certain freight handlers have
demanded higher wages than the railroads are
willing to pay, They have an undoubted right
to refuse 10 work unless their demand is
granted. But it is questionable whether they
have any right to the State authorities and
Courts in order to cOerce the companies into
paving what they demand. Certain shippers
have for a long time been demanding special
rates, which would give them an advantage
over other business men in the sale and ship
ment of goods. They have an undoubted
right to send goods in any other way, II they
prefer, and to use whatever legitimate intiu-
ence they have as citizers against the corpora
tons that refuse to submit to their dlctaton.
But it is questionable whether they have any
right to use the State authorities or Courts Ill
order to get advantages over other citizens In
the same line of business.
Mr.. Conkling maintained with much force Of
reasoning that the powers OF the State could
not properly be used for such private ends. If
there were no political demagogues extaGt, If
it were not supposed to be popular to attack
tie Corporations, it is probable that there
would be no question about the matter. Tic
State Government is supported by all classes
of citizens. 1t receives great deal more sup
port from railroad officers and stockholders as
class than from freight-handlers as a
class, but that does not make it right for the
State to use its power Tor the separate and pri-
yate advantage of either class-Of the one that
paws il most or of the one that pays it least. SO
the State receives a great deal more money
from railroad owners than from shippers of
the Thurber sort But that does not make 1t
right for the State to interfere for the private
advantage of Mir. Vanderbilt against Mr..
Thurber,.. or for the private advantage of MIR.
Thurber against Mr.. Vanderbilt. The State
has no business to take money from either class
of citizens for the benefit of any other class.
Freig handlers who strike for higher wages
have exactly the same rights under tho law
that any other class of workers have who want
more pay. If they Can get more, in open mar
ket and by simple appeal to the interest of
the companies, they have a right to get more.
But they have no right whatever to coerce
the companies, or other persons who may choose
to do the work which they refuse to do. The
coercion which they have no right to employ as
individuals the State has even less right to
employ for them as the servant OF the public.
because they alone are not the public. Other
persons. millions in number, are interested IN
the prosperity of the railroad companies and
it is their right that the powers of the State
shall not be used against their interests.
The theory that the State has Alright to compel
railroads, as common carriers, to carry all the
freight that may be offered without delay, NO