The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-12

modern SOcleUy Is ClSdrranBeu, ana greater evils
result than even the gross hardships to which
individuals are subjected No man refusing
to work has the right to interfere to prevent
any other man from taking the vacated place.
One man has as much right as another to
he will. Nor has any man or organized body
of men the right to interfere with the prop
erty of former employer be he farmer, mer-
chant or capitalist. 1t were dangerous to con-
cede anything of the kind. But what is to be
done in case like the present? Here are ten
thousand or more men whose rights
have been ruthlessly ignored. 1t is not a
case of one individual, but men in a great
mass are injured. It is worth while to think
seriously of their condition and position, even
while the necessities of the general welfare,
above and beyond even those Of these thou
sands, demand that the blockade they have
enforced shall be lifted peaceably if possible,
forcibly if necessary. The trains must be
run; commerce must be permitted to flow un-
vexed. But while this is true, it will be
well to seriously consider whether
the continual grinding and exaction
of human labor shall 60 on without
an effort to prevent it, as earnest and success
full as that which, after years of struggle, is
about to be crowned by law that will enforce
justice between the corporation and its Gus
toners. II the power of the federal govern
ment must be invoked on behalf of the
customers of these giant monopolies, it may
be needful to call upon the same potential
arm to be interposed on behalf ssof their work
men.
The resolution of sympathy with the strik-
ers passed by the Illinois Legislature, while
undoubtedly bit of cheap demagogy
suggests the fact that wealthy corpora
tons and capitalists enjoy advantages over
people because of the fact that Legislatures
do not do their duty. Too often legislation is
bought or bought off. The influence of the
mighty dollar has been apparent from time to
time. For years legislation has properly en-
couraged commercial and business enterprise
Railroads have been afforded every incentive
to perfect the needed facilities for carrying
the countrys produce. Under patronage Of
the law these corporations have grown wealthy
and powerful. They must be made to under
stand that they are still under the law, and
indebted to the country for the prosperity
they have enjoyed, and that the creature is
not greater than the creator
The Legislature of Illinois, and those of
other States, should seek to compel justice
between them and their employees If the
latter must keep their hands off the property
of the former, which they should be COM
PEELED to do, the former must be obliged to
discharge their just obligations to the latter
One step in the way of justice would be an
enactment forbidding the payment of a essay
dividend so long as any claims of labor are
unsatisfed. Stockholders have no right to
profits until profits have been earned. Let
this principle be enacted into statute, with
adequate means Of enforcing it, and the country
will less often be disturbed by labor troubles
on the Wabash and other railways. Jay
Gould should be taught to understand that he
owes something not only to the men who
work for him but to the country, under the
laws of which and through the patronage of
which he has amassed millions. Since he is
too wealthy to be amenable to public senti-
ment, the law should be made to reach him,
and hold him with the same unrelaxing grip
that it has upon those less able to avoid it's
claims.