The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-04-02
THE NEW ELEMENT IN
STRIKES.


binary feature of the recent strike on
Gould's railroads was the novel way of
Its settlement. For the first time in the
history of American strikes, the state
authorities-those of Kansas, Missouri
and Texss-were invoked to use their
power in peacefully aVerting conflict
between capital and labor.
This is another new departure, which
brings out the great function of tine state,
the Importance of which will doubtless
be seen hereafter. 1t is an assertion of
the right OF the state 10 interfere with the
conduct of the corporations 1t has crea-
ted. II is notification to these corpo-
rations that they are not always to be
permitted TO play fast and loose with the
lives and liberties of the hundreds OF
thousands of.men in their service. It is
an evidence OF the power that working
men may exercise oyer the political au-
thorIties who control the "blood and
iron" of the community.
The strike of the Jay Gould railroad
shopmen was settled through confer
ence between The state officials of three
states with the corporation functional
ries. That, IN brief, is the great new fact.
The opening step in this new depar-
ture was taken by that old pioneer, Gov.
Martin of Kansas. Jay Gould's mana
gers had called upon him, again and
again, in the most peremptorY way, to
order out the militia for the protection
of the railroad property against the
strikers. Instead of making haste to
obey the railroad managers, as a score of
other governors did nine years ago. he
| gave them to understand that this was
not his style. He first proposed arbitra-
ton; then he sought conference with a
committee of The strikers, Offering 10
meet them at Topeka or Atchi-
son, then he proposed conference
between the strike committee and the
railroad officials; then be asked the state
railroad commissioners to take the thing
in hand, giving them to understand very
clearly that the strikers had not been
fairly dealt with and finally, on the 18th
of March, he sent a long dispatch to
Boss HoxIe, Jay Gould's man. He told
| Hoxie there was nothing to justify the
ordering ont of the troops, that Hoxie
did mot comprehend the extent and
| character of the strike" which was
phenomenal in all IFS features" and
that "the men believe they have beer
wronged, and l am impelled to say thai
the almost universal sentiment of the
state sympathizes with them IN thi:
opinion"
He closed thus: Il appeal to you t.
abandon any purpose OF provoking {
collision, if you entertain it, and to en-
deavor to arrange terms for an smlcable
settlement with your employees
Even Hoxie understood this; but thG
cunning trickster tried game OF bluff
with Gov. Martin, who thereupor
threw him overheard. But next day
Hoxie turned up again IN telegram Il
the governor, that he would be "gla6
to meet him" in st Luis. and the DAY
after Hoxie "urgcd" Martin to come t.
St Louis.
Out of this grew the st. Louis confer
ence between the officials of three state
and the Jay Gould managers, in which
the strike was settled by Jay Gould's
surrender.
Had Coy. Martin acceded to Hoxie'
iDsolent demands for military interfer
ence-had he displayed the poltrooner'
of poor Msrmsduke, the Governor o
Missouri, there would have beer blood
shed along Jay Gould's line, ard a rail
road revolt, tar more formidable thai
that of 1877, would have been provoked
Jay Gould has learned several thing
within the past fortnight, aud railroa
! corporations IN general have found on
that the power of the state cannot alwaS
be invoked on their side.
The precedent thus established wi
yet be OF service IN many ways to strIl
eTs aud others.