Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-09
IS THERE DANGER AHEADq


Burlington & Quincy railroad among its
engineers and firemen is assuming inn
mense proportions and threatens seri-
GUS hindrance to the commerce of the
country. Every indication now seems
to point to the fact that Chief Arthur OF
the Brotherhood of Engineers is encour
aging general strike on all the roads
that in any way aid the c., B. & G. in
their present trouble. A good many
people look with alarm upon this pro-
ceeding and are seriously disturbed lest
these corporations and labor unions in
volve our country in dangerous con-
fiict. All such fears in our opinion are
without foundation. This people and
their government are too powerful to
allow their industries and institutions to
be stranded by an obstruction no more
dangerous or difficult than the solution
of the problem of labor and capital.
This government is sufficiently powerful
to protect the person and property of
its citizens. and it viii protect them,
When government has done this all the
parties interested in such contests will
be compelled to settle their differences
by the laws and customs regulating our
intercourse and commercial relations.
There can be no doubt of the right Of
engineers and firemen on railroads to
organize for their mutual benefit and
protection. 1t must also be admitted
that railroads may form combinations to
promote their own interests. 1t is
through a mutual understanding of the
railroads that they are enabled to render
such valuable assistance to the trade OF
the country, as well AS convenience to
the individual citizens. The railroads
may combine their management to pro-
mote their own interest. A grave queS-
ton arises, however, right here. 1t has
been established by the law making
power and the Judiciary Of this country
that these railroads have no authority
to operate their roads to the great injury
Of the community. The law
has interfered in the management OF
railroads to the extent of saying that
they shall be compelled to observe GER
freights, and that their charges shall be
limited to certain amounts for transport
ing passengers. The citizen can deliver
freights to the railroads and compel
them to transport it to any given point
on their line. The road is also response
bic as common carrier for the proper
care and preservation Of freights which
they are thus compelled to receive and
transport. Now, then, the engineers on
these roads, as free American citizens,
have right to say they will not longer
work for the railroads. They have
right to say to the railroads, Give us so
much wages or we will cease to work
for you" The engineers may do this,
but there is another thing which they
may not of right do. They have no
right to say to any other citizen, "You
shall not take my place The
railroads owe it to the com
munity, as we have shown,
to perform certain service. If their
engineers quit work it is the duty of the
railroads to make all reasonable effort to
secure others to move their trains. 1t is
also the duty of the government to see
that the roads are allowed to exercise
this privilege. If combination of men
by threats or abuse are allowed to pre-
vent men from moving railroad trains
they are violators Of law just the same
as the roads would be if they tried to
compel the Brotherhood of Engineers by
mob violence to run their trains. Sup
pose the great state of Missouri should
say to the states of Kansas and Illinois,
you shall not ship your produce across
our state, and proceed to obstruct the
lines of commerce running across her
territory. What would be the result:
Every state in the union would cry out
against Missouri, and if necessary q
great army would be raised to force Mis-
souri, to cease her obstruction to inter
state commerce. Yet, practically, there
is no difference in this supposed
case and the present situation if
any combination of men are allowed
to prevent the operation of the rail-
roads. Yes, but some will say, the
the railroads. Then we answer if the
Brotherhood of engineers do not intend
to prevent the roads from employing
| other men and the roads do not deny
the right Of their engineers to strike,
where is the serious trouble to originate:
| There can be none. The railroads can
get other men and failing to do that
! they can come to the terms demanded
by their engineers. AS long as it is con-
| ceeded that men have right to strike.
and that their employers have the right
| to hire other men to take their places.
, there can be no serious danger to our
institutions resulting from these labor
troubles. And we predict that the
people of this country will compel this
recognition by all people and combina-
| tons whomsoever.