St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-26
THE SEYMOUR PLAN.

The current labor troubles are per-
forming at least one useful service, in
reviving some bits of history that had
of men, and which may be useful as
presidents in formulating some plan
for the prevention of strikes in the
future. We do not allude particularly
70 Mr.. SARGENT's reminiscent sketch
of CHAUNCEY M. DEPEw's position on
labor organizations. Mr.. DEPEw'S re-
marks were not intended at the time he
uttered them tie apply to the present
state of affairs. He was posing at the
time as a possible presidential candi-
date. and was putting himself in posi-
ton to make himself solid with the labor
vote. Time and circumstances alter
cases, and if Mr.. DEPEw were to talk
that way to-day it would cost him his
lucrative place at the head of the VAN
DERBILT railway system.
But it is not Mr.. DEPEW we propose
to quote on this occasion. There was
another eminent New Yorker, the sin
certify of whose position on pablo ques-
lions was never doubted. and who will
ever be conceded a foremost place in
American craftsmanship; for no man in
public life in this country more univer-
sally enjoyed the confidence of the
masses than HoRATIo SEYMOUR. One
of the first railroad strikes in the his
tory of the country occurred during Mr..
SEYMoUR's term as governor of New
York. and OH one of the lines controlled
by the late Commodore VANDERBILT.
The railroad problem was less of
a problem then than now. because
corporate power had not attained the
magnitude it has since acquired. Yet
it was a power at that time in New
York, and arrogated the right to con-
troll state politics. Gov. SEYMoUR'S
action in that strike had about passed
out of memory until it was recalled by
the address issued by Chicago labor
union the other day.
1t is possible that there may have
been some exaggeration in quoting
Gov. SEYMOUR'S language, yet the
substance of 1t was correctly given in
the paragraph wherein he asserted the
right of the state to take control of a
public corporation and operate it for the
public benefit whenever the corporatio
officials failed to discharge their duties.
The railway managers were notified to
arbitrate differences with their en-
ployes within twenty-fOur hours from
the date of the proclamation; or, in
default of doing SO, then he, as the
governor of the state, would assume
management of the road and have it
operated. The effect of this prompt
executive action was to end the strike
within the twenty-four hours, and there
has never been another strike on the
VANDERBILT lines from that day down
to the present disturbance.
1t is not probable that Gov. SEYMoUR'S
action will be initiated nowadays, for
| the very good reason that there are no
governors like SEYMOUR. In most Of
| the states the governors are vaSSal tools
| of the corporations, and are not likely
to interfere with the railway manage
ments. Yet the precedent established
| by Gov. SEYMOUR is valuable. in that
| it is clear definition of the powers of
| the state in the premises, and is war
rant tor congress and the state legisla-
ture to adopt some legislation that
| will put quietus OH these labor troubles
| in the future. In case of a strike.
or from any other.cause a.public corpora
ton ceased to be operated by its manage
ment, if there were law authorizing
the governor to take charge of the 70 ad
and operate it under state supervision,
there would pretty soon be an end to all
these annoyanees. 1t would cause the
railway management to be more cautious
about provoking strike, and strikers
would not dare to interfere with the
operation of a road when it was being
| run under government authority.