The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-13

army 70 DeCreUy IurOI0u o1O 3lu COIulcIt
to the enemy, while enjoying the protec-
ton of the dag he sought to upset. He
has served continuously in the United
States senate since the war, and he IL de-
spised by the best men Of both parties be-
cause he was too cowardly 70 follow his
convictions and put up his property and
his life for the Confsderacy. and Jet wasso
destitute of moral honor that he openly
opposed the war with his voice and -
cresly entered into criminal conspiracy
against the flag that sheltered him from
the just indignation Of the Union veterans
upon whom he recklessly voided the
venom of his speech. In addition to the
odium he enjoys as an old-time malevo-
lent and cowardIy copperhead, he i dis
trusted - most reckless incendiary demae
gogue.
On Tuesday last the difference between
Senator Vest and Senator VOORHEES, was
shown By their language concerning the
recent decision Of the Federal courts that
the boycottinG Of . railway was in violar
ton Of the interstste commerce ack Vest
promptly said that every lawyer knew
that the Federal judges were correct when
they decided that IN engineer had right
to give up his employment. but when the
association Of locomotive engineers or any
other association or corporation under
took to make . rule and enforce It In re-.
straine Of commerce that rule was abeo.
lutsly void. This was said in support Of
the same view taken by Senator Plat, OF
Connecticut. Senator Vest had too much
respect for his profession, too much regard
for the salutary influence of the courts to
tell lies tn labor concerning the law.
Senator Voorhees,. who expressed his 70.
greet on the floor of the senate last summer
that the Homestead rioters had not shot
Carnegie, was ready. however. with . bum
combe speech concerning ''the helpless
ness Of labor" and the desire of wealth ITO
chain it to the oar" This was said in
support of Senator Germans atrocious
language falsely describing the decisions
as ''the first step to make serfs Of men en-
ployed by corporations" Even the Lon
gobardian PETER scorned to indorse such
an idiotic faisehood - that uttered BY
voorhees, and German. for PETER confessed
that - the friend Of labor he welcomed
these decisions IN the interest of the final
adjustment Of the difficulties between the
railways and their employees.
Why should not every honest friend Of
labor welcome . decision that helps to
authoritativsly make organized labor
understand what are the legal rights Of
both parties9 Thus labor not only knows
when it 10 within the law, but it knows
when the corporation 10 without the law.
These Federal judges from Ohio to Georgia
and Louisiana say one thing, and only one
thing. They do not say word which im-
plies that any railroad servant mag not
give up his place when he chooses; they
decide only that 90 long IS he continues
in his employment he must not attempt to
prevent his employers from doing what
the interstate commerce act requires them
to do. and may be restrained by injunction
from interfering with their performance
Of their duty. This ruling rests on the
same fundamental principle announced
BY the United States supreme court that
public interests are paramount and must
prevail over private interests; which 10
nothing moro than reiteration Of the old
legal maxim that the safety of the state IL
the supreme law.
The New York Evening Post supports
Senator PETERS view that the effect of
these decisions will probably be to induce
both the employees and tho companies to
favor the enactment of railway service
rules by congress which shall DO fair to
both sides and to the public. The losses
incurred by both sides each year arc enor.
nous and unnecessary. while those borne
by the public in the interruption Of traffic
arc greater still.