The herald., 1894-12-28
WILL The WEDGE Be DRIVEN?
A Blow That Is to Kill Railroad
Monopoly.
Labor Commissioner Wright on Les.
sons of the Strike.
An Act of Congress That Creates State
socislism-Govsrnmen Con-
troll of Railroads.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
New YORK, Dec. 81. - Carroll D.
Wright, commissioner of labor, spoke
before the American Economic sssocia-
tion today. In speaking of the Chicago
strike, he said it was an epochal event,
because it emphasized certain principles
which are now to be recognized AZ essen
tisl in the government management and
operation OF railroads. 1t demon.
etrsted to the satisfaction of the
public the right and power of the fed
eral government to eend troops into
a state for the purpose of protecting fed
ersl interests whether that protection
was or was not asked for by the state
government. The chief reason. how
making event. is in the fact that it consti-
tutes a su bordiDate element in resolu-
tion which is quietly taking place in this
country. He did not believe that either
the federal or state government can or
rates of wages or prices of commodities.
He had no faith in Socialism.
STATE SOCIALISM.
In 1887, he said, congress, at the de.
mand Of the shippers Of the country.
made the declaration that all charges
made for any service rendered or to be
rendered in the transportation of pas.
sengers or property on interstate rail.
roads, or in connection Herewith,
should be just, and every un-
just or unreasonable charge for
such service was prohibited and de-
clared to be unlawful. This declaration
has been sustained by the courts. But
this declaration, he said, wac emphati-
cally state socialism; it was emph atical-
ly compulsory arbitration; it was en-
phatically law regulating the prices
of commodities through the price OF
services.
What is the consequence of this as
another step in the silent revolution
which is taking place? There is now
pending in congress g measure which 10
state socialism pure and simple. He
referred, he said. to the polling bill.
This pending legislation. Mr.. Wright
declared, is demanded at he
instance OF the shippers aud
the railroads of the country and its pas.
sage is being aided by a powerful lobby
in their service. The bill provides for a
great trust, with the government as
irustee
GovERNMENT CONTROL Of RAILROADS.
"W hen the fret bill to rsguiate COM
merce Was paesed, the great and power
full wedge of state socialism WAS driven
one quarter OF its length into the tim
Der of conservative government. of that
government which means democracy.
The pending bill, the moment it
becomes law, will drive the
wedge three quarters of ite length
into the timber there will then be
needed but one more blow to drive the
we ,ge horne. and that blow will come
at the instance of business, and not OF
labor-antire government control OF all
the railroads of the country instead of
partial control under the laws now ex-
listing.
"This blow will be struck in the most
seductive way. II will come through a
demand that the government shall take
charge OF the roads, not purchase them,
and ou. of the proceeds of transporta-
tion business guarantee to the existing
stock holders of the roads a small but
reasonable rate of dividend. Under
such seductive movement the stock.
holders themselves conservative men,
men in this hall now, will vote for the
striking of the blow. All this. as have
said, will be the demand and interest OF
the railroads and of the shippers
and not of the labor involved in
carrying on the work of transportation,
as the demand OF today for the enact
ment Of the pooling bill is alleged to be
largely in the interest OF shippers and
OF the public welfare.