The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-20
Pitching into Pullman,

An interesting opinion upon the
Pullman difficulty is accredited in q
current Washington news letter to "a
prominent member Of the adIninistra-
ton, who holds the closest relations to
the president" This man withhOlds
his name for strategic reasons, but is
said to $50 reflect the opinions Of the
PRESIDENT that his staten mt may be
accepted as expressing the presidents
own views. Our eminent, although
anonymous dignitary, after carefully
reading Mr.. Pullman's recent elaborate
defense, commented upon it as follows:
| do not think that Mr.. Pullman acted
as all patriotic and considerate citizens
should act in such crisis. The country
was more dangerously near the terrors Of
war than is generally understood. The
situation was ono which appealed to every
lover OF his country and to every one who
was interested in its prosperity. 1t would
have been very simple thing Tor Mr..
Pullman to haue said IN that emergency:
II think that the position which the Z ull-
man company has assumed is correct:
that there is nothing in the relations b.
tween the Pullman company and its EN-
ployes which is properly subject for ar
bitration; / assume that the business Of
the Pullman company Is private matter
which does not concern the general pub
lie: but, in view Of the existing agitation,
and that all the millions of this country
and its great commercial interests are in
volved in this controversy, l waive what
consider to be the rights of the Pullman
company, and the absence Of rights of
those who oppose 1t, and, in the interest
Of Il people and their business, invite
the most searching investigation into the
books and business and methods OF the
Pullman company" That, it seems to me,
would have been the patriotic duty Of Mr..
Pullman in such great national crisis.
He would have sacrificed nothing but his
pride. and the theory of his directors az to
how the business of the company should
be conducted. And l do not doubt, and |
question If any member of the government
doubts, that IL Mr.. Pullman had made such
q statement at the proper time the dread
full events Of the last two weeks might
have been averted, and the many millions
Of dollars losses, direct and indirect, incl
dent to the strike, and the loss OF life
would have been averted. 1t seems to me,
and think that will be the Judgment of
history, that Pullman would have rendered
q more patriotic service to his county than
he is ever likely to be called upon TO per.
form if he had sacrificed his pride OF
opinion and pride Of business and moder'
ated his arrogance for the sake OF the
peace, prosperity aud happiness OF the
II R1s hf,,ly haf In pf1l Hmm
and his personal and business relations,
will discover that he and his company have
made terrible mistake,
1t will be noted that this reads al
most like an amplification of THE
TRIBUNE's recent editorial urging Mr..
Pullman to make concessions, if not to
Debs and the strikers, at least to his
good patrons, the jeoparded American
people. But this unknown admins
tration dignitary makes another point
worthy of attention when he says:
But what 1 think that the people ought
to understand is that the government of
the United States has not put its powerful
machinery In motion in the interests OF
capital or of the Pullman company or of
the railroads. The government of the
United States has done what it has done
because its authority was assailed, its
mails obstructed, its commerce paralyzed
and either labor or vandals, taking ad-
vantage of the chaos which was created,
sought to redress its supposed grievances
hy the torch. The impression now pre-
a, @hat ha rollrnnua will audpnvnr m
destroy labor organizations. 1t will be an
unfortunate impression. Labor has the
same right to organize that capital
has and it is the duty now OF all good
citizens, or business men, and Of
legislators and Of patriots everywhere, TO
see to it that out OF this crisis there
shall come q better understanding between
capital and labor. the employer and en-.
ployed. 1t will not do In this country to
cause the great mass Of workingmen to be-
lieve that they are to be denied the rights
aud privileges which are accorded to or
eanized capital that this strike ha, re-
suited in the victory OF the railroads aud
the destruction of organized labor. There
is no government strong enough TO defy or
to prevent the organization OF labor for
proper purposes, and the railroad manag-
ers of this country ought to sed to 1t now
that they do not, by rash words or deeds,
do anything to inflame the passions which
have been restrained but not Destroyed.
We do not know who this mysteri-
Gus administration spokesman is, and
have no idea. But he is evidently a
man possessed of abundant common
sense; and we heartily congratulate
Mr.. Cleveland upon the good fortune
that adds him to the list of the execu-
tive's friends and advisers.
THE DEATH at Berwick Wednesday
of Hon. Mordecai w. Jackson, founder
of the Jackson q Woodin Manufacture
ing company; terminated a long and
useful career.sMr. Jackson was 81 years
old. Sixty years ago the concern with
which his fame is identified was mere
ly small plow foundry. Now the in.