New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-12
EICTS and CONSTITUTIONS.

Thinking bayOnctS are better lIlan o'l''N' ~"
sober men do not want any Kind OF bay"h't'
to make thcir laws. 50 the wild riots auo
strikes and the effort Of civilized society 10 re-
store order. do not form the soil from whiri
wise constitutional amendments can he cNprc'
cd Neither are the Mayors of cities. often the
creatures of local domagogiSm or corruption
precisely the persons 10 shine rs constitution
makers and statesmen. Present appr"Nai oil
constitutional provision for compulsory arbiira
ton in all disputes between railways ana en-
ploycS would closely resemble National vo''
of thanks and honor 10 DcbS for disturbing the
peace diSorganzing business and violating law
Moreover no award of such all arbitration coul'
be enforced until the Nation had absorbed fh'
railroads and settled with their owners AMI
creditors Finally. what is needed * not more
Constitution. but more obedience 10 the 'onsil
tuition and laws we have
4 National board Of railway arbitration. II II
could be- clothed with power 10 cnforc" us a."
crccs would be the most powerful ana rl'h'S'
MONOPOLY in the country. II could make and
unmakc railroad presidents controlling half
million men and the commerce Of the whole
Nation: could hoist or dcprcss at will stocks and
bonds amounting to more than slOo""."r.0~;
the Sugar Trust has bought one. When we get
ready 10 abandon government by the people, ana
turn over everything 10 little Committee Of
Safety. II would he better 10 do tn" 'hnS VIII
out corruption or disguise.
What would b. the value Of any farm II u
little board nj Washington could decide what
wages the farmer should pay, how many ana
what men he should employ. and whether he
should pui I'm crops or notf | nd'r such c"ndi'
iions what would be- The value Of any MIN" or
manufacturing establishment: OF course ils'
railroad owners and he farmers would j." de-
Tended In the courts against any decision vlriu-
ally coniiscatng their property Hui long prf"r"
court, could get ready Ia hear ease stocks
might have sunk ont = sight. The Only honest.
rs the only practically effective. WAY 70 take
such control Of railroads would be - buy them
,r,. proceeding which would Civ" The present
owners mortgage for $lowNW~.V" on Inc
earnings and property 81 tho rest 81 ih" people,
and at the same time would give les than a
million political managers and employees "f GOV
eminent railroads practical ownership of the
rest 81 the United States. Their" would be no
power In the country 10 resist such u vast con
ccnira,ion Of force in the hands Of few indi'
viduas In command Of revenue. ~ contracts,
of wages aud appointments. It would outweigh
the whole United States Government Nv" or
three times We should simply hav" railroad
oligarchv instead OF government 10y the p"nl's"
As the country Is not ready for that KIND 81
revolution the people Will undoubtedly stop ana
think n little before they undertake enforced
arbitration between the owners and creditors
Of all railroad property and their employees. Nor
is this the time for any such scheme" Nhil'
lawbrcakcrs are dcfylng the authorities and the
courts IL il no time 10 propose any changc OF
laws whatever The Government OF The nli'd
States has no business 10 huIniliatc Itself after
any such fashion The flag Of the country Is
not 10 be hauled down before The flag of the
railway union" Of which Mr.. Dcbs talks. tn"
first thing 10 do is 10 restore the supremacy OF
law, and 10 teach all men who have been defy
ing and violating law that there can be no re
dress Of grievances and no change Of laws until
they have submitted and received such punish
mcnt rs their crimes may deserve. After that
II will be time enough 10 talk Of any redress for
existing grievances or any provision against
future disturbances Of like nature.