The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-17

TO be no delays or technicalitics. When
the controversy is between one or mere
railroads on one side. and one or MOI
trades unions which shall have incorpo-
rated themselves ui,der the provisions
OF chapter 567 OF the United States Stat
utes OF 1856. or under State Statutes
upon the ether, each side shall have the
right 10 select representative who SHAH
be appointed by the President TO serve as
a temporary member Of the commission
in hearing and adjusting that particular
controversy. The railroads are not 10 De
allowed TO discharge dissatisfied en-
plOyes while the investigation IS Fo'i's
on, except for inefiiciency or neglect VI
duty, nor must the unions during 'na'
time unite In strikes or boycous asa'"''
the railroads complained OF.
There are a number OF other recofhIheh-
dations which would amount 10 h"'
however. II the foregoing were IeJe'''''
and 1t is not necessary therefore, ~
state them at this time
These recommendations are OF course
nerfectlv silly and furnish curious mus
tration of the tendency Of men 10 lose
tneir heads when dealing with suDJecIS
g.. ,ro,se Great excitement and disturb
ance in the public mind.
~. II he observed that the commits
zion recommends that the railroads shaH
no comnelIed to perform the award that
the strike commission makes, but ID -
totally silent as TO what the trades unions
shall be required 20 do In case the a"ard
Is against them What sort Of justice Is
that? Whoever heard before OF a party
TO a suit who is 10 get the beneht ol
the decision If it goes his way, but Is not
70 perforrn the decree If IT goes against
him? This is a sort of heads ] win ana
tails you lose" justice that has, so Iar'
been totally unknown to our institutions
and is likely to remain unknown TO them
indefinitely.
But what would happen If the COM
mission should "mcnd it's hold and rec
ommend that the trades unions shouId
also be required to perform the award
when II is against them? We should nave
citizens OF the United States com?eHed
by civil tribunals to perform contracts
for personal service which they deslIeu
TO break which would be, in erect re-
ducing them TO state Of slavery ana
the thirteenth amendment to the consul
futon Of the United states de-
clares that neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude. except as pun
ishment for crime whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted, shan
exist within the United States.
The commission. therefore, cannot
secure the adoption Of its recommended
tons without setting up one-legsed
kind Of Justice that is repudiated 10y saw
ages even, and. If it secures justice
which walks upon two legs IL must first
undo all that one great civil war was
fought to accomplish.
This sufficiently exhibits the Stiffness
and absurdi,y of the commissions rec
concentrations. But the all-powerful rea-
son lying behind it all, why such recon-
mendatons should not be adopted IS
that it would be depriving men of their
right to conduct their own business in
their own way and when that right is
interfered with socialistc rule has COM
mcnced, corrupt government is on us,
and we are on the high road to the loss
of everything worth having and to the
barbarsm of another dark age.
The development of the world to the
point it has reached has been the result
of individualism-of the privilege men
have had to pursue their own aims in
their own way. 1t is very true that in
the onward march of events situations
continually arise in which individuals,
and large collections of individuals are
forced into positions that cause them
great suffering and distress ana
| that tend to arouse our indig-
nation against employers who seem
to treat their employees with great
hardship But there are always two
sides to even such cases as these, and
wherever ultimate justice might rest if
everything bearing upon the case were
mparualy stated before an upright
Judge this cardinal principle is never TO
be forgotten, that it is far better for the
should sometimes fail to receive all that
they claim rather than that the all i'm
portant principle that a man may do as
he likes with his own should, in the
slightest degree, be invaded All ctvili-
Zatlon, all progress, all enlightened so
ciety hinges upon this point. The sacred
ness of private property, the freedom OF
the individual to conduct his own business
in his own way, lie at the very founda-
ton of everything worth having in this
world. and we must put up with whatever
complaints arise out Of the strict obserV-
ance Of that principle rather than in
vale il to the smallest extent