Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-28
STATE SOCIALISM.
Uncle SamueIs Progress in
That Direction.
ACCORDING TO CARROLL D. WRIGHT
From the Labor Commissioners Point of
View tho Country Seems to Have Nearly
Got There-His Plan to Block the Wheels
of the Revolution Now Going On-The
Debs Strike EpOchal-Its Influence on
the Situation.

Oh the Revolution Now Going On-The
Debs Strike Epochal-Its Influence on
the Situation.
NEW YORK, Dec 2S.-The most i'm
portant and interesting paper read before
the American Economic association was
one by Carroll ID. Wright, national labo
commissioner, in which he gave his view
OF the meaning Of the strike at Chicago
last summer and called it an 'iepochal
event" In part the paper said: ''The
great strike which occurred at Chicago
IN June and July last and which was in
reality q combination of strike and boy.
colt, was An epochal event because it en-
phasized certain principles which are now
recognized as essential in the govern
ment management and operation of rail-
roads. 1t was also epochal for other rea.
sons. 1t demonstrated to the satisfaction
of the public at large the right and tl.e
power of the federal government to send
troops into a state for the purpose of pro-
tecting federal interests, whether that
protection was or was not asked for by
the state government. 1t has emphasized
the power of the federal government to
protect its great interests in the transpor-
tation of mails
How the Strike Affected the Courts.
'1t is further epochal in it's measure and
! influence because it has shown the power
OF the courts in the expansion of the
privilege Of injunction, which was twin
power to that of mandamus; it has shown
| that the civil courts have asserted the
right to define what is crime under GER
| tain circumstances, to execute their own
| views by legal processes, to interpr ct their
| own acts ana to impose sentence. 1t is
| epoch-making, again. because it has
crystalized public sentiment upon ques-
tion which has often been argued, that re-
| lating to tie quasi-public character of
| railroad employees.
Indicative of Revolution.
"The chief reason, however, to my mind
| why the Chicago strike is an epoch max
| ing event lies in the fact that it consti-
| tutes subordinate element in the revolu-
| tion which is quietly taking place in this
| country" The writer then emphatically
| declared his antagonism to state socialism
| and compulsory arbitration,' and de-
| clared that neither the federal nor state
| government can, nor ought to be allowed,
as rule, to regulate rates of wages OF
| prices of commodities" Thea he pro-
ceeded: Notwithstanding these pro-
| fessions am ready to re-exan,ine these
propositions to which 1 am opposed and
if expcdient to apply some of the features
involved in each of them. Let us. there
fore, consider in what respect the Chicago
strike becomes subordinate element in q
| revolution which is now going ON.
The SOcialistic Commerce Law.
| ''In 1857 the congress at the demand OF
the shippers of the country, and in their
| interest, as it was supposed, made the
declaration that all charges ma De for any
service rendered or to be rendered in the
transportation of passengers and property
| on interstate railroads, or in connection
Herewith, or for the receiving, delivering
storage, or handling of such property
| should be reasonable and Just, and every
| unjust and unreasonable charge for such
service was prohibited and decl sred un
lawful. This declaration has be come to
| all intents and purposes part of the con.
stitution Of the United States, because il
| has been sustained by the courts
Calls 1t .sCompulsory Arbitratory'' Too.
But this declaration was emphi rtically
state socialism, it was emphatically com
| pulsory arbitration, it was emphat ically q
law regulating the prices of mnaoditie.
through the price of services. 1t was tn,
old principle by which states reg ulatet
pixies and tolls, but here carried into a new
form with new machinery. 1t ssproper
ly sustained by the courts. What is the
consequence of this as another tep in tn,
silent revolution which is taking place
There is now pending in congress n meas
ure which is state socialism pure ant
simple. l refer to the pooling bill now
pending in the senate / cite it only t.
show the second phase of the silent rcvo
luton to which referred. This pending
legislation is demanded at the instance o
the shippers and the railroads of the coun
try, and its passage is being aided by
powerful lobby in their service"