The record-union., 1894-07-06

ployes of the railroad to operate trains.
Troops were promptly ordered to both
points. Then it transpired that the COM
pany had not sufficient men on Its line to
operate one train. All the old hands
were orderly. but refused to go out. The
company had large shops in which
worked number OF men who did not
belong to the railway union, and
who could run an engine. They
were appealed to run the train, but fatty
refused. We were obliged to hunt up
soldiers who could run an engine and
operate a train. Again. two days ago, ap-
peals which were almost frantic came
from officials of another road. stating
that at an important point on their llne
trains were forcibly obstructed, aud that
there was reign of anarchy at that place,
and they asked for protection so they
could move their trains. Troops We're put
on the ground in q few hours time, when
the officer in command telegraphed there
was no trouble, and had been none at that
point, but the road seemed to have no
men to run trains, and the Sheriff tele-
graphed he did not need troops but
would himself move every train II riie
company would only furnish engineers.
The result was the troops were there over
twelve hours before single train was
moved, though there was no attempt at
interference by anybody.
ut is thought that in several instances
the roads made efforts to work green
men. and a crowd standing around in
suited them and tried to drive them
away, and in few other cases they cut
off Pullman cars from trains. But all
these troubles were local in character and
could be easily handled by State au
tEorities. Illinois has many more rail
road men than any other State, but az
rule they are orderly and well behaved.
This is shown by the fact that so very
little actual violence has been committed.
Only very small per cent of these men
have been guilty of any infractions of the
the law. The newspaper accounts have
in many cases been pure fabrications
and in others wild exaggerations.
81 have gone thus into details to show
that it is not soldiers that the railroads
need so much as men to operate the
trains, and the condition does not exist
there which brings the cause within the
Federal statutes, except statute that was
passed in 1851 and was in reality war
measure This statute authorized the use
of Federal troops in State whenever 1t
shall be impracticable to enforce the laws
of the United States within such State by
the ordinary judicial process. Such
condition does not exist in Illinois. There
have been few local disturbances, but
administration of justice, for the Federal
troops can do nothing that the State
troops cannot do.
II repeat that you have been imposed
upon in this matter, but even II by
forced construction it was held that the
conditions here came within the letter of
the statute, then l submit that local self
Government is a fundamental principle
of our Constitution. Each community
shall govern itself as long as it can, and is
ready and able to enforce the law, and is
in harmony with this fundamental prIn-
ciple: that the statute authorizing the
President TO send troops into States must
be construed, especially is SO IN matters
relating to the exercise Of the police
power and the preservation of law and
order.
"To absolutely ignore local Govern
ment in matters of this kind. when the
local Government is ready to furnish
assistance, needs and is amply able to en-
force3the law, not only insults the people
of this State by imputing to them an in
ability to govern themselves. or an un-
willingness to enforce the law, but is in
violation of basic principle of our in
stitutions-
s.The question of Federal supremacy
is in no way involved. No one disputes
it for moment, but under our COnstitu
ton Federal supremacy and local self
government must go hand in hand. and
to ignore the latter is to do violence TO
the Constitution.
.sAs Governor of the State of Illinois /
protest against this, and ask the immedi-
ate withdrawal of the Federal troops
from activity in this State. Should the
situation at any time get so serious that
we cannot control it with the State troops.
we will promptly ask for Federal assist
ance. but until such time / protest with
all due Difference against this uncalled
for reflection upon our people, and again
ask the immediate withdrawal of these
troops.
81 have the honor to be, yours re-
spectfully, JOHN Z. ALTGELD,
Governor of Illinois,"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
President has sent the following reply
to Governor Altgeld's demand for the re-
moval of the Federal troops from Illi-
nois:
"EXEcUTIyE MANSION.
WAsHIN NGToN, July 5. !
Hon. John p. AHgetd, Governor of
Illinois, Springfield: FEDERAL troops>were
sent to Chicago in strict accordance with
the Constitution and the laws of the
United States upon the demand of the
Postoffice Department, that obstruction
of the mails should be removed, and
upon representations of the judicial Off
GERS of the United States that process OF
the Federal Courts could not be executed
through the ordinary means, and upon
abundant proof that cOnspiracies existed
against the commerce between the States.
70 meet these conditions, which are
clearly within the province OF Federal
authority, the presence of Federal
troops in the city of Chicago was deemed
not only proper, but necessary, and there
has been no intention of thereby inter-
fering with the plain duty of the local
authorities to preserve the peace of the