The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-11-24

ployes and United States ~o6icials. While occr-
ating the railroads they assumed and exercised
unrestricted United States authority when so
ordered by their employers, or whenever they
regarded it as necessary. They were not under
the direct control Of any government o1Dcial
while exercising authority. This is placing
officers OF the government under control OF a
combination of railroads. 1t is a bad piece
dent, that might well lead to serious conse-
QuenceS.
The commission briefly disposes in this way
the matter Of the use of federal troops:
Section 4 OF article 4 Of the Federal Consti-
tuition reads as follows:
The United States shall guarantee to
every state in this Union a republican form of
government, and shall protect each Of them
against invasion; and on application OF the
legislature, or Of the executive (when the legis-
lature can not be convened), against domestic
violence
United States troops were not sent into uli-
nois upon the application of the legislature,
nor Of the executive, against domestic violence;
l. E., violence affecting the state and its govern
ment as such, The president ordered the
troops to Chicago:
II. To protect federal property.
80 To prevent obstruction in the carrying of
the mails.
.3 To prevent interference with the inter-
state commerce.: and
II. To enforce the DEGREES and mandates Of
the federal courts.
He did this under the authority of section
sos OF the Revised Statutes of the United
States, which provides:
Whenever, by reason of Unlawful bstruc-
lions, combinations, or assemblages of persons.
or rebellion against the authority of the gov
eminent OF the United States, it shall become
impracticablc, in the Judgment OF the presi-
dent, to enforce, by the ordinary course of
judicial proceedings, the laws of the United
States within any state or territory, it shall be
lawful for the president to call forth the militia
OF any or all OF the states. and to employ such
parts of the land or naval forces of the United
States as he may deem necessary to enforce
the faithful execution of the laws OF the United
States, or to suppress such rebellion, in what
ever state or territory thereof the laws of the
United States may be forcibly opposed, or the
execution thereof forcibly INSTRUCTED.
Section 1893 is also quoted, and the reports
adds: Other statutes tend to confer authori-
t. in the same direction"
There is no evidence before the commission
that the officers Of the American Railway
union at any time participated in or advised
Intimidation, violence or destruction OF proper
ty. They knew and fully appreciated that as
soon as mobs ruled. the organized forces of So
ciety would crush the mobs and all responsible
for them in the remotest degree, and that this
meant defeat. The attacks upon corporations
and monopolies by the leaders in their speeches
are Simila to those to he found in the maya
Zines and industrial works OF the day.
From the testimony it is fair TO conclude
that strikers were concerned in the outrages
against law and order, although the number
was undoubtedly small as compared with the
whole number out
The report adds, however, many impartial
l obSCEhtlS II ItdSLiLr II Z lucI nuCu Vi
the responsibility for these disorders rests
with the people themselves and with the gov
ernment for not equally controlling monopolieS
and corporations, and for falling reasonably to
protect the rights of labor and redress its
wrongs. No one asserts that laws can COM
pietely remedy contentious as 10 wages. ETC.,
but many do insist that something substantial
can be accomplished in this direction if at
tempted honestly, reasonably and in good
faith.
CAPITAL mi LABOR.
In conclusion, the report says:
since nations have grown to the wisdom
OF avoiding disputes by Cancellation, and even
of settling them by arbitration, why should
capital and labor. in their dependence
upon each other. persist in. cutting each
others Threats as a settlement of dif:er-
enceS: Official reports show that much prog
resS has been made in the more sane direction
of Cancellation and arbitration. even in Amcri-
ca. Abroad they are in advance of us in this
policy. Were our population as dense and op-
portunltieS as limited as abroad, present in
| dustrlal conditions would keep us much more
disturbed than We now are By contest between
capital and labor. Some OF our courts. how
ever, are still porting over the law reports OF
antiquity in order TO conStrue conspiracy out of
labor unions. We also have employers who
obStruct progress by pcrYerting and ~misapply-
| ing the law of supply and demand. and who.
while insisting upon individualism for work.
men, demand that they shall be let alone to
combine as they please, and that society
and all its forces shall protect them in
all their resulting contentious. The rapid
concentration OF power and wealth.
under stimulating Legislative conditions, in
persons, corporations and monopolieS, has
greatly changed the business and industrial
situation. Our cities were constructed upon
the theory that the competition would amply
protect shippers as to rates and employees Us to
| wages and other conditions. Combination has
largely destroyed this theory, and has seriously
disturbed the natural working of the laws of
supply and demand, which, in theory. are based
upon competition for labor between those who
demand it, as well as among those who supply
il. For instance, rs We have shown, there is no
longer any competitive demand among the
twenty-four railroads at Chicago for switch
men. They have ceased competing with each
other: they are no longer twenty-four separate
and competing employers; they are virtually
one.
ADO UNIONS RIGHTS.
However men may differ about the proprie-
ty and legality of labor unions, We must all
recognize the fact that We have them with us
erful. Is it not wise to fully recognize them
by law; to admit their necessity as labor
guides and protectors, to conserve their use
~fulness, increase their responsibility and pre-
vent their follies and aggressions by confer
ring upon them the privileges enjoyed by cor
porations, with like proper restrictions and
regulations: The growth of corporate power
and wealth has been the marvel of the past
fifty years. Corporations have undoubtedly
benefited the country, and thus brought its re-
sources to our doors. 1t will not be surprising
il the marvel Of the next fifty years be the ad-
vancement OF labo. to a position OF like
power and. responsibility. We have here
tofore encouraged the one and comparative
~ neglected the other. Does not wisdom
demand that each be encouraged to pros
per legitimately and to grow into harmonious
relations Of equal standing and responsibility
before the law? This involves nothing hostile
to the true interests and rights Of either. TIL
commission deems recommendations Of specific
remedies premature. Such a problem. for in
stance, as universal government ownership OF
railroads Is too vast, many-Sided and far-away,
If attempted, to be considered as an immediate.
practical remedy. 1t belongs to the socialistic
group of public questions where government
ownership is advocated Of monopolies, such as
telegraph. telephones, express companies and
municipal ownership Of water works, gas and
electric lightning and street railways. These
questions are pressing more urgently as time
goes on. They need to be well studied and con-
sldered in every aspect by all citizens.
-xPERIMEN NECESSARY.
SHOULD continued combinations and con-
ships of our railroads within a few years, as is
by no means unlikely, the question of govern
ment ownership will be forced to the trent,
and we need to be ready to dispose of it intclli-
gently. We need to fear everything revolu-
tionary and wrong, but we need fear nothing
that any nation can successfully attempt in
directions made necessary by changed ecoIo-
mic or industrial conditions. Other nations,
under their conditions, own and operate tele-
graphs and railroads with varying results.
Whether it is practicable for this nation to do
so successfully when it becomes necessary to
termine it shall be done, is an open and SerI-
Gus question which can not be answered fully
except by actual experiment.
I'VE ought now to inaugurate a permanent
system of investigation into the relations be-
tween railroads and employees In order to pre-
pare to deal with them intelligently, and that
we may conservatively adopt such remedies as
are sustained by public opinion for defects or