The morning call., 1894-12-28
VIEWS OF WRIGHT.
An Interesting Address
Delivered.
LESSONS OF THE BIG STRIKE.
1t Emphasized Some Essential
Principles
LESSONS OF THE BIG STRIKE.
IN THE RAILROAD OPERATIONS.
The Labor Commissioner Classes the
Pooling Bill as State So.
cialiSm.

NEW 70 RK. Dec. 27.-The following is
an abstract of the address delivered by
Carroll d. Wright before the American
Economic Association to-day:
1.-THE great strike which occurred in
Chicago in June and July last was in re-
atty a combination of strike and boycott.
and was an epochal event because it en-
phasized certain principles which are now
rec ognized as essential in the Government
management and operation of railroads.
1T demonstrated to the satisfaction OF
the public at large the right and power OF
the Federal Government tC send troops
into Slate for the purpose of protecting
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 interest in the transportation of
mails.
at is further epochal in its nature and
influence because it has shown the power
of the courts in the expansion Of the priv
ilege of injunction which was a twin
power to that of mandamus. 1t has shown
that the civil courts have asserted the right
to define what is crime under certain cir
cumstances, to execute their own views by
local processes, to interpret their own
acts and 70 impose sentence. 1t is epoch
making again because it has crystal iZed
public sentiment upon a question which
has often been argued-that relating to
the quasi public character of railroad en-
ployes.
THE chief reason. however. to my
mind, for which the Chicago strike is
epoch making even lies in the fact that it
constitutes a subordinate element in a
revolution which is quietly taking place
in this country. 1t is not necessary, in
this presence, for me 10 say that l APP
proach this part of my subject from a
standpoint entirely opposed TO S ate
socialism as system. | have 10 faith in
il. Nor need l assert that | approach from
point of view antagonistic to what is
known as compulsory arbitration. | ap-
prOach il, further, from the point OF view
that neither the Federal nor State Govern
ments can or ought TO be allowed, as q
rule, 10 regulate rates Of wages or prices
of ,c0inm odities.
Notwithstanding these professions, l
am ready TO re-examine these propositions
10 which l am opposed and if expedient,
TO apply some of the features involved in
each of them. Let US, therefore. consider
in what respect the Chicago strike became
subordinate element in revolution
which Is now going on.
III 1887 Congress, at the demand of
the shippers of the country and in their
interest, as was supposed, made the dec
laration that all charges made for any
service rendered or 10 be rendered in the
fro RI OF NJ ~
on interstate railroads or in connection
Herewith. or for the receiving, delivering,
storage or handling of such proper ty,
should be reasonable and just, and every
unjust and unreasonable charge for such
service was prohibited and declared 10 be
unlawful. This declaration has become to
all intents and purposes part of the con-
stitution of the United States. because it
has been sustained by the courts.
"But this declaration was emphatically
state socialism; it was emphaticalIy COM
pulsory arbitration; it was emphatically a
! law regulating the prices of commodities
through the price of services. 1t was the
old principle by which States regulated
pixies and tolls, but here carried in a new
form with new machinery. 1t was prop
erty sustained by the courts. What is the
| consequence of this as another step In the
silent revolution which is taking place?
"There is now pending in Congress a
measure which is state socialism, pure and
| simple. | refer to the pooling bill now
pending in the Senate. l cite it only to
show the second phase of the silent revo-
luton to which I referred. This pending
| legislation is demanded at the instan ce OF
the shippers and the railroads of The coun-
try, and its passage is being aided by a
powerful lobby in their service. The rail-
roads base their advocacy of their bill on
| the claim that 1t will be for the interest
of the shippers to have such a law. The
bill provides for a great trust, with the
Government of the United States as trus-
tee. When tae first bill TO regulate commerce
was passed, the great and powerful wedge
of state socialism was driven one-quarter
Of its length into the timber Of conserva
tive government, of that government
which means democracy. The pending
bill, the moment it becomes law, will
drive the wedge three-quarters of its length
into the timber. There will then be needed
but one more blow to drive the wedge
home, and that blow will come at the in.
stance of business and not of labor-entire
Government control of all the railroads oil
the country instead of partial control un.
der the laws now existing or proposed.
"This blow will be struck in the most
seductive way. 1t will come through a
demand that the Government shall take
charge of the roads, not purchase them
and out of the proceeds of the Transports
ton business guarantee 10 the existing
| shareh oiderS of the roads small but rea.
| BILE rate Of dividend.
Under such seductive movement the
stockholders themselves Conservative men
men in this hall now will vote for the
striking of the blow. All this, as have
| said, will be the demand and interest oil
the railroads and of the shippers, and moi
of the labor involved In carrying on the
work of transportation, as the demand oil
to-day for the enactment of The pooling
| bill is alleged to be largely in the Interest
of the shippers and of the public welfare