Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-12
THE INDUSTRIAL WAR.
Widely Divergent Views on the Part
of Congressman.
Gov. Altge'd Praised and Blamsd-Wiid Ru.
mo at the Capital.

washington has suffered an spirit over the
great railroad strike, and it cannot be de-
MED that many congressman have felt
panicky. When the senate met for the
FIRST time after the holiday, it transacted
only little routine business and adjourn-
cd over till Monday, pleading fatigue, but
really, as it would seem, because the con-
Gcript fathers were in too much excite
ment to transact business and did not
want to express themselves on bills and
resolutions brought forward relating to
labor troubles. The house was really do
ing business for some days by unanimous
consent, as SO many members were absent
and 50 many more on special committee
work that the point of no quorum would
have compelled an adjournment. On the
day when, SO far as could be judged from
the morning papers, matters in Chicago
were reaching a climax the city was con-
stantly agitatcd by fresh rumors, and in
the capitol building nothing else was
talked about The first was to the effect
that Senator Kyle had received telegram
that Chicago was on fire in five places and
the regulars shooting down the mob by
badgcrcd almost beyond endurance, and
when Chairman McGnn received noon
telegram that nothing very serious had
occurred there was most astonishing OK
preston Of relief
One Side of the Shield.
A fcw, however, talked with great plain
ness and freedom, and Among these Hon.
j. w Moon Of Michigan said:
at tr Il o.,
bad day for republics, and one of the
worst features IN it is that Altgeld per-
formanco. 1t is simply ridiculous that an
American governor should take such IL
position and on such fimsy pretcnses. He
says that tho trouble is that there are no
engineers and flrcmcn TO run the trains.
Suro=enough, and why not? The mob has
clublcd and hammered every one who
tried il till, from fear of their lives, they arc
waiting for protection. AS to Mr.. Clove-
land he has taken hold of it, and now he
must put it through il it takes every sol
for volunteers from states where there is
no trouble if it Is necessary"
Have you any idea as to the final re.
sultf,
Il can only give it in boys Fourth of
the cracker Is pointed when it goes off.
Apparently we are on tho verge of II rcyo-
luton, and tho future is dark, but surely
the intelligent American people cannot
have maGc up their minds to surrender to
anarchy. Here ii the cause Of my greatest
gref-that, after all, we may have to sur
render our boastcd position on standing
armies and individual liberty and adopt
the system Of older nations. We have
pointed at their standing armies as cruel
and useless burdens, and now it is simply
sickCning to think that our case may soon
be as bud as thcirs. ono fact We must re
luctantly admit-that we must soon decide
between two alternatives. We must either
have some kind of-wcl, / don't know
what name to give it, but / mean some
system by which labor can have power to
decide its own disputes or we must have
"a much stronger central government,
cruel alternatives, but that's the way it
looks AS to John +. Altgcld, | look on
him AS the worst element in the case. /
think every anarchist or communist, or
whatever he calls himself, every riotcr in
Chicago, is encouraged by the fact that
AltgCld is governor.
An Opposite Opinion.
is very strong expression of opinion ox-
actly to the opposite, and among the most
plain spoken ON that side is Hon. :. 3.
Alexander of North Carolina, who says:
"In spite of thiokening troubles and dan
gers, am still firm believer in the re
served rights Of the states, and l would
much prefer that Illinois he left to deal
with them in her own way iill she confcsscs
her inability. Then, and then only, should
there be federal intcrforencc Far better
for us TO bear the ills we have than to call
in the federal power, for when ccntraliza-
ton once gets IL hold 1t never gives it up
without a struggle. Once establish the
rule that there is to he federal project
in each city and federal troops to back
him. and we shall have the man on horse
back managing our affairs. Our form of
government was never designed for that
sort of thing As to this high talk about
the courts, think IL anything can be
Judged by recent events the greatest dam
ger just now is in usurpation by the
courts
AS every hour brought new and star
Ting rumors, one of which was that tho
president had called on New York and
PENNSYLVANIA for volunteer militia, old
members recalled many strange incidents
of tho riots of 1877. A southern member
related this semihumorous or CHASTITY gro
tcsouo anccdote: "There was one day
when Hayes got badly ratified and asked
some Of the southern governors if they
could furnish troops on call. Governor
Wade Hampton promptly responded that
he could send him fully equipped negro
regiment at six Nhours' notice. If all the
irony of history could be concentrated in
one act, it could scarcely exceed that man
Tested in regiment of South Carolina
darkies marching to put down rebellion
IN Illinois. As IA matter of fact, say the
Carolinians, there is really fine regiment
Of colorcd militia, or well organized COM
panies enough to form one at short notice.
Looking to Arbitration.
Besides the general measures before the
house committee on labor there are no less
than nine bills and resolutions having a
special bearing on the present troubles.
One introduced by Senator George pro-
vides that when there has been arbitration
Under the act of Oct. /, 1858, and the cor
poration shall refuse to accept it, no Unit
cd States court shall issue any injunction
against the employees and no marshal in
any manner Interfere 1t also makes it
the duty of receivers under United States
~t.s e. y,