Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-11-16
STRIKE COMMISSION REPORTS.

| STRIKE COMMISSION REPORTS.
The United States government report
! on the great railway strike in connection
9th the Pullman trouble was made pub
| lie Monday.
The conditions prevailing I'm the town
OF Pullman are set forth at some length,
| ana the conclusion is reached that they
enable the management at all times to
assert with great vgOr It's assumed right
! To Xix wages and rents absolutely. and TO
repress that sort OF Independence which
leads To labor organizations and their at
tempts AT mediation, arbitration. strikes,
etc" On the part OF the American Rail-
way. union there is found failure to
guard against the possibility Of disorder
and violence among its members. Such
an organization, ia the opinion of the
commission, must oppose all strikes ex-
cept as "A last resort against unbeara BILE
grievances and must advocate cOncllia-
tion and arbitration; also, through wise
leadership, it must aim To secure legal
standing and the assistance of wise laws
sustained by public opinion.
OF the General Managers association,
which dealt with the great railroad
strike, the commission questions whether
any legal authority, statutory or other
wise, can be found TO jus tify some of the
features of the association" which has
all the effects Of "A pool, the extension of
whose power would be dangerous TO the
people and would lead 10 the serious
consideration of government ownership
Of railroads. The REFUSAL" says the
report, ''of the General Managers asso
citation to recognize and deal with such
combination of labor as the American
Railway union seems arrogant and abb
surd when we consider its standing be-
fore the law, its assumptions and It's past
and obviously contemplated future ac-
ton"
The reductions of wages at Pullman TO
offset losses are found TO have thrown by
far the greater burden on labor, though
during the time OF reductions no salaries
OF officers, managers or uperintendents
were Neutrality-suspicious. who manifestly
could have sustained reduction much
better than the workmen in the shops.
The refusal TO cut down the high rents
in Pullman is regarded as unfair and un-
wise, considering the reductions In wages
OF those paying the rents. Failure To
make any concession and the discharge
OF members Of the committee calling on
the Pullman officials for increased pay
precipitated the strike. The orderly
conduct of the Pullman strikers Is COM
mented on with favor.
When the great railroad strike was on
the General Managers association, like
the Pullman corporation, refused TO con-
slider the matter of arbitration. The
commission is of the opinion that "a diff
ferent policy would have prevented the
loss of life and great loss Of property and
wages occasioned by the strike" The
commission would have labor organiza-
tions recognized and made responsible.
While declining TO take up the question
of government ownership of railways as
a remedy for railway strikes, il points
out that il railway combinations con-
tinue it will not be long before the gov
eminent will have To seriously consider
government ownership and government
regulation will have To be increased.
Finally, the commissions recommended
tions are that permanent United Sta ties
strike commission be formed, and that
power be given TO the federal courts 10
enforce the findings Of the commission.
In the case OF public corporations, like
railroads. IL is the commissions opinion
that there would be no d difficulty and no
hardship in compelling the acceptance Of
terms OF settlement as agreed on by the
commission. Besides this recommended
tion il is urged on states to establish sys-
TENS Of Cancellation and arbitration SIM
liar To that in Massachusetts and TO rem
der illegal contracts requiring men not
10 join labor organizations or 10 leave
them as conditions of employment. The
commission further urges employers
everywhere To recognize labor unions
and to treat with them and to raise
wages voluntarily when trade conditions
will permit.