The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-16
STRIKE REPORT.
Tho Commission on the Chicago
Strike Publish Their Views.
It LEANS TOWARDS THE STRIKERS.
che Commission Recommends the Consid-
Grafton by States of Some System of Con-
ciliation and Arbitration Like That,
for Instance, in Massachusetts.

government report on the great rail-
way strike in connection with the Pull
man trouble was made public yester-
day. The report, which is signed by
the federal labor commissioner, Carroll
ID. Wright, and his fellow investiga-
tors, John ID. Herman, of New York,
and Nicholas b. Worthington, of Illi-
nois. is addressed to President Cleve-
land.
The report says the capitalization of
the twenty-four railroads directly rep
resented in the General Managers as
sociation was 81, los, ,552,6 ,617. The num-
Der of employees was 221 ,O91. Employees
upon association roads were treated as
under subjugation to the General Man
ayers association, and the report. af-
tire detailing the action of the associa-
tion in establishing agencies and en-
| ploying men, adds:
This was the first time when men upon each
| line were brought sharply face to face with the
| fact that in questions as to wages. rules, etc,
each line was supported by twenty-four COM
bined railroads. 1t was an incident of the
| General Managers association to assist
| each road in case of trouble.
| The association is an Illustration of the per-
sistent and shrewdly disguised plan Of corpor-
ations to overreach their limitations and to
usurp indirectly powers and rights not con-
templated in their charters and not obtainable
from the people of their legislatures.
The report then describes the town
/ of Pullman and how it was conducted.
! AS to the great railroad strike proper,
the report says:
1t is apparent that the readiness to strike
sympathetically was promoted by the dis
| turbed and apprehensive condition of railroad
| employees, resulting from wage reductions on
different lines. blacklisting. ETC.. and from the
recent growth of the General Managers asso-
citation, which seemed to them a menace.
Farther on the report says:
! 1t is seriously questioned. and with much
force. whether courts have jurisdiction to en-
| Join citizens from "persuadng each other in
industrial or other matters of common inter-
est. However. it is generally recognized among
good citizens that mandate of a court is to be
obeyed until it is modified and corrected by the
court that issued it.
The committee upholds the president
for sending United States troops
The report adds, however:
Many impartial observers are reaching the
view that much of the real responsibility for
these disorders rests with the people them
selves and with the government for not ade-
quately controlling monOpolies and corpora
llOnS anu iOT ldlilnS TtiSOlGDlN W pfOltCl lut
rights OF labor and redress its wrongs No one
asserts that laws can completely remedy con-
tentionS as to wages, etc. but many do insist
that something substantial can be accom-
plished in this direction if attempted honestly,
reasonably and in good faith.
However men may differ about the propriety
and legality Of labor unions. we must all recog
nize the fact that we have them with US to stay
and to grow more numerous and powerful. Is
ii not wise to fully recognize them by law: to
admit their necessity as labor guides and pro-
tectorS. to conserve their usefulness. increase
their responsibility and prevent their follies
and aggressions by comforting upon them the
privileges enjoyed by corporations, with like
proper restrictions and regulations:
We ought to inaugurate 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 wrongs that may from time to time appear.
When railway employees secure greater cer-
tainty of their positions and of the right to
promotion, compensation for injury, etc. IL
will be time enough to consider such strict
regulation for them as we can now justly ap-
ply to railroads, whose rights are protected by
laws and guarded by all the advantages Of
greater resources and more concentrated con-
troll.
The commission contends that law should
make it obligatory upon some public tribuna.
promptly to intervene by means Of investiga.
tion and Cancellation and to report whenever /"
difficulty of the character of that occurring
during the past season at Chicago arises.
The commission. therefore. recommends:
FirSt-(D. That there be permanent Unit
ed States strike commission of three members
with duties and powers of investigation ana
make Recommendation as to diputes between
railways and their employees. similar to those
vested in the Interstate CONNIE commission
Us to rates. etc.
A-That as in the interstate commerce act
power being given to the United States courts
to compel railways to obey the decisions of the
commission after summary hearing unattend-
ed by technicalities. and that 10 delays in
obeying the decisions of the commission be al
lowed pending appeals.
B-That whenever the party to a controversy
in matter within the jurisdiction of the COM
mission are one more railroads on one side,
and one or more national trade unions incor-
porated under chapter 567 OF the United States
statutes OF lsS5-6. or under state statutes. upon
the other. each side shall have Hhe right to
lect a representative, who shall be appointed
by the president to serve as Il temporary men,
ber OF the commission in hearing. adjusting
and determining that particular controversy.
CThiS provision would make II for the inter-
est of labor organizations to incorporate under
the law and to make the commission practical
board of conciliation. II would also tend to
create confidence in the commission and &c
give to that body in every hearing the benefit
of practical knowledge of the situation on both
sideS)
C-That during the penGency of the proceed
ing before the commission inaugurated by ma
tiunal trade unions or by an incorporation OF
employees. it shall not be lawful for the rail
roads to discharge employees belonging there
to except for inefficiency, Violation of Law
or neglect of duty; nor for such unions
/ nd rrpff in
or aid or abet strikes or s'oycotts against
the railways complained of: nor, for period
of six months after a decisioa for such rail-
roads TO discharge any such employees in whose
places others shall be employed. except for the
causes aforesaid: nor for am such employees
during like period to quit the service without
giving thirty days written noi1ce OF intention
to do so. nor for any such union or incorpora
tion to order. counsel or advise otherwise.
(2) That chapter 567 of the United States
statues of 1886 be amended so to re-
quire national trades union to provide il
their articles of incorporation and in thei'
constitutions, rules and bylaws that
member shall cease to be sGch and forfeit
all rights and privileges conferred on him
by law as such by participating in. or by
instigating force or violence against persons oi
property during strikes or bCycotts. or by seek
ing to prevent others from working through
violence, threats or intimidation: also that
members shall be no more personally liable for
corporate acts than are stockholders in corpor-
atoms.
C3) The commission does not feel warranted
with the study it has beeu able to give to the
subject. to recommend positively the establish
ment of a license system by which all the high
er employees or others of railways engaged in
interstate commerce should be licensed under
| due and proper examination, but it would recon-
mend, and most urgently. that this subject be
carefully considered by the proper committee
of congress Many railway employees and some
railway officials examined and many others