The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-22
THE RAILROAD AND THE A. R. U.
VIM. FL. Mills Gives Expression
to His Views.
He Explains Some Misapprehensions
of the Railways Position.
Nothing Proposed to the southern Pa
cific Which II Gould Arbitrate.
English and German
Unions.
The following communication will be
found pertinent and interesting:

lounu pertinent ana interesting:
SAN FRANCISCO, July 10. 1894.
A. B. ITotchkiss, Esq, Los Angeles, Cal.
DEAR SRI have your esteemed
favor of July 4th, addressed TO the Hon.
VIM. F. Herrin, it having been handed
me for answer. I have noted its con-
tents carefully end will give the matters
therein effective attention later.
Some public misrepresentation needs
to be cleared up. In the frat place the
American Railway union did not notify
the Southern Pacific company to dis
continue the Pullman service. 1t made
no proposition OF any kind contingent
upon such continuance. 1t ordered its
members to refuse to handle trains to
which Pullman cars were attached.
The issue was brought on by the re-
fusal of fremen, brakemen and switch
tenders to discharge the duties they
were employed to perform in the move
ment of trains carrying Pullman cars.
When these men refused to do their
duty others were asked to take their
places. This they construed into a dis
charge, whereupon Debs ordered the
Southern Pacific company to be tied up.
Nothing was proposed to the Southern
Pacific company which it could arbi-
trate; nothing, even in the form OF
request, came to it. A simple arbitrary
interference on the part of subordinate
employ ees in the operation of the road
was the only notice the company had of
discontinuance. Inquiry naturally re-
suited in the disclosure Of the differences
between George M. Pullman and the
men hired by him.
The Southern Pacific company owns
a three fourths interest in the cars it
runs and enjoys three.fourths interest
in the profit derived therefrom. 1t
may be competent for man in a contest
with another man to ask the assistance
of his fellowmen but it is neither right
nor just that he should force another to
take his aide of the quarrel by inf1icting
upon him financial punishment when
the sufferer was in no respect party to
the grievances of which he complained
and had no power OF redress. The
Southern Pacific company was innocent
OF offense against the employees Of Pull
man, and p0werlesH to redress their
wrongs.
Beyond them, the orchardists, the
merchants, manufacturers and all the
induotral interests of the country were
innocent. To make these suffer because
quarrel existed between corporation
and the men it employed in Chicago
was an exhibition disclosing an utter
disregard of the natural rights of men.
How may the shippers, who are con-
fronted with bankruptcy today because
their products cannot be carried to mar
ket, redress the grievances OF the Pull
a rAlouaoa -----..t=.----
When Debs and the American Railway
union entail upon them financial loss,
they put Themselves beyond the pale Of
the sympathy of all just men.
The Indictment 80 frequently brought
against the railroads that they were un.
willing to run mail trains unless Pull
man cars we're attached, and the oft.re-
peated declaration that the Pullman
service is no part of the mail service,
are used chiefly because the public do
not understand that the rate paid to
carry the mails is not sufficient to carry
them, except as experimenting the pas
senger and express service. The rates
agreed between the railroads and the
government we're based upon the idea
that the same motive power would move
passenger trains employed in the move.
ment OF mail cars. The rate paid for the
railway mail service would not Justify
its movement alone. A fast mail service
United States on come of the railroads
in the country, but rate commensur.
ate with the value ofthat service ia paid,
The Southern Pacific company entered
into contract with the government to
carry the mail on it's regular trains. The
profit derived from the Pullman service
was an element OF that contract; but
from the first the Southern Pacific COM
pany stood ready to move all trains to
which Pullman cRrs were not sccue-
toned to bs, attached, and it stands
ready to do so today. Moreover, it has
been ready and is today willing to move
all freight trains over the road if unob.
esructed.
The suspension of the mails and the
arrest of the commerce OF the country ia
therefore chergeable directly to the act
ion of the American Railway union.
and, ss we have already shown, the
American Railway union has given the
company no choice of position. 1t has
not put itself in the attitude OF stating
its case and appealing to the eympathies
OF men. 1t has violently, forcibly and
malicously assaulted the rights and in
terests OF all citizens of the United
States in order to make them parties to
q quarrel in which they were not partic-
ipsnts, and in the final adjustment Of
which they will necessarily have no
voice.
While writing l take the liberty of
expressing personal view, which re-
latss to the future relation between or.
ganized labor and capital. AS neces-
eary preliminary, that relGtion ought to
be determined by law. AS preliminary
to the enactment OF appropriate legisla-
ton, all organizations OF labor should
be required to incorporate, to have
common treasury, to be governed by
board of trustees and each member OF
the organization should be regarded as
a stockholder. 1t could then be made
responsible in the way of damages for
unlawful and violent acts. Its officers,
elected in times of tranquility, would be
conservative, and they alone would have
a right to guide it's action. 1t should
have under the law right to bring an
action against an employer in the courts
of the country to compel the payment OF
fair wages.
The great coal strike in England was
settled in this way. The commission,
appointed by the government to arbi- |
trate, decided against the coal mine
owners. Lord Rosehery, now the dis.
tinguished leader of the government OF
England, was the arbitrator who
brought in that verdict. lie declared |
A.. RITA Of WaVaa bAlDw |