Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-15
STRIKE REPORT.
Tho Commission on the Chicago
Strike Publish Their Views.
It LEANS TOWARDS THE STRIKERS.
Elle Commission Recommends the Consid-
Grafton by States of Some System of Con-
Citation and Arbitration Like That,
for Instance, in Massachusetts.

way SIrlke IN connection with the Pull
man trouble was made public yester-
day. The report, which is signed by
the federal labor commissioner, Carroll
d. Wright, and his fellow investiga-
tors, John ID. Herman, of New York,
and Nicholas Il. Worthington, of Uli-
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
ISOLATION was s., 10s, $50, 617. The num-
Der of employees was 221, O97. Employees
upon association roads were treated as
under subjugation to the General Man
ayers association, and the report, af-
ire detailing the action of the associa-
ton 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
Dlned railroads 1t was an incident of the
General Managers association to assist
each road in of trouble.
The association is ilIuSt ration 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
sympatAetically was promoted b. the dis
turbed and apprehenSfVe condition of railroad
employees, resulting from wage reductions on
different lines, blacklisting. ETC., AMI from the
recent growth of the General Managers asSo-
citation, which seemed to them menace.
Farther on the report says:
is seriously questioned with much
force, whether courts have jurisdiction to en-
Join citizens from .'persuading' each other in
industrial or other matters of common inter-
est However. 1t Is generally recognized among
good citizens that mandate of 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-
Quate1y controlling monOpoleS and corpora
tions and for failing reasonably to protect the
rights of labor and redress its wrongs No
asserts that laws can completely remedy
tentionS as To wages, etc, but many do insist
that something substantial can be accom-
p1ished 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 stay
and to grow more numerous and powerful. Is
it not wise to fully recognize them by law: to
admit their necessity rs 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 now to inaugurate permanent
system of investigation into the relations be-
tween railroads and employees in order to pre-
pare to deal with them intelligentIy, and that
adopt
sustained by public opinion for defects
wrongs that may from time to time appear.
When railway employees secure greater
tainty of their positions and of the right to
promotion, compensation for injury. ETC., it
will be time enough to consider such strict
regulation for them justly ap-
ply to railroads, whose rights are protected by
laws and guarded by ali the advantages Of
greater resources and more concentrated con-
troll.
The commission contends that law should
make it obligatory upon some public tribunal
promptly to intervene by means OF inveStiga-
tion and Cancellation and to report whenever q
difficulty of the character of that occurring
during the past season at Chicago arises.
The commission, therefore, recommends:
First-Qb. That there be permanent Unit
ed States strike commission OF three member
with duties and powers of investigation and
make recommendation as to disputes between
railways and their employees. similar to those
vested in the interstate commerce commission
as 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 delays in
-obeying the decisions of the commission be al
lowed pending appeals.
B-That whenever the party to controversy
in q matter within the jurisdiction of the COM
= mission more railroads side,
and one or more national trade unions. incor-
porated under chapter 567 of the United States
statutes of 1856, under state statutes, upon
the other, each side shall have the right to
lect a representative, who shall be appointed
by the president to serve as temporary MEM
Der of the commission in hearing. adjusting
and determining that particular controversy.
{This provision would make it for the inter
est of labor organizations to iRcorpor ate under
the Law and to make the commission practical
board OF Cancellation 1t would also tend to
create confidence in the commission and to
give to that body in every hearing the benefit
of practical knowledge OF the situation on both
SideS.1
C-1hat during the tendency of the proceed
ing before the commission inaugurated by ma
tioaal trade unions by incorporation OF
EMPLOYEES. it shall not be lawful for the rail-
roads to discharge employees belonging there
TO except for inefaciency. violation Of law
or neglect Of duty: for such unions
during such tendency to order. unite in
or aid or abet strikes or boyeOtts against
the railways complained of: nor. for 4 period
of six months after q decision, for sueh rail-
roads TO discharge any such employees in whose
places others shall be employed. except for the
causes aforesaid; for any such employees
during a like period tt quit the service without
giving thirty days written notice Of intention
to do so. nor for any such union or incorpora-