The record-union., 1894-08-07
rPRINCIPLEs INVOLVED IN TILE
RECENT STRIKE,,,

calm attention of thinking people.
One of the most lucid and practical of
the essays on the subject is by D. MEG.
Means in the August Forum. Twice
within year Chicago, says he, has been
the center of the worlds attention. Once
because of the evidences gathered to Illus
trate the achievements of the race, and
once because of the attempted over
Throw of American institutions
The latter, masked under the form of
n strike. but developed into an effort to
compel the doing of that which the
laws will not permit to be done; an
effort to enforce performance of that
which the courts under the Constitu
ton guaranteeing The inyiolability of
contracts will compel to be done.
Then came the coercion of violence, the
Btoppage Of interstate commerce and the
interruption of the passage of the mails
according to the contract for their car
Eiage. This was followed by the Presi-
tlential proclamation commanding cessa-
tion of violence and directing the military
arm to intervene, the local and State au-
thorities having failed or proved incapa-
BILE in the task of protecting the innocent
and in enforcing the laws.
It was claimed that swarming upon the
property of carrier is not unlawful so
long as he cannot obtain men to move his
cars. But the law and common sense
show this position to be untenable and
not excusable of official neglect to do
duty. The owner has the right to have
bis property freed from trespsssers, that
he may operate his cars and be free to
procure men to do so without the intimi-
dation of crowd breathing threatenings.
1t was at this point that the Federal
Government interfered to clear the rail-
road tracks that Interstate traffic might
be resumed, and this interference was
had under the statutes of 1861 and 1871,
which specifically provide for just such
cases, namely, inability to enforce the
laws by judicial process because of un-
lawful Constructions and assemblages, or
Government" or "when domestic vio-
lence in any State obstructs the execution
of the laws, or when the constituted au-
thorities in the State fail in or refuse pro-
tection," etc.
The authorities, says Mr.. Means first
to ACT in suppressing riot are those at the
scene. The President suppressed law
lessness because the city and the State
failed to do so, and clearly all law, au-
thority. reason and right justified the
President in acting as the law made it his
duty to do.
Governor Altgeld protested against the
action of the President as unconstitu-
tienal. He held that the United States
Government should not intervene in
cases of disorder within State unless re-
9uested to do so by the State Government.
He maintained that no disorder existed
in Chicago, and that mail trains did not
run simply because the companies could
not procure men to operate them. Also,
he was ready to employ State force to
preserve order as soon as any one inti-
mated to him officially that there was
disorder.
But, as Professor Means clearly shows,
this protest was absurd. because it was
based on the alleged non-official knowl-
edge of Governor Altgeld that disorder
and rioting prevailed. AS the Governor,
by such action, gave it to be understood
that riotous assemblage, the burning of
cars, ripping up of tracks and stoppage
by violence of trains of cars were not un-
cial knowledge of the prevailing riotous
conditions, was bound to interpose the
Federal authority.
Professor Means points out that there
is not unlimited right to gather in crowds
on property, even if the purpose be law
full Nor is there any, law requiring the
police to be officially informed of the
commission of unlawful acts before they
are permitted to exercise their authority.
They are not to await appeal for pro-
lection.
In the meantime what was the atti-
tude OF the American Railway Union
Mr.. Means declares that it was essen
TALLY snarchistic, because it operated to
punish thousands not parties to the
Pullman strike. It was assault upon
the existing institutions of society, be-
cause it insisted upon that being done
which the law inhibited and the courts
would prevent the doing of, and would
punish in damages the railroads for doing.
Restated then, the Railway Union
struck because the railroad companies
refused to violate contracts they were
by law compelled to keep. Strikers then
took possession of the railroad property
and stopped the movement Of all trains.
When directed to cease trespassing they
replied, ''ind men to operate your
trains frst''; these being found resist
ance by violence followed, and this was
essentially a demand that the Railway
Unions will should be recognized as
superior to the law of the land; that the
union, in spite of its profession of regard
for the law, dsfed it when it stood in
the way of the desire of the strikers,
though In not q single instance did they
lodge complaint or cause for striking