Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-13
CARROLL D. WRIGHT.


 the General Managers association was ees was 221, ,Og7. The report criticises the acts of this General Managers association and takes up the details of the trouble at Pullman at great length. The report says:
 There Is no evidence before tho com mission that the officers of the American Railway union at any time participated in or advised intimidation. violence or destruction of property. They knew and fully appreciated that as soon as mobs ruled the organized forces of society would crush the mobs and all responsible for them in the remotest degree and that this meant defeat. The attacks upon cor porations and monopolies by the leaders in their speeches are similar to those to be found in the magazines and industrial works of the day. From their testimony it is fair to conclude that strikers wore concerned in the outrages against law and order. although tho number was un- doubtedly small as compared with tho whole number out"
 MonopoIies Not Controlled.
 The report adds. however: Many i'm partial observers arc now reaching the view that the real responsibility for theso disorders rests with the people themselves and with the government for not ade- quately controlling monopolics and cor porations and for failing reasonably to protect the rights of labor and redress its wrongs None asserts that the laws can completely remedy contentious as to wages, etc. but many do insist that some. thing substantial can be accomplished in this direction if attempted honestly. rea- sonably and in good faith.
 In conclusion the report says: ''Since nations havo grown to the wisdom of avoiding disputes by cOnciliation. why should capital and labor. in their depend ence upon each other, persist in cutting each others throats as n settlement of differences:
 ''OniciaI reports show that much prog ress has been made in the moro sane di- rection of conciliation and arbitration even in America Abroad they are in ad- vance of us in this policy. Were our pop ulation as dense and opportunities as limited as abroad, present industrial con ditions would keep us much more dis turbed than we HOW are by ccntosts be- tween capital and tabor
 ''Some of our courts, however. are still boring over the law reports of antiquity in order to construc conspiracy out of Ia- bor unions. We also have employers who obstruct progress by perusing and pervert ing and misapplying the law of supply and demand. and who. while insisting upon individualism for workmen demand that they shall he let alone to combine as they please. and that society and all its forces shall protect thom in thoir result ing conditions.
 Tho rapid concentration of power and wealth under stimulating legislative con ditions in persons. corporations and mo nopolios has changed the business and in dustrial situation. Our railroads were chartered upon the theory that their com petition would amply protect shippers as to rates. etc, and employees as to wages and other conditions
 The Government Ownership Question.
 Combination has largely destroyed this theory and has seriously disturbed the natural working of tho laws of supply and demand. which in theory are based upon competition for labor between those who demand it well as among those who supply it. For instance, as we have shown, thore is no longer any competitive demand among the 24 railroads at Chica- go for switchmen. They have ceased com peting with each other. There are no longer 24 separate and competing em- ployers. They arc virtually one.
 However men may differ about tho propriety and legality of labor unions, we must all recognize the fact that we have them with us to stay and to grow more numerous and powerful Is 1t not wise to fully recognize them by law; to admit their necessity as labor guides and pro- tectors; to conserve their usefulness, in- crease their responsibility and to prevent their follies by conferring upon them the privileges enjoyed by corporations with like proper restrictions and regulations? |, "The growth of corporate power and wealth has been the marvel of tho past 90 years. Corporations have undoubted ly benefited the country and brought its resources to our doors. It will not be surprising if the marvel of the next 50 years be the advancement of labor to a position of like power and responsibility.
 "We have heretofore encouraged tho one and comparatively neglected the oth- CT. Does not wisdom demand that each be encouraged to prosper legitimately and to grow into harmonious relations of equal standing and responsibility before the law? This involves nothing hostile to the true interests and rights of either side.
 "The commission deems recommsnda- tions of specific remedies premature. Such problem, for instance. as univer- sal ownership of railroads 1t too vast, many sided and far away, if attempted, to be considered as an immediate. practical remedy. It belongs to the socialistic group of public questions in which gov erumont ownership is advocated of mo- nopolies such as telegraphs, telephones, express companies, and municipal owner ship of waterworks. gas and electric lighting and street railways. These ques- tions are pressing moro urgently as time goes on. They need to bo we'll studied and considered ineyery aspect by all citizens. ''
 Some Recommendations.
 The commission therefore recommends:
 "First-That there be e permanent United States strike commission, with duties and powers of investigation and sssyintnendasien e @ disrutss esswssn