The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-17
MAKES THEM UNEASY
The Labor Troubles Worry Con-
gressmen Not a Little.
But They Are Not SO Scared
as They Were.
VIEW OF CLEVELAND
"There is Never a Proper Time
to EuIogize Him"

peared upon the scene Al first no one
knew or cared what their object was,
though it was generally supposed that the
tariff bill was their main interest, but
when Mr.. j. w. Hayes, secretary Of the
Knights of Labor, was seen in the lobby
the word ran around the capitol as if by
electricity. 1t has been q long time since
statesmen and outsiders alike were as
unanimous i'll opinion they were on
this, and the expressions, z He's here to
keep tab on the votes. - =. His business is
TO blacklist every member who does not
vote for the Dcbs resolution, - were heard
all sides As for the unfortunate
preacher senator Of South Dakota, as he is
called, he IS also fortunate in being ig
nOrcd. and The measure he introduced by
request is known as the Debs resolution
when it is not called by some more oppro-
brious name. Tho astonishing feature OF
the discussion was the violent speech of
Senator PETER and the most charitable
explanation is that he has been lam bastcd
50 savagcly for going over to the Repub-
Leans on the tariff bill that he felt it
necessary TO regain his old place by some
radical remarks and over6id the business
Politics VIII Not Down.
Tho Record presents singularly mild
copy Of what happened, and almost every
day brings out some additional remarks
which were uttered on the floor as 'asides''
between senator's and not heard in the
galleries lit is ALLEGED, for instance. that
when Mr.. Davis was holding forth elo-
quently on the dr1nness of the president
and the duty Of sustaining him other sen
atOrs whispered protests and to his state
ment that this is no time to criticisc the
president another party leader replied,
There IL never a proper time to euloglze
him 7 There was great enthusiasm over
Senator Gordon 5 speech, and his sweeping
statement that there could be no such
thing as southern view or any sectional
view, and, still more, his sharp reproOT of
u. rn1I
In conversation outside of the chamber
some Of the most staid and reserved soma
tors are peculiarly emphatic in their re-
marks, even the suave and digniied Mr..
Cullom becoming humorOusly severe
These fellows, says he, will be wanting
to set aside the common law next, for it is
nothing but the common law as it relates
to common carriers that is set forth, al
though more specifically, in the interstate
commerce act. Suppose q man contracts
to carry the mails over a common dirt road
between two towns, would Mr. Debs claim
that his followers had a right to say he
should not carry it in q Studebaker wagon
and argue that this was no obstruction of
the mails because they still left him the
right to carry it IN a buggy2''
state Rights.
OF course the discussion ended with an
Endorsement of the president by most of
the senators, but the general talk among
the members seems to be tending toward
that if Mr.. PETER tries it again he may be
risking the fate of Jesse d. Bright. Much
Is said as to the possible effect on public
policy in general, and in response to vari-
GUS questions on this Champ Clark said:
IL hate to think it, but III some way is not
found TO stop this sort Of thing there viii
DO a stronger central government, with
large ctanding army The trouble is that
every time one Of our governors calls on
the president for help-and even the ex-
-rrrr rrr-
TO call as any of them-it cuts the ground
right from under the Observation-Disclosures
Every such case takes away an argument.
Only few years ago Polk and those Tel
lows voted against giving seed wheat
where there had been a drought, and the
governor of Texas refused the bounty on
sugar They were right. but how they are
abused fer it'll Now every time there is a
fire or n flood or anything out of the com
mon order the tendency is to fly to the
federal government for aid.
BY the way, =. O. Nelson of St Louis
set the right pace when the trouble came
on eight years ago. He said to his men
that the interest on his plant was worth
something, and the wear and tear of his
machinery, should be allowed for and he
should have = salary as manager. and all
that was left aC tho end of the year they
would divide. His theory is that whether
q man gets enc dollar or a thousand he
viii not kick rs long as he gets what he
thinks is due him. The men accepted it.
and they divide the surplus on an agreed
pro rata, and there has not been 4 particle
of trouble since He has prospered right
along through all the hard times am
satisfied that that is the best thing now,
and when other manufac turers get off
their high horses and do the same thing
there viii Ee an end to strikes in this
country This is only a sample Of con
versations heard in every room Of the CAPT
tOl and every part of the city, for the
question, Arc we drifting toward q strong
central g0vernnents has certainly been
discussed 10, COO times here in the last fort
night. Very few of the statesmen will
consent to have their remarks printed
and big percentage of what has been
said privately by prominent men would
make very queer reading q year or two
hence
Cost of Labor Troubles.
A summary OF the reports made to tht
department. shows that three weeks afte.
what was considered the close Of the riot
In 1877 there were still % rioters in prison
IN West Virginia, while one Donohue
then prominent leader, was in Jail III
Erie; Mcconnell, another in philadelphia
four others in st. Louis, and altogether
there were about 90 in all the country out
Of many hundreds who were arrested
And, near can be determined not
more than q dozen were sentenced for any
length Of time want of evidence being
the reason usually assigned And this was
the trlfIng outcome Of the law 5 action as
to riots which cost 400 lives and about
500, 600. 600. 1T also appears in the Jour.
mails OF that year that Immediately after
the riots there was a strong movement in