The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-11-24


the Pullman company and the Railway
Managers association In reference to
applications to nrbitrnte closed tho
door to all attempts at Cancellation and
settlement of differences. The COM
mission is impressed with the belief,
by the evidence and by the attendant
circumstances as disclosed, that a
different policy would have prevented
the loss of life and great loss of
property and wages occasioned by the
strike.
The report declares the arrival of
the troops at Chicago was opportune
and says that the policemen SYM
pathized with strikers rather than with
the corporations can not be doubted,
nor would it be surprising to find the
same sentiment rife among the mill
tary.
The commission briefly disposes in
this way of the matter of the use of
federal troops:
''Sec. of Art. Nv. of the federal
constitution reads as follows: The
United States shall guarantee to every
state in this Union republican form
of government, and shall protect each
of them against invasion; and on APP
plication of the legislature or of the
executive when the legislature can
not be convened) against domestic vio-
lence'
United States troops were not sent
into Illinois upon the application of
the legislature, nor of the executive,
against domestic violence; j. e. violence
affecting the state and its government
as such. The President ordered the
troops to Chicago: () To protect fed
eral property; (2) to prevent obstruc-
ton in the carrying of the mails; (3) to
prevent interference with the inter-
state commerce; az to enforce the de-
crees and mandates of the federal
courts"
The report. however, adds:
''Many impartial observers are reach
ing the view that much of the real re-
sponsibility for these disorders rests
with the people themselves and with
the government for not adequately
controlling monopolies and corpora
tions and for failing reasonably to pro-
wrongs. None assert that laws can
completely remedy contentious as to
wages, etc, but many do insist that
something substantial can be accom-
plished in this direc tion if attempted
honestly, reasonably and in good
faith
OF the responsibility of the officers
of the American Railway Union for
violence committed during the strike
the commission says:
There is no evidence before the
commission that the officers OF the
American Railway Union at any time
participated in or advised intimidation
violence or destruction of property.
The attacks upon corporations and
monopolies by the leaders in their
speeches are similar to those to be
found ir the magazines and industrial
works of the day. From the tcsti-
mony it is fair to conclude that strikers
were concerned in the outrngcs against
law and order, although the number
was undoubtedly small rs compared
with the whole number out. :"
The commission deems recommended
tions of specific remedies premature
Such Il problem, for instance, as uni
versal government ownership of rail
roads, is too vast, many sided and far
away, If attempted, to be considered as
an immediate, practical remedy.
Should however, continued coInbina-
tions and consultations result in
dozen or less ownorShips of our rail
roads within a few years. as is by no
means unlikely. the question of gov
eminent ownership will be forced to
the front and we need to be ready to
dispose of it intelligently Other ma
tions, under their conditions, own and
operate tclegraphs and railroads with
varying results Whether il is practi-
cable for this nation to do so success
fully, when it becomes necessary to
save an investment or when the people
determine it shall be done, is an open
and serious question, which can not be
answered fully except by actual cxper-
imcnt.
The commission makes three series
Of recommendations The first is:
Il. That there be a permanent
United States strike commission of
three members with duties and powers
of investigation and recommendation
as to disputes between railways and
their employees, similar to those vested
in the interstate commerce commits
sion as to rates, etc.
so. That chapter 267 of United States
statutes of 1ss5-'s6 be amended so as
to require national trade unions to
provide in their articles of incorpora-
ton and in their constitutions, rules
and bylaws that member shall cease
to be such and forfeit all rights and
privileges conferred on linn by law as
such by participating in or by instieat-
ing force or violence against persons
or boycotts, or by seeking to prevent
others from working through violence,
threats, or intimidation; also that
members shall be no more personally
liable for corporate acts than are stock
holders in corporations.
80 The commission does not feel
warranted, with the study it has been
able to give TO the subject, to recon-
mend positively the establishment of a
license system, by which all the higher
employees or others of railways en-