The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-04
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
The Pervasive Pingrce.
Boston Journal.


Even the most serious situations are not
without humorous aspects. The Pullman
strike is q case In point. At the most critical
j~uacture In that episode the great American
public suddenly became aware of one Pingrce.
Pingree Of Detroit. Precisely what Pingree
had to do with the exciting events
in progress was not clear, but all at
once he began telegraphing like mad all
over the country to mayors of various
cities, asking whether they did not think 1t
would be q good idea 10 arbitrate the diff
Guilty. Pingrce was a mayor himself, and
he appeared to have become seized with the
conviction that II mayors of American cities
were TO arise en- masse, as IL were, and demand
that the trouble be arbitrated, an immediate
solution of the affair would be reached. This
conception of the functions of mayoralty was
naturally initiating to the holders of
that office, and a considerable num-
ber Of the magistrates addressed
t~elegraphed sundry platitudes TO the per-
vasivc and irrepressiblo Pingree, whether at
their own charges or at his does not appear.
The next that was heard OF Pingree no had
packed his kilograms from American mayors
into his travelling bag and had departed TO
Chicago to settle the strike. What he did
there lie not wholly clear. History catches I'D
with him again only on his return 10 Detroit,
with the mayors symposium still locked mp
la his bag and the strike raging as hard as
ever.
There were lewd fellows of the baser sort
who even then conjectared that the pervasive
Pingree was not an unadulteratcd philan-
thropist. but that some kind of n bee was
buzzing in his bonnet. These conjcctures we're
verified when Pingree turned up at the
Republican state convention in Michigan
the other day. n very aggressive candidate
for the G~ubernatorial nomination, his
claims being based on his consuming de-
votion TO workingmen, and In particular
on his ex srtions for terminating the Pullman
strike. His slams we're submitted, "a IL were,
to arbitration. that's, 10 the arbitration OF the
convention, and his candidacy was buried
under an adverse majority OF eight TO one.
Since then the pervasive Pingreo has been
breathing out threatenings and slaughter. lie
proposes to bolt the nomination and run as a
labor candidate, rs n Populist candidate. in
short, any kind OF a candidate TO attract "a
himself IL be can tho rag. tag and bobtail OF
politics and damage the Republican ticket.
So much for Pingrse In his public capacity.
But as bearing upon tho sincerity OF his zeal
for arbitration as a means of settling labor
disputes, the fact 10 recalled that Pingree
who Is a shoe manufacturer when he Is moi
attending to other peoples business, Fell out
with his workingmen n few years ago.
on his workingmen fell out with him
which comes TO much tho soms
thing. Tho Labo Commissions Of Michi
gan invited him TO submit the trouble to ar.
bifration, but Pingrce stifiy replied by letter
Whatever the loss ia. we prefer IL rather
than allow outside parties TO run our bust.
ness" From which II would appear tha,
arbitration Is desirable or undesirable accord.
ing a. ~ Is your affair or tho other fellow,
that IL 10 be settled IN that way. This Is m
odd world sad e~urisusy given 10 inoopsis
tsnoy.