The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-11-15
Decidedly Antasonistic Views Upon a
Great Question.
The NATIONAL COMMISSIONS REPORT
Commended By one and Condemn.
ed by Another OF Two Correspond.
ents, who Favor ssThe Herald,
with Their Ideas.

The trouble is over for the time being,
and the present breathing space should
be devoted to an effort to arrive Mt
peaceful solution of an undoubted diffi-
Guilty. "A house divided against itself
cannot stand;" and it will be black day
for America when labor and capital de-
liberately come to the conclusion that sit
is war"
The labor OF America cannot be driven
1T must be led; and the best inteli.
gence OF the country should he devoted
to finding some common ground on which
labor and capital may rest. The insane
and hurtful folly that followed the procla-
nation OF the A. X. U. strike does not
call for the wholesale condemnation of
the reasons which led the men to strike.
Anarchy will always be roughly handled
in America. This journal spoke in no
uncertain voice at the time the strike was
on, but the present moment is not the
time to wave the bloody shirt. Rather
should we see to it that if any error is
b'"H" ." oh"h W oA thS Quo VI uuiuC
consider alton for the claims of labor.
The report of the commission seems 10
be thoughtful inquiry into the strike,
and fearless study of its genesis and
what the tendencies of the conditions
from which It rose may mean to the
country. Nor does it stop there, but
makes number OF suggestions to both
the railroad managers and labor 1t also
urges certain legislative changes calculat-
cd to conserve the rights OF laborers as
freemen and parts Of the body polite
and economic, and to prevent strikes or.
Ii they cannot be prevented, TO provide
for their settlement with the minimum
OF delay and friction.
The findings Of the commission give
the Pullman company scant credit for
philanthropic motives or actions toward
its employees. On the contrary. il clearly
discovers an able, systematic, but thor
oughly selfish consideration for its own
interests. ANY seeming philanthropy
there may have been is found on analysis
to have been largely diluted. This may
be ungeuerous, but it seems to be the de-
liberate judgment OF the commission, nor
will it, We think, altogether surprise the
people of this coutry. The General Man
ayers association is broadly accused OF
usurping functions which would never
have been granted by the people or their
representatives. and to the exercise Of
| which the commissioners largely attribute
the main strike. This was not the view
Of the country at the time, but the coun-
try was suffering
| One result OF the repor. will be to
spread the conviction that the Pullman
men had very considerable provocation
before they struck: and that in spite of
the plausible (but, according TO the com
mission, not thoroughly candid) ground
taken by the Pullman company, the case
between it and its men was one where
arbitration should have been resorted to.
| The Impression received from reading
the report rs given, is tina. the commits
sioners have been driven, by their study
OF the whole matter, to an attitude Of
mind in which they are disposed to lay
the blame chiefly, if not altogether, at the
door OF the railroads and to consider too
| lightly the very serious faults on the
other side. There may be more human
ity than wisdom in this; still, it is per-
hsps a. we'll
There is, perhaps, IN ore need for, and
more to be gained by study of the exist
ing conditions, their bearings and neces-
sary notifications from the employees
point of view. There Is less danger that
the other side will be overlooked.
The suggestions and recommendations
of the commissioners, resulting rs they
do from an extended study OF ths whole
disastrous affair, should not be lightly
dismissed or adopted, bn. should be can
didly weighed by every citizen.
EDITOR HERALD: The long deferred re-
port OF the committee known as the ma
tional commission, which was created for
the purpose Of passing Judgment upon
the causes OF the strikes OF 1894 and to
suggest means whereby a repetition of the
same might he avoided, has at last been
given to the public. The commission
was composed OF Labor Commissioner