The advocate., 1895-04-03
UPHILL WORK.

frame excuses Tor the military lnVR-
sion Of states in defiance Of the local
authorities. The Kansas City Times,
IN an editorial Of March %, says:
In fOrOeful argument before the su-
preme court at Warrington in the Dsbs
case, Attorney General Olney not only de-
fined the rights and duties Of the federal
government when interstate commerce is
interrupted, but he pointed out the obliRa-
tions of the state governments as well.
Upon this point he said in substance that if
the state governments had promptly and
vigorously applied the remedies at their
command Che insurreOtion at Chicago in
1894 might have been sveFtsd, and added,
"but instead of them doing this they al
lowed day after day TO pass marked either
by total inactivity or by effort 80 made
quSte as TO aggravste all the evils Of the
situation"
IL is plain from this that the attorney
general depreCates as much as any other
citizen the sbdioRtion by the state govern
ments Of their rights TO exercise authority
during such emergencies as was brought
about by the Dsbs strike, and the Conse-
queut necessity Of federal interference even
where the statutory authority was clearly
lodged. But the facts are plain that such
abdiCati on took place even though as in the
case Of Illinois there was entered a noisy
protest that the state authorities were able
to maintain order. The fact that inter-
state commerce was completely interrupted
is the best proof on the point, and ID is a
matter of record that until She federal courts
were involved the business Of transporting
goods from one side to another was para
lyzed.
There may be a time when the state su-
thorities will be able 60 reRssert their gu.
premsOy in such emergencies, and ii will
be Welcomed 40 q hopeful sign by all who
desire the psrpetuity Of the existing system
Of gov eminent. But the most valuable re-
suit Of the issue involved in the Dsbs strike
is the establishment Of the fact that so long
as the state governments are unable to per-
form the duty there is an authority capable
Of doing it. That will have q tendency to
restrain men from following false leaders
into fruitless strikes, and there is little
doubt that the judgment Of the court will
confirm IL.
The Times thinks there may be q
time when the state authorities will
be able to resssert their supremacy,
and it will be welcomed as q hopeful
sign by all who desire the perpetuity
Of the existing system of govern
ment." There may be such q time,
but not until the people get their
eyes open to the despotism under
which they now live. In relation to
the invasion of the state of Illinois at
the time Of the strike-the occasion
to which Attorney General Olney and
the Times here especially refer-the
annual report Of Chicago's chief Of
police, Mr.. Brennan, possesses re-
msrksble interest. Hessys:
II is q notable fact that there was no
trouble where there were no troops. In all
cases where the police were left TO them
selves peace was preserved, and property was
kept uniDjured and the interference with
nOn-union workmen was trifing.
The report goes further and Sc
Verely condemns the United States
mRrphals who were gathered, he said,
from the scum and refuse of the low