The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-15
The U. S. AS A TOOL.
Sinister Motives Attributed to
the Southern Pacific.
Will Use the Government to
Cut Wages.
4. r. U. SUSPECTS THIS.
Mail Cars to be Put on Its
Street Railway.
This Would Prevent the Men
Resisting by Striking.

SAN Francisco Oct 15.-The Chron-
icle says: The announcement BY POST
master Frank McCoppin that he is en-
deavoring to bring about the carrying of
the mails between sub-statious and the
central postoffice on the street railway
lines of this city is looked upon very
suspiclously by the railway employees,
and especially by mem bers of the Amer
lean Railway union.
While not imputing to Mr.. Nc
Coppin anything but the best motives
to facilitate the transmission and dis
patch of mails generally, the railway en-
ployes claim to see behind the
proposition the hand of the Southern
Pacific. They claim that it is nothing
more or less than scheme OF the rail-
way company to bring its immense street
car system within the protection of that
celebrated omnibus decision of Attorney
General Olney during the strike against
the Pullman Car company.
The provisions of that decision were
broad enough to bring under its wing
all railway companies carrying mails. IL
was maintained that the refusal Of the
trainmen to move trains carrying Pull
man coaches was indirectly an interfer-
ence with the United States mails, and
consequently serious offence in the
federal calendar of crimes.
There is rumor ahoat that the offic-
ers of the Market street combine would
like, if possible to trim the wages of its
employees little, and it is openly an
nounced IN certain quarters that the
moment mail cars begin running over the'
lines, the reduction will go into effect. l.
In case cf a strike under these coudi->
tions, Attorney General Olnev's decision
would cover the case very nicely and
stand between the company and lis dis
satisfied employees. A general strike
would of course tie up the mail cars as well
as the others, even in case the company
used separate coaches for carrying the
mails, and could be very nicely CON
structed into interference with the
mails.
In this city there are about 5000 men
employed on the street railway lines, 50
per cent of which force is controlled by
the Southern Pacific railway under the
name of the Market Street Consolidated
Raj lway System. A general walk out"
would result in a very bad state of af-
fairs for both the public and owners of
lines, but the latter would be much the
worse sufferers.
In the past there have been some very
lively strikes on some portions of these
street railway systems, two of which re-
suited disastrously for the company.
GlOuA0 AAlC clLCOb CdlO DCS lux
mails. as long as the Olney decision is
interpreted as it is at present, general
strike would bring the strikers in direct
conflict with the federal authorities, as
il would be impossible to keep the mail
cars running if the roads were tied up.
E. d. Marlatt, ex-president of lodge
No 346 of this city, says Mr.. McCoppin
need have no fear of the success of his
scheme
81 am only surprised" says Marlatt
''that it has not been thought of before
The Olney decision is at present inter-
preted by the federal courts that the run,
ming of mail cars over street railway
lines brings them under the protection of
federal power'i in case of trouble When
once the mail cars run over the Market
street lines all danger of big strike or
tie up on that system is practically over.
"The men know this as well as one can
tell them, but what can they do about it?
Simply nothing. It is q case of saw wood,
say nothing and trust to the appointment
of new judges to the federal bench"