Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-01-05
is A SILENT REVOLT
Pooling Bill the Opening Wedge
for Government Control.
STOCKHOLDERS WILL AGREE
Carroll wright, Commissioners of Labor
Makes Some Sensational state
msnts In His speech.

New York. Dec. 27.-The following is
an abstract Of an address delivered b.
Carroll d. Wright before the American
Economic Association today:
"The great strike which occurred at
Chicago In June and July last. which
was In reality combination OF strike
and boycott. was an epochai event be-
cause u emphasized certain principles
which are now recognized an essential
In the government. management and
operation OF railroads. II demonstrated
TO the satisfaction OF the public at large
the right and power o. the federal gov
eminent TO send troops into a state for
the purpose Of protecting federal inter-
ests. whether that protection was or
was not solicited by the state govern
ment. IL has emphasized the power of
the federal government to protect Its
great interests In the transportation OF
the malls.
1T is further epochal In its nature and
influence because II has shown the pow
er OF the courts In the expansion OF the
privilege OF injunction. which was a
twin power to that OF mandamus; Il has
shown that the civil courts have as
serted the right To define what is crime
under certain circumstances, TO execute
their own views by local processes; TO
interpret their own acts and To impose
sentence. IL Ii epoch making, again.
because IL has crystalized public senti-
ment upon a question which has often
been argued--that relating to the quasi
pabiic character OF railroad employees
THE chief reason. however 10 my
mind. for which the Chicago strike is am
epoch making event. lies in the fact that
| II constitutes subordinate element in
a revolution which Is quietly taking
| place In this country. IL In not neces-
sary In this presence for me to say that
| approach this part of my subject from
a standpoint entirely opposed to social
| Ism as a system. ! have no faith IN IL.
| Nor need assert that approach from
a point of view antagonlstic 10 what is
known as compulsory arbitration. I
approach II from the point Of view that
neither the federal nor the state gov
ernments can or ought TO be allowed.
| as a rule, 10 regulate rates OF wages or
| prices of commodities
GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
Notwithstanding these professions,
| am ready to re-examine these propo-
sitions to which I am opposed and II
expedient to apply some OF the features
involved In each of them. Let us, there
fore. consider in what respect the
| Chicago strike became a subordinate el-
| ement In the revolution that Is now
going on. In 1887 congress-, at the de-
mand of the shippers OF the country,
made the declaration that all charges
made for any private service rendered
| or TO be rendered In the transportation
of passengers or property on Interstate
railroads or in connection Herewith
should be reasonable and Just. and
every unjust charge was declared to be
unlawful. This declaration was en-
phatically state socialism. Il was en-
phaticaily compulsory arbitration. II
was the old principle by which states
regulated pixies and tolls. hut here car
ried In a new form, with new machin-
| cry. What is the consequence OF this
as another step In the silent revolution,
which is taking placer There is now
pending In congress a measure. which
Is state socialism. pure and simple. ]
refer TO the pooling bill now pending
In the senate. This pending legislation
is demanded at the instance or shippers
and railroads of the country. and its
passage is being aided by a powerful
lobby In their service. The blu pro-
vides for great trust. with the gov
| eminent as trustee.
The pending bin. the moment IL be-
comes law. will drive the wedge
three-quarters of It's length into the
timber. There win be then needed but
one more blow to drive the wedge home
and that blow viii come at the instance
Of business and not OF labor-entire
government control OF all the railroads
OF the country. instead of partial con-
troll under the laws now existing or pro-
posed. II win come through a demand
that the government shall take charge
OF the roads. not purchase them, and
out OF the proceeds of the transportn-
ton business. guarantee 10 the exist
ing stockholders OF the road a small
but reasonable dividend Under such
a seductive movement the stockholders
themselves will vote for the striking
| OF the blow"