The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-02
MADE AN EPOCH.
A Stirring Address by Carroll D..
:. Wright.
Far Reaching Results of the Pull
man Strike.

The great strike which occurred at Chi
cago in June and July last, and which was
In reality combination Of strike and boy
colt, was an epochal event because it en-
phasized certain principles which are now
recognized as essential in the government
management and operation of railroads.
1t was also for other reasons.
1t demonstra ted to the satisfaction of the
public at large the right and the power of
the FEDERAL government to send troops into
a state for the purpose of protection OF
federal interests whether that protection
was or was not asked for by the state
government 1t has emphasized the power
OF the federal government to protect its
great interests in the transportation of
nails.
1t is further epochal in its nature and in
huence because 1t has shown the power of
the courts in the expansion of the privilege
OF injunction, which was a twin power 10
that of mandamus; it has shown that the
evil courts have asserted the right to de-
line what is crime under certain circum-
stances, to execute their views by
legal processes, to interpret their own acts
and to impose sentence.
1T Is epoch making again because it has
crystalliZed public sentiment upon ques
ton which has often been argued that re-
lating to the quasi public character of rail-
road employees.
The chief reason, however. to my own
mind why the Chicago strike is an epoch
making event lies in that fact that it con-
stitutes a subordinate element in a revo-
luton, which is quietly taking place in this
country. 1t is not necessary, in this pres
ence, for to say that l approach this
part Of my subject from standpoint en-
trely opposed to state socialism sys
tenn. l have no faith in it. Nor need
assert that l approach it from point of
view antagonistic to what is known as
compulsory arbitration. 1 approach it
rather from the point of view that neither
the federal nor state governments can CT
ought to be allowed, as a rule, to regulate
rates OF wages or prices of commodities.
Notwithstanding these professions, l am
ready to re-examine these propositions to
which / am opposed and, if expedient to
apply some Of the features involved in each
of them. Let us, therefore, consider in
what respect the Chicago strike becomes
subordinate element in revolution which
is now going on.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW.
In 1887 congress, at the demand of the
shippers of the country and In their in
terest, as it was supposed, made the declar
alton that all charges made for any SER
vice rendered to be rendered in the
transportation of passengers or property
in interstate railroads, or in connection
herewith, or for the receiving, delivering,
storage or handling of such property,
should be reasonable and just, and every
unjust and unreasonable charge for such
unla awful.
This declaration has become to ali intents
and purposes, a part of the constitution of
the United States. because it has been
sustained by the courts. But this declara
ton has empha tically state socialism, it
has emphatically compulsory arbitration, it
was emphatically law regulating the
prices of commodities through the price of
services. 1t the old principle by which
states regulated pixies and tolls, but here
car lad iptn f0rrv vf-ith
chinery. 1t was properly sustained by
the courts.
What is the consequence of this as an
other step in this revolution which is TAX
ing place? There is now pending in con-
gress a measure which is state socialism
pure and simple. l refer to the pooling
bill now pending in the senate. l cite it
only to show the second phase of this rev.
olution to which | referred. This pending
legislation is demanded at the instance of
the shippers and the railroads of the coun-
try and it's passage is being aided by
powerful lobby in their service. The rail-
roads base their advocacy of the bill on
the claim that it will be for the interest
of the shippers to have such law. The
bill provides for a great trust, with the
government of the United States as the
trustee. When the first bill to regulate
commerce was passed the great and pow
erful wedge of state socialism was driven
one-quarter of its length into the timber
eminent which means Democracy.
The pending bill, the moment it becomes
a law, will drive the wedge three-quarters
of it's length into the timber. There will
then be needed but one more blow to drive
the wedge home, and that blow will at
the wedge home, and tat blow will come at
ENTIRE GOVERNMENT CONTROL
of all the railroads of the country instead
of partial control under the laws now ex-
listing or proposed.
This blow will be struck in the most Sc
ductive way. 1t will come through a de-
mand that the government shall take
charge of the roads, not purchase them
shall take charge of the roads and out of
the proceeds of the transportation bust
ness guarantee to the existing stockhold-
ers of the roads a small but reasonable
rate of dividend Under such seductive
movement the stockholders themselves
conservative men, men in this hall now,
will vote for the striking of the blow
All this. as l have said, will be the de-
mand and in the interest of the railroads
and Of the shippers, and not of the labor
involved in carrying on the work of trans
portation, as the demand of today for the
enactment of the pooling bill is alleged to
be largely in the interest of the shippers
and of the public welfare. The rail
roads now consistently demand and keep
their lobby employed to secure the extern
sion of the same principles to labor and
thus give their employees the status of semi
public service and thus help to prevent. or
reduce the number of strikes on all the
interstate roads and logically on all roads
] can now answer why it is that the
Chicago strike is epochal in it's influence as
subordinate phase of silent revolution
a revolution probably in the interest of
public welfare. 1t is because the events of
that strike logically demand that another
DECLARE ton of law and of the principles of
the federal government shall be made: a
declaration that all wages paid as well as
charges for any service rendered in the
transportation of property, passengers. etc.
shall be reasonable and just
A declaration of this character backed
by the machinery of the government to
carry it into effect would give to railroad
employees the status of public servants
The machinery accompanying such a declar-
alton should be modelled on the Interstate
commerce act. 1t should be provided that
some authority be established for the regu-
lat1on OF wage contracts on railroads. not
for compulsory adjustment, as now pro-
Vlded, for the adjustment of freight rates
so that there would be little inducement
under it on the part of railroads to pay
unjust and unreasonable wages and on
the part Of employees to quit work when
they We're just and reasonable.
L think / recognize the distinction which
you of the Economic Association would
make between government adjustment of
freight rates and like adjustment of wage
rates, and l fully agree that while govern
ment can fix the compensation of it's own
employees, it cannot and ought not to at
tpmnt arbtr rilv n Of