Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-01-04
IS A SILENT REVOLT
Pooling Bill the Opening Wed
for Government Control.
STOCKHOLDERS WILL AG RE
Carroll Wright, Commissioner OF Labor
Makes Some Sensational state
ments In His speech.

New York, Dec. 27.--Tne following is
an abstract of an address delivered by
Carroll d. Wright before the American
Economic Association today:
"fhe great strike which occurred at
Chicago in June and July last. which
was in reality a combination of strike
and boycott, was an epochal event be-
cause it emphasized certain principles
which are now recognized as essential
in the government, management and
operation of railroads. 1t demonstra ted
to the satisfaction of the public at large
the right and power of 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. 1t has emphasized the power of
the federal government to protect its
great interests in the transportation of
the mails.
1T is further epochal in its ma ture 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; it 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
| -entence. 1t is epoch making, again,
because it has crystalized public senti-
ment upon a question which has often
been argued-that relating to the quasi
public character of railroad employees.
THE chief reason, however, to my
mind, for which the Chicago strike is an
epoch making event, lies in the fact that
it constitutes subordinate element in
revolution which is quietly taking
place in this country. 1t is not neces-
sary in this presence for me to say thai
l approach this part of my subject from
a standpoint entirely opposed to social
ism as a system. | have no faith in it
Nor need / assert that l approach from
a point of view antagonistic to what Is
known compulsory arbitration.
approach 1t from the point of view tina
neither the federal nor the state gov
ernments can or ought to be allowed
as a rule. to regulate rates of wages OF
prices of commodities.
GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
Notwithstanding these professions
| am ready to re-eXamine these propo
sitions to which l am opposed and i
expedient to apply some of the features
involved in each of them. Let us, there
fore, consider in what respect TIL
Chicago strike became a subordinate el
ement in the revolution that is nov
going on. In 1887 congress- at the de
mand of the shippers of the country
made the declaration that all charge
made for any private service rendered
or to be rendered in the transportation
of passengers or property on interstat
| railroads or in connection therewit
/. should be reasonable and just an
every unjust charge was declared to b
unlawful. This declaration was en-
phatically state socialism, 1t was EN-
phatically compulsory arbitration,
was the old principle by which state
regulated pixies and tolls, but here cal
, ried in new form, with new machir
, | cry. What is the consequence of TIL
! | as another step in the silent revolution
, ! which is taking place? There is no
: ! pending in congress a measure, whic
is state socialism, pure and simple.
: refer to the pooling bill now pendir
in the senate. This pending legislatic
h is demanded at the instance of shippe
O and railroads of the country, and i
q passage is being aided by a powerf
$ lobby in their service. The bill pr
f vides for a great trust with the go
r eminent as trustee.
1.-The pending bill, the moment it b
comes a law, will drive the we'd
three-quarters of its length into Il
h. timber. There will be then needed b
one more blow to drive the wedge hon
, and that blow will come at the instan
- of business and not of labor-enti
10 government control of all the railroa
n of the country, instead of partial co
A. troll under the laws now existing or pr
r. posed. 1t will come through a demal
that the government shall take char
n of the roads, not purchase them. al
Of out of the proceeds of the transport
2. ton business, guarantee to the ext:
r ing stockholders of the road a SIN;
90 but reasonable dividend Under su
I'd a seductive movement the stockholde
er themselves will vote for the striki
I'd | of the blow