The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-14
ronted with abnormal conditions

fronted with abnormal conditions or
exigencies due to . distressing political
agitation which is pregnant with disaster
to all corporate bodies. Those who are
familiar with the, great labor war at
Chicago and its causes and effects, and
have watched the proceedings of the
Democratic Populist convention at Chi
cago, and studied its platform, will not
fail to comprehend the obvious fact that
the present silver movement Is the legiti-
mate child of the Chicago strike. care
FULLY nurtured by Altgeld, the fanatical
Governor OF Illncis. and by him and other
misanthropes like Bryan. Tillmsn, Peter
and Mrs. Lease, solemnly proclaimed as
the Messiah of the laboring men. In
other words, the silver movement, fully
invested with the indicia OF q great po-
litical and moral issue, is direct blow
at the life of every corporation in this
country, and Is but the reflex movement
of the Chicago strike. This can be read
between the lines OF the Chicago platform,
which bears the ear marks of John 4.
Altgeld. Verbumsap. The man who aided
and abetted the fearful strike at Chicago
and proved doubly recreant to his trust as
chief magistrate OF the state where the
event occurred, has donned the masx of
q great moral reformer.
This silver crusade is but q cloak for a
movement which is OF q decidedly revo-
lutio nary character, and strikes at the
very foundations OF our free government.
a. a
trde Of placing them under government
control. But before this could be accom-
lished the railways must be overthrown
and demoralized. To attain this end, the
program OF Altgeld and n is followers is
to fement- dissentions tetween the cor
grevious burdens upon the corporations,
cripple the service, depreciate the stocks
and bonds, and bring them to the verge
of bankruptcy where government owner
ship would become easy to attain.
To show what sort OF treatment the
railways would receive, even under nor
NAL conditions, from government in
which Altgeld would become q leading
and influential figure, we C an refer TO
the acts of this man during the Chicago
strike. AItgeld undoubtedly aided and
encouraged the men led by Debs in their
attempt TO tie up all the railroads center
ing at Chicago, because of their refusal OF
the irrational and utterly absurd demands
for arbitration, when the roads were un-
der legal obligation to the Pullman Com
pany to haul its cars, to the Federal gov
ernment to operate the mail cars and to
the state governments TO operate trains
under the penalty of forfeiting their
franchises. Then Altgeid abused Presi-
dent Cleveland and his cabinet for sending
troops to prevent the ruin of Chicago he
abused Judge Cooley of Michigan, for
sustaining the action of the President in
sending the troops, on constitutional
grounds. He abused the several mana
gers at Chicago, and left no stone un-
turned in his efforts to ruin Mr. Pullman,
and the Pullman company.
Altgeld is a leader of the movement to
compel railways to provide lower rates
for sleeping car accommodations. But
people acquainted with the facts know
foil well that railways cannot afford to
haul chesp lodging houses, and that they
cannot be called upon to act as hailees of
goods by providing safes for yaluables on
sleeping cars.
The Democratic platform demands a
board of arbitration, but were such n
tribunal constituted underAItgeld's super
vision, railway interests would fare hard
at its hands. No doubt the success of
Bryan would prove the death blow to the
Joint Traffic Association.
The policy of the Democratic-P Populist
party is to stir up enmity between the
managers aud railway employees, pro.
cenure which cannot he too strongly con-
demned. The managers know full well
that harmony between them and their
employees is absolutely essential to sue
cess, and that they must depend largely
upon the manhood Of the employees, since
they are scattered about over the system
and cannot, as In the case of employees of
business corporations, be called up and
disciplined for every breach OF duty.
The indications, point to the selection,
in case of Bryan's success, OF Altgeld as
Secretary of the Interior. lie has "fed
fat an ancient grudge" against the rail-
ways, and, as Secretary OF the Interior,
would doubt address himself TO the
task Of ripping up ana destroying railway
land grants. This man can never be Gov
ernor Of Illinois again. The people OF
Chicago settled that question when tney
saw their city menaced by the mob Alt
geld had encouraged. They gave express
sion to their feelings on this subject a
year ago, when they buried Hopkins, the
Mayer Of Chicago at the time Of the great
strike, an ally Of Altgeld, under 10000
majority la favor OF Swift.
The character, acts and views Of
Bryan. Altgled, Iillman, Peter end other
supporters Of the Democratic platform
forecast the results which would follow
the election OF the Democratic ticket.
The only name lacking to. complete this
r,scrio Il Iuoene Dehe. 1 think tne cleo