New-York tribune., 1900-03-26


Chicago March % (speciaD-Last week two
rather startling things occurred here, both of
which had relation to each other. not at all
apparent on the surface, limited at in the
local press editoriaiy otherwise.
The one was the exposure of organized
syndicate formed to bring fraudulent actions
for damages against the city of Chicago and
leading railway corpora tions; the other was the
statement of William ]. Chalmers president OF
a we'll known firm of mining machinery manu-
facturers, that the labor trust Of this city die
tates the action of the city government and
keeps the latter from affording protection to its
citizens, and that Chicago an industrial
ire is doomed unless the tyranny Of the labor
unions be broken.
CHICAGO'S ATTITUDE INVOLVED.
Not only are the two ocurrences directly
nected, but indirectly is involved not so much
the immediate question between employer and
employed, but the general Chicago attitude in
regard to corporations Thus, when Mr.. Chal-
spoke of the action of the labor trust In
debating the actions of the city government, he
touched the vital point in the City Attorneys
Investigations into the fraudulent damage claim
syndicate. For weeks detectives have been
gagged in looking into this gigantic fraud. and
last week, behind doors guarded by double lines
of detectives, the different suspects put
heard and lawyers parties to the suits. interro-
gated. The result? The indictment of four per-
by the Grand Jury including a Polish
boarding house keeper. Polish doctor and a
Polish witness. forming a more or less ig-
norantly cunning trio. City Attorney Ryan
Furthermore gave out for publication the infor-
nation that no evidence had been found against
the various lawyers in the cases investigated
they had been deceived.
WHY WE'RE THE LAWYERS WHITEWASHED?
Now inasmuch as the mass of evidence pre-
sented showed clearly the existence Of a really
widespread conspiracy to extort damages
amounting in all to over S25OOO0 from the city
and other corporations, the question naturally
arises, How comes it that the lawyers in the
various whitewashed and so few per-
sons indicted? The answer is to be found in
Mr. Chalmers's statement that labor controls
the action of this city's government. The con-
ditions here that make such kind Of actions
actions for damages from corporations for large
sums vast sums-are possible mainly the
suit of the tyranny Of the labor unions spoken
of by Mr.. Chalmers
few facts may be given which, though
prisng and in some cases almost incredible, are
yet common enough in Chicago.
First of all, so servile to the spirit Of labor
unionism is the average jury that 1t is difficult
for a corporation to obtain a verdict in dam
age suit and, even II the Judge give rehear-
ing of the case. the result is nearly always the
same 1t is not that juries and the general pub
lie are only Influenced by the attitude of the
labor leaders; they are terrorized by them. This
is the simple truth For man in the ordinary
walks of business life here 1t is as much as his
business. reputation and even personal safety
are worth to be friendly in such case to a cor
poration, unless by arrangement with the walk
ING a1a re- nd Il 0f q SDOilS
he may be bought.
INCITERS OF DAMAGE SUITS
Second. there are in Chicago a number of law
yers who go about seeking damage suits and
offering TO conduct them the basis of 90 per
cent or one-thrd Of the verdict 1t is needless to
mention names; such men well known to
claim adjusters of railway and other corpora
tions, and of them are members even of
firms with degree of reputation. Mainly 1t is
true of the appeal to the people," aggressive.
loud voiced character. but still of sufficient
weight in the community to lead one to suppose
they might at least be honest. A typical in
stance may be given here as showing the line
taken in such cases. and one which came under
the immediate observation of the writer.
man at the instance and on the advice OF
certain firm of attorneys rather we'll known,
particularly of the members of the firm, for
their buldozing methods brought action for
So0,OOO damages TO mis- spine by reason or a
small shake up a railway in the central part
of the State. A good deal of talking and visit
ing with the companys claim agent took place
during the ensuing year At length the attor
neys intimated to a third person that the case
might he compromised They did not openly
say that they would sell out to the railway COM
pany. The claim adjuster was notified by the
third person, who as il happened was distnter
ested. and the former in general conversation
told the latter that he had seen the claimant,
who had never been actually damaged, but
had nervous spine by reason of anxiety over
the litigation and nervous hope of a substantial
benefit.
well known to him. 1t was an actual form of
sickness induced entirely by worry. and that
patients usually recovered a few days after
their cases We're settled, the being speedy
if a large cash payment were made In this
matter he stated he was obliged for the infor
nation, and would see the claimant personally
again. Shortly after, in reply to query. the
third person received word by letter that the
case had been settled for $4,000.
JUST IN TIME TO GET HIS THIRD.
Meeting the attorney that day he Informed
him that he understood the railway company
had made a good settlement of their $4,000
case. The attorney flew around like a mad
man. said no settlement had been made. that
he had the plaintiff the day before. and
then rushed off. only to return in few hours
with the information that he had been just in
time and had caught the plaintiff he
about to leave town. and thus managed TO get
his firms third of the $4,000.
In other words, II corporations can settle rea-
sonably out of court, they always do in
preference to taking their chances with jury
Similarly. corporations always retain in such
suits come into court the best lawyers with
a jury that may be had.
IN the conspiracy investigated during
the last few weeks the mass of evidence sifted
showed that there great deal more in
volved than the results made public would seem
to indicate. Cases against the Northern Pacific
Chicago,