The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-11

TWO DETROIT CONFERENCES.
The Detroit conference regarding the
strike situation has met, "resolooted' ana
adjourned. 1t is curious to note how close
ly history sometimes repeats itself Dur
ing the great railroad strike Of 1894 Mayor
Pingree. of Detroit, telegraphed to the
mayors Of fifty different cities throughout
the country asking If they would join with
him in urging the settlement Of the con-
troversy by arbitration. Then he organ
lied a street parade and called mass
meeting to discuss the strike situation
and the relations Of labor and capital gen.
orally. The meeting was held in Detroit
on the evening Of July 9. 1894. Several
speeches were made, and Mayor Pingree
read dispatches from many mayors, most
mending arbitration as the true solution of
labor difficulties. The only mayor who
took decidedly different ground was the
mayor Of Little Rock, Ark. who wired as
follows:
Under ordinary conditions and circum-
stances would favor arbitration. Present
conditions forbid it. / am opposed to treat
ing with people who are defying the laws
and orders of the courts and are now en-
gagged in destroying lives and property.
Support the government.
That mayors head was level. At that
time United States troops had been or
dered out to protect interstate commerce
and United States mails, and the sole ques-
ton was that of supporting the govern
ment. 1t was no time to talk of arbitration
for that strike. After the speechmaking
was over the Detroit meeting of 1894 adopt
ed a resolution requesting Congress Ito
pass an act providing for submitting to
the States an amendment to the federal
Constitution for the establishment of in
terstate boards of arbitration, designed for
the adjustment and settlement of labor
troubles arising within their jurisdiction -
Nothing more was ever heard Of the mat
ter.
The situation In 1894 was far more seri-
GUS than the present one. At that time
the strike Of railroad employees extended
over many States and interstate traffic
and travel and the mails were interfered
with. President Cleveland had ordered out
United States troops to prevent interfer-
ence with railway traffic and was de-
nounced therefor by Democratic papers
which are now demanding government in
reference in the coal strike. The present
situation does not furnish anything like as
strong ground for interference by the ma
tional government as the strike of 1894 did
In the present strike there has been no in
reference with mails or with interstate
commerce, and interference by the national
government is asked for on grounds of very
doubtful constitutionality.
The Detroit conference that has just beer
held took much more advanced ground
than the one Of 1894 did. The latter only
suggested an amendment to the Constitu
ton providing for interstate boards Of ar
| bitration. The recent conference attempt
| ed to cover a great deal more ground, anC
urged half dozen different lines of actor
on the President of the United States ant
the Governor of Pennsylvania, all of which
One Of the resolutions urges the govern
ment to seize and operate the coal mines
and roads under the right of eminent do
main, as il coal mining were a function
Of government. Another recommends sim
liar action by the State of Pennsylvania
Another urges the appointment of receiver
to operate the mines, pursuant to stat
ute," when there is 10 law for such &C
! ton. Another requests 1.-The President O
the United States to call special session
of the House of Representatives and rec
ommend to 1t the appointment of a com
mittee to investigate the cause and origi
of the present disastrous strike and I
place the blame therefor upon the respon
sible parties The President already ha
full power to appoint such a commission.
Comparison of the action of the recen
conference with that of the Detroit con
ference of 1894 indicates a disposition t
resort to measures more radical in them
selves and of more doubtful legality an
constitutionality. The conference of 1Ss
confined its action to the idea of arbitra
ton, which really ought to be the corner
stone OF any plan for settling dispute
between labor and capital. The recent cor
| ference failed to show an intelligent gras
Of the situation and seems to have adopt
ed every suggestion that was brought be
calls conference to settle labor disput
those of 1894 and 1902 should be remem
bered.