Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-05-05

carried ana WhlCh served the purpose
of interstate commerce. were, as a sen.
eral rule, those to which the Pullman
cars We're also attached The OH,
GERS OF the railway union established
headquarters in Chicago; and from
there gave directions for the main.
teuance and management OF the
strike, Reports soon came from Vari,
Gus quarters that the mails were com.
pletelS obsr0cted, trains We're seized
and destroyed and other violent dis.
orders committed, Thereupou the
attorney general Immediately sent a
dispatch to the United States district
attorneys inStructiug them to see that
the passage of regular trains, carry.
ing United States mails in the usual
and ordinary way. be not INSTRUCTED,
wherever there was Interference
With the mails or restraint ot com.
merce of the United States courts
were appealed to for relief, In Chi,
caso the United States marshal was
authorized to employ special deputies
and special counsel for the govern,
ment In letter to this special
counsel, the attorney general in maxi,
lug suggestions concerning LEGAL pro.
ceedings, wrote; II has seemed to
me that II the rights Of the United
States were vigorously asserted in
Chicago, the origin and center of the
demonstration, the result would he to
make II failure everywhere else,
and to prevent its spread over the en-,
tire country and in that connection.
he indicated that II might be advis.
able, instead Of relying entirely upon
warrants, issued upon criminal stat.
utes against persons actually guilty ot
the offence Of ohstmcting United
States mails, that the courts should
be asked to grant injunctions which
would restrain and prevent any at.
tempt To commit such offence"
Mr., Cleveland then described the re-.
peated hut Intellectual attempts by
United States court iniunctions and
the use of deputy marshals to prevent
riots and the obstruction OF com,
merco and mails.
The desperate aud farreaChing
character Of this disturbance was not
in the least underestmatcd by cXecu.
tive officials at Washington, Mir.
Cleveland said "and Il must he borne
in mind that while menacing Condi.
tions We're moving swiftly and acCu.
mulating at Chicago, Hike conditions
inspired and supported from that cen,
tral point existed I'm many other
places within the area of the strikes
Contagion, or course II was hoped
by those charged with the responsible.
itN of dealing with the situation that
a direct assertion of authority by the
marshal or a resort TO the restraining
power of the courts would prove SUN.
cient for the emergency Notwith-
standing, however. an anxious desire
to avoid measures more radical, the
fact had not been overlooked that n
contingency might occur which would
compel a resort to military force
4 The key to dispatches TO the federal
officers at Chicago from the attorney
general may he found In tho seIfdc
/ fonsive authority of our nation tn di.
rectly overcome resistance to the OK.
ercisc of its legitimate and constltu.
tional functions MS related to the
transportation OF mails, the operation
OF interstate commerce. and the pres,
erVation Of the property Of the United
States, and in certain constitutional
n 81 a n ia . L..
intention of the attorney general To
suggest in these dispatches that i'm.
mediate and authoritative information
should he given to the Washington an.
thorities If a time should arrive when,
under the sanction Of general cXcCu.
tive authority or tho constitutional
provisions, military force would bc
necessary NJ the scene Of disturbance
The strike situation grew rapidly
worse. Utter defiance OF court or.
ders, lawlessness and rioting culmin.
ated in the formal request of the Unit
ed States marshal, supported by the
Judge and attorneys Of the federal
court for federal troops This re-
lbtth' " 40 1T bll'' iil''N ny blN'lV W
the war department and soldiers from
TT Sheridan were soon on the scene
The dispatch containing the direction
of this procedure concluded as fol
lows The mere preservation OF
peace and good order in the city is of
course the pioyinco OF the city and
state authorities
An executive proclamation issued
by the president calling upon all to re-.
frain from unlawful obstruction, com
binations and aggombnEcg, together
with The wise use Of the federal
troops and the enforcement or the
processes Of the federal courts result.
irg in tho arrest Of the officers Of the
a X. L stopped The rloting the strike
ended. and commerce aud the mails
proceeded unobstructcd
In concluding his explanation Of the
events leading up TO the accomplish.
mcut Of all the purposes Of the govern
menta interference Mr. Cleveland
said