Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-05-03
Cleveland Justifies Chicago Inter


what is known as the Stafford Little
lecture on public affairs, at Princeton
last night His subject was "The
Government in the Chicago Strike"
After describing in detail the causes
Of the Chicago troubles in 1894, when
Federal troops we're sent to that city
top own the disorder, Mr.. Cleve-
land says Attorney General Olney
correctly defined the purpose and
design Of the outbreak in these words
'To compel settlement of disputes
between the Pullman company and a
portion of the employees, nothing else
was meditated or aimed at than COM
plete stoppage of all the railroad trans
portation Of its country, State and
interstate, and freight as we'll as
passenger"
Mr.. Cleveland then said
'The cause ofthe Pullman strikers was
taken up the American Railway Union,
an association designed to include the
great mass of unorganized railway en-
ployes of all classes. Members of the
A. r. u. resused to handle Pullman
cars or trains bearing them.
'The same railroad companies which
had contracted to use these Pullman cars
upon their lines had contracts with the
United States government for the car
riage of mails, and we're, of course, also
largely engaged in interstate commerce.
"Reports soon came from various quar-
tiers that the mails were completely OBJ
structed, trains eseizedand destroyed
and other violent disorders committed.
wherever there was interference with
the mails or restraint of commerce the
United States courts were appealed to
for relief In Chicago the United States
marshal was authorized to employ spec
ial deputies and special counsel for the
government"
Mr.. Cleveland told of the repeated but
Intellectual attempts by means Of United
States court injunctions and the use Of
deputy marshals to prevent riots and the
obstruction of commerce and mails. lie
then explained the necessity for the dis
patch of United States troops to Chicago,
saying.
utter defiance of court orders, lawless
ness and rioting eliminated in the for
NAL request of the United States mar
shal supported by the judge and attor-
neys of the Federal Court, for federal
troops. This request was at once met by
orders to the War Department, and sol
diers from Fort Sheridan were soon on
the scene.
IAN Executive proclamation issued by
the President calling upon all to refrain
from unlawful obstruction, > combi-
nations and assemblages, together with
the wise use of the Federal troops and
the enforcement of the processes of the
Federal courts, resulting in the arrest Of
the officers of the American Railway
Union, stopped the rioting, the strike,
ended and commerce and the mails pro-
ceeded unobstructed.
Then followed the reading of the
correspondence which passed between
President Cleveland and John 2. Alt
geld, of Illinois. OF the Governor Mr.
Cleveland said
s'This officer not only refused to regsrd
the riOtous disturbances within the
boarders of his State as sufficient cause
for an application to the Federal govern
ment for its protection against domes-
tic violence under. the mandate Of the
Constitution, but actually protested
against the presence Of Federal troops
sent into the State upon the general
governments initiative and for the pur-
pose of defending itselfin the clearly de-
fined exercise of its legitimate functions. !"
The announcement that Mr.. Cleve-
land would resume his lectures at
Princeton this year was hallef with de-
light by the students, and Alexander
Hall was crowded to the doors when Mr..
Cleveland began to speak yesterday even
ing. Many of the visitors who came for
the Cornell game Saturday remained
here to attend the lecture.