New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-03
TELLS OF DEBS'S STRIKE.
LECTURE BY CLEVEL4ND.
Explains Governments Right to Use
Troops IN Chicago.

was greeted tonight by Of the largest and most
enthusiastic audiences that ever assembled IN Alex
ander Hail. when he delivered the annual STAFFORD
Little lecture on The Government in the Chicago
Strike in 1884," President Woodrow Wilson intro
duced him. and when he closed the Princeton stu
dents rose and gave him a hearty locomotive
cheer signify their appreciation. Among those
present We're Mrs. Cleveland. Mrs. ]. O. Murray
President John H. Finley of the College of the City
of New-York A. D. Russell, NJ. T. Pyne and Junius
Morgan, all of New-York, besides DR.. Henry van
Dyke. Dean II. B. Fine and Dean Andrew +. West
Mr.. Cleveland opened his address by briefly refer
ring to of the serious problems which faced
his administration during the year 1894. then. taxi
ing up his subject in detail he spoke in part as
follows:
In the last days of June 1894. a very determined
and ugly labor disturbance broke out in the city OF
Chicago. Almost in night t grew TO full pro-
portions of malevolence and danger. Rioting and
spread so swiftly that within a few days it had
reached nearly the entire Western and Southwest
ton was especially involved in its attacks; The
carriage Of United States mail was interrupted IN,
terstate commerce obstructed and railroad
property riotously destroyed. Attorney Cen
the purpose and design Of this outbreak in these
words: ITO compel a settlement of disputes be
employees. nothing else was meditated or aimed at
than complete stoppage of all the railroad trans
Portaton Of the country, State and interstate. and
freight rs well as passenger"
The widespread trouble bad its inception In
strike by the employees Of the Pullman Palace Car
Company. which besan, on May Il; and was pro
pullman strikers was taken up by the American al
the r Tn9 Of an raWay emploTes Of
al classes Members OF the American RalIWay
bearing them. At that time three-fourths of the
railroad mileage of the country was under contract
Tie same railroad companies which had con-
traeted to use these Pullman cars had contracts
riage Of mails. and were. of course, also largely
be said that Of necessity the trains on which the
mails were carried and which served the purpose
of interstate commerce. were. as a general rule.
those to which the Pullman cars were also at
notwithstanding an anxious desire to avoid
measures radical. the fact had not been over
compel a resort To- military force The key to
dispatches TO the federal officers at Chicago from
defensive authority of nation to directly over,
portation Of malls, the operation of Interstate COM
United States, and in certain constitutional and
statutory provisions. 1t was the intention Of the
that Immediate and Authoritative Information
should be gwen 10 the hs sonctf9n o
general executive authority or the constitutional
the scene of disturbance.
The strike situation grew rapidly worse. Mr.
Cleveland said. Utter defiance Of court orders
lawlessness and riotlng eliminated in the formal
request OF the United States marshal. supported
by the Judge and attorneys of the federal court,
for federal troops. This request was at once met
by orders TO the War Department and soldiers from
Fort Sheridan were soon on the scene The dis
patch containing the direction OF this procedure
concluded as follows:
The mere preservation OF peace and good order
in the city is Of course. the province of the city
and State authorities"
An executive proclamation issued by the Prest-
dent calling upon all to refrain from unlawful OBJ
structon. combinations and assemblages. together
with the wise use OF the federal troops and the
f0rcement OF the processes OF the federal courts,
sultng In the OF the officers OF the American
Railway Union. stopped the rotIng. tho strike
ended. and commerce and the mails proceeded IN
obstructed.
In concluding his explanation OF the events Lead
ing up to the accomplishment OF all the purposes
Of tho governments interference. Mr. Cleveland
said:
I hope I have been thus far successful In my
EFFORT satisfactorily 10 exhibit the extensive reach
and perilous tendency Of the CONFUSION under con-
the % I5a wh6a eha 5
constant desire OF the national administration to
its interference to purposes which clearly seemed
10 be within its constitutional competency and
its conservative but stern activity.
Then followed the reading of the correspondence
between President Cleveland and Governor John p.
AItgeld OF Illinois OF him Mr.. Cleveland said;
This sa not only Tsu so1s to o 81, s EGt
a sufficient cause for an appication 70 the federal
under der the of the
but actually protested against the presence OF fed;
governments initiative and for the purpose OF de-
Tending itself in the clearly defined exercise Of its
legitimate functions.
The discussion following Illuminated the whole
question OF States rights and federal supremacy,
and concluded with this dispatch from Mr. Cleve-
land
While I still persuaded that have neither
transcribed my authority nor duty In the emer-
gency that contrOnts us, II seems 20 me that In
this hour Of danger and public distress discussion
may we'll give way to active efforts on the part OF
all in authority restore obedience to law and to
protect life and property
This" said Mr.. Cleveland. CLOSED a discussion
which In it's net result demonstrated how far ones
disposition and inclination will lead him astray in
the field OF argument"