The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-05-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The menacing conditions in Chicago
are the occasion of constant rumors to
the effect that the President will interfere,
some reports alleging that he will consent
to arbitrate the differences between the
employers and the striking teamsters,
others that he will send regular troops to
maintain order. The indications are.
however, that he will do neither. After
consulting several members of the
cabinet, it seems safe TO say that the
President, although he has consented to
receive the petition of the strikers, will
do nothing further. 1t is explained that
there is little likelihood of conditions
arising which would in any way warrant
an attempt to arbitrate on the part of the
President. While the strike and rioting
may result in hardship to number Of
individuals, there is nothing in the situa-
ton which could precipitate general suf-
fering as was the case when the entire
anthracite coal supply of the East was
tied up by strike. Even then, the
President did not Interfere by, virtue of
any legal authority conferred on him
by the constitution or by statute, but
merely in personal capacity and because
the dictates of humanity seemed to indi-
cate the imperative necessity Tor doing
something to save from untold hardship
thousands of citizens who had absolutely
no connection with the point at issue.
~
In so far as the rioting is concerned,
there is no reason for supposing that the
State of Illinois, by means of its regular
ly organized militia, will be unable to cope
with the situation. 1t only remains for
Mayor Dunno or the Sheriff to advise the
Governor of the State that the police Of
Chicago are no longer able to maintain
order and the Governor will be in duty
bound to send ample militia to accom-
plish the purpose, and there is every
reason to believe that the Governor
would promptly respond.
The only step which the government
has thus far taken in connection with the
strike has been.to order the commaudaut
at Fort Sheridan to furnish quarter
masters wagons and an ample military
escort to convey United States funds be.
tween the sub-treasury, and the various
railway stations.
~
Reports received at the Treasury De-
partment, where the secret service Of
icials are keeping close watch on the
situation, indicate that the newspaper re-
ports of disorder are seriously exaggerat-
ed. 1t is appreciated that the reporters
are working under stress of excitement
and long hours and it is not, perhaps, sur
prising that they make mistakes, but it
was pointed out in one dispatch received
here that the assault of a single bystander
was reported as four separate assaults,
the name of the same man being given
in four different ways in the four respec.
tive dispatches.
~
Government officials, referring to the
calls for assistance and interference which
are now reaching Washington, recall the
fact that numerous similar requests were
received during the strike of the butchers
at the Chicago Stock Yards but the
Government refused to take any action
and the strike was finally settled 1t is
/. also remarked that the existing conditions
are materially different from those attend
ing the railroad strike of 1892. as then
the United States mails were inter
fered with by the strikers and it was to
protect them that President Cleveland
ordered the regular troops to guard the
Chicago postofice, encamp on the lake
front and generally preserve order. 1t is
almost needless to say that whenever the
property of the United States is threaten
ed with destruction the government will.
act promptly and effectively.
~
The International Railway Congress
and the supplementary railway exhibit
are in full blast in the national capital
and the delegates own the town. The ex.
hibit is particularly interesting illustra-
ton of the inventive genius Of the Ameri.
can and is the occasion of high compli.
ments from all the foreigners. Every
conceivable railway appliance is repre-
scented, from couplings to car interiors,
from patent frogs to electric bottoms.
Great drills bore through steel plates with
magic ease and hugh testing machines
demonstrate to the initiated the tensile,
and tortioual strength. the ductility and
fssility of various metals, mostly patent
ed, of nickle steels, bronzes. etc., which
may enter into any part of railway manu-
facture. Miniature railways run over all
sorts of switches and frogs and monster
semaphores indicate all sorts of dangers,