Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-05-11
WASHINGTON Letter.
(FRoM OUR REG ULAR CORRESPONDENCE
Saturday May 6, 1905.

liz uSuuCluS VohoioAoh ~ oAAS"ho
are the occasion of constant rumors to
the effect that the President will inter-
fere, some reports alleging that he will
consent to arbitrate the differences be-
tween the employers and the striking
,eamsters, others that he will send reg
ular 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 arbl-
trate on the part of the President.
While the strike and rioting may re-
suit in hardship 10 a number Of indivi-
duals, there is nothing in the situation
which could precipitate general suffer-
ing as was the case when the entire
anthracite coal supply of the East was
tied up by the strike. Even then, the
President did not interfere by virtue of
any legal authority conferred on him By
the constitution or by any statute, but
merely in personal capacity and be-
cause the dictates of humanity seemed
to indicate 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 aa the rioting is concerned,
there is no reason for supposing that
the State of Illinois. by means of its
regularly organized militia, will be IN.
able to cope with the situation. The
only step which the government has
thus far taken in connection with the
strike has been to order the comman-
dant at Fort Sheridan tc furnish quar-
termaster's wagons and an ample mill
tary escort to convey United States
funds between the sub-treasury, end
the various railway stations.
lis appreciated that the reporters
are working under stress of excitement
and long hours and it is not, perhaps,
surprising that they make mistakes,
but it was pointed ont in one dispatch
received here that the assault of sin
gle bystander was reported as four sep
arate assaults, the name of the same
man being given in four different ways
in the four respective 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 fl
nally settled.
The International Railway Congress
and the supplementary railway exhibit
are in full blast at the national capital
and the delegates own the town. The
exhibit is particularly interesting i'll
ustration of the inventive genius Of the
American and is the occasion of high
compliments from all the foreigners.
Every conceivable railway appliance
is represented, from couplings to Car in.
terlors, from patent frogs to electric
bottoms. Great drills bore through
steel plates with magic ease and huge
testing machines demonstrate to the
initiated the tensile, and torsional
strength, the ductility and fissility of
various metals, mostly patented, of
nickel steels, bronzes, etc, which may
enter into any part of railway manu-
facture. Miniature railways run over
all sorts of switches and frogs and mon
ster semaphores indicate all sorts Of
dangers, while electric signals announce
the approach Of trains at grade cross
ings or waken sleeping operators to
take the train dispatcher's messages.
Louis Weissenbruch, of Belgium is
one of the delegates to the Railway Oon.
gross. In explanation of the Govern
ment owning the railroads in his
country, Mr.. Weissenbruch said today,
"The construction of railways in Bel
GUM began in 1884, four years after
Belgium separated from Holland as a
result of revolution. The bankers
were all in Holland and if the railroads
had been constructed with private cap
- ital they would have been owned by
Hollanders. We did not want that and
80 the Belgium government raised by
taxation the necessary funds and built
it's own roads. The result has been en-
tirely satisfactory. Belgium has only
100000 population, less than one
tenth what you have, and yet its COM