( 4 r r VOL. VL The United States Strike Oommisaioiieri Make Beport GESEBAL MANAGERS CONDEMNED An Unlawful Body Which Usurped So cially Dangerous Power Labor Organizations Should Be Reeognjzel. , Recommendations of Commission The United States Strike Commission, consisting of Carroll D. Wright, of Washington; John D. Kernan, of Dtica, N. T., and Nicholas E. Worthington, of Peoria, 111., appointed by President Cleve land to investigate the Chicago strike, has reported to the president. The report commends the objects of the A. R. U. and its conservative profes sion, while sacredly guarding members that it will not entertain intemperate de mands or unreasonable propositions,but will with due regard for justice wherever found seek to avoid the necessity of strike and lockout, boycott and black list. It condemns its failure to provide in the constitution adopted for the pun ishment or disqualification of any mem ber instigating violence toward persons or property. The report condemns the Pullman company for its hostility to the idea of onferring with organized labor in the settlement of differences arising between it and its employes. "In this respect the , Pullman company as behind the age," it cays. "The company does not recognize that labor organizations have any place or necessity in Pullman, where the com pany fixes wages and rents, and refuses to treat with labor organizations." On this crucial point the commission was a unit in its criticism of the refusal to al low the organized workers to be heard and in condemning its present policy, eince the strike, requiring the withdrawal from the American Railway Union of those seeking work. The General Managers' Association, it finds, was organized in 1886, its mem bers being the twenty-four railroads cen tering or terminating in Chicago. It is not an incorporated body and was by the law given no authority to act as it did. "The Association is an illustration of the persistent and shrewdly devised plans of corporations to overreach their limitations, and to usurp indirectly pow rs and rights not contemplated in their charters and not obtainable from the people or their legislators." And it goes on to say: "The refusal of the General Managers' Association to recognize and deal with uch a combination of labor as the American Railway Union seems arrogant And absurd when we consider its stand ing before the law, its assumptions, and its past and obviously contemplated future action." The cut in wages of employes at Pull man from May, 1892, to May, 1894, av oraged 25 per cent. During this time the Pullman company was paid its full two cents a mile lor its cars without regard to the business depression. Its revenues were reduced only by fall of prices in its repair and contract work. But it pressed the screws on all its employes, "officers, managers and superintendents except ed," and in no case reduced its rents to correspond. It threw the loss of the hard times on those receiving lowest wages and least able to bear it, and while hundreds were starving or kept alive by outside charity, the company divided among its stockholders its regu lar quarterly two per cent dividend. Thecommission says the Pullman Com---paatjr-iiad legal right to refuse to lower its rents when wagps were lowered, but , "as. be.wann .raajwvf .vsoroe reduc 'tttewaSiwr'a'nd reason able under the circumstances." The strikers voluntarily furnished a Kuard of three hundred men to protect the Pullman property from May 11 until the soldiers came, July 4th, and no dam age was done the property. The Com mission speaks in strong praise of these acts of protection and support of law, as follows: "Such dignified, manly and conserva tive conduct in the- midst of excitement and threatened starvation is worthy of the highest type of American citizenship, and with like prudence in all other direc tions will result in due time in the lawful and orderly redress of labor wrongs. To deny this is to forswear patriotism and to declare this government and its peo ple a failure." Concerning the causes of the strike the report in part says: "It is apparent that the readiness to strike sympathetically was promoted by the disturbed andapprehensivecondition of the railroad employes resulting from TOE FRIENDS OF wage reductions on different lines, black listing, etc., and from the recent growth and development of the General Manag ers Association, which seemed to them a menace. Hence the railroad employes were ripe to espouse the cause of the PullmRn strikers." No spirit of conciliation or1 mercy for the starving wai shown by the Pullman concern at the first when the workers asked for living wages and the absolute soullessness of corporations was shown Dy tne entire action of the General Man agers' Association. The report savs: "The General Managers' Association in advance advertised that it would receive no communication whatever from the American Railway Union, when received returned it unanswered. At this date. July 13, and for some days previous, the strikers had been virtually beaten. The action of the courts deprived the Ameri can uauway union ot leadership, en abled the General Manaeers' Association to disintegrate its forces, and to make inroads into its ranks." "The policy of both the Pullman com pany and the Railway Manaeers' Asso ciation in reference to applications to ar bitrate closed the door to all attempts at conciliation and settlement of differ ences. Ibe Commission is impressed with the belief, by the evidence and by the attendant circumstances as disclosed, that a different policy would have pre vented the loss of life and great loss of property and wages occasioned by the strike." The Commission exonerates the lead ers of the strike from charges of inciting iu violence in inese woras: "There is no evidence before the Com mission that the officers of the American Railway Union at any time participated in or advised intimidation, violence, or destruction ot property. They knew and fully appreciated that as soon as mobs ruled the organized forces of society would crush the mobs and all responsible for them in the remotest degree, and that this meant defeat. The attacks upon corporations and monopolies by the leaders in their speeches are similar to those to be found iu the magazines and industrial works of the day. In its eopelneions and recommenda tions the Commission says that the rail' roads "were chartered upon the theory that their competition would ajnply pro tect snippers as to rates, etc., and em ployes as to wages and other considera tions." But combination has largely destroyed this theory and seriously dis turbed the working of the law of supply and demand. .Not only are rates agreed on and arbitrarily fixed by the railroad combine, but it is shown in the testimony that these great corporations no longer bid against one another in the pay of their laborers, switchmen, for instance. "In view of this progressive perversion of the laws of supply and demand by capi tal and changed conditions, no man can well deny the right nor dispute the wis dom ot unity for legislative and protect ive purposes among those who supply labor," says the Commission. It goes on to say: 1 he Commission deems recommenda tions of specific remedies premature. Such a problem, for instance, asuniversal government ownership of railroads is too vast, many-sided, and far away, if attempted, to be considered as an imme diate, practical remedy. It belongs to the socialistic group-of public questions where government ownership is advo i ated of monopolies, such as telegraphs, telephones, express companies, and mu nicipal ownership of water works, gas, and electric lighting, and street railways. These questions are pressing more ur gently as time goes on. They need to be well studied and considered in every as pect by all citizens. Should continued combinations and consolidations result in half a dozen or less ownerships of our railroads within a few years, as is by no means unlikely, the question of govern ment ownership will be forced to the front, and we need to be ready to dispose of it intelligently. As combination goes on there will certainly at least have to be greater government regulation and control of quaai-publiccorporations than we nave now. Whenever a nation or a state finds itself in such relation to a railroad that its investments therein must be either lost or protected by own ership, would it not be wise that the road be taken and the experiment be tried as an object lesson in government ownership?" Meanwhile the Commission proposes legislation to provide for boards of concil- iation and arbitration, legislation that will guard the interests and rights of the public, while disputes are being settled telore micartiaJ-tribunals. And it rec ommends that congress provide a per manent United States Strike Commission of three members with duties and powers of investigation and recommendation similur to those vested in the Inter State Commerce Commission; that power be given the United States courts to compel railroads to obey the decisions of the Commission after summary hearing un attended by technicalities, and that no delnys in obeying the decisions of the Commission pending; that each railroad in controversy, and each national trade union incorporated under United States or state statutes shall be allowed to se lect a representative who shall be ap pointed by the president to serve as a temporary member of the Commission in hearing, adjusting and determining that particular controversy; and that while the matter in controversy ia pending the unions shall not aid or abet strikes or boycotts, nor shall the railroads for six months after the decision is reached dis charge such employes except for ineffi ciency, vioiation of laws, or neglect of duty. LINCOLN, NEB., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1894. The Commission also recommends "that chapter 567 of the United States btatutes be amended bo as to require national trades anions to provide in their articles of incorporation nod In their constitutions, rules, and by-laws tnat a member shall cease to be sued and forfeit all rights and privileges conferred on lain by law as such by participating in or instigating force or violence against persons or property during strikes or boycotts, or by seeking topreventothtrs irom working through violence, threats, or intimidations; also, that members shall be no more personally liable forcor porate acts than are stockholders iu cor porations." The question of enlistment of employes and a license system (such as Chancellor Canfield, of our state university pro poses), it favors investigating, with a view to adopting the simplest and1 best plan. ( States are recommended to adopt some such system of conciliation and arbitration as Massachusetts has adopt ed, and "contracts requiringmen to agree not to join labor organizations or to loave them, as conditions of employment nou hi be made illegal, as is already done in some states." finally the Com mission urges employers to recognize la bor organizations and deal with them through their representatives. 4 Choice Breeding Swine. '' Never in the history of the swine in dustry has this sort of domestic animal attained such general excellence as at the present time. Every observer of live stock during the past decade cannot fail to have noticed this wonderful improve ment. With all this progress, however, there is yet great occasion for careful se lection. In the best of herds there is a choice, and those who propose to maintain and advance the high standard of their herds cannot be too vigilant in making selec tion ot the sire for this purpose. A few of the very best dams of a herd, , too. should always be retained, as "ft Tffnbt safe to trust entirely to young gilts, be their superiority ever so great. it is practical business management. too, in all herds to add some new blood annually, by purchase of Rome new gilts, JNo herd will be strongly attractive to buyers that does not offer a variety of blood. . Inbreeding, too, cannot be otherwise so cheaply avoided. Success through a series of years in pork pro' duction demands the fullest knowledge of the breeding of one s stock. Careful se lection, mating, feeding, sanitary atten tion and business sagacity, calls for brains every day in the year to keep the hog thrifty and in continuous profitable condition. Choice follows choosing, and those selecting early in the season will, of course, have opportunity to get the best. All indications point to the year 1895 as a tavorable one lor fair prices for pork. Improved business will increase the call for the products. Short crops in many parts will decrease the number who will hold or secure brood sows, so supply will be limited. Those who can should be ready for the coming good demand. M in Farm, Field and Fireside. Handling Corn Fodder. John Howatt, Iowa, tells in the Home stead how he handles corn fodder. He says: Take an oak pole twelve feet long thai will square three or four inches, set it in the rear end of your hayrack, bolt it j the cross-bar of your rack, use two pieces of 2x4, one seven feet, the other nine; bolt these to the same crosspiece as the pole, then bolt to the pole at their upper ends, bracing it in two places. owing to the different lengths; use a 2x4 five feet long to brace on the forward side of the pole to the bottom of rack; nail on; take a 2x4 twelve feet long and fast- en with a pivot on the pole, five feet above the floor of the rack, fasten the other end with rope or chain seven or eight feet long to the top of the upright poie. inis makes a swinging arm that will swing out over yourshocks on either side. Put a pulley on outer end of swing ing arm, another atlowerend and one at the rack; run a good rope through. Use horse to pull up the shocks. Put a rope around the shock, tie a hook on end of long rope, hook in rope on shock and hoist. The man on the wagon should have a guy rope attached to the hook to guide the shock as it swings up. Use a piece of rope on every shock, leaving them on until you unload, when you can se tne derrick to unload. If vour stack gets high, shorten your rope from pole to swinging arm, raising the latter, giving more room for stacking high. By this method all the fodder is saved and all the unpleasant part of handling corn Fodder avoided. Two men can tie and load ten shocks in twenty minutes. We did it, and "what man has done man may do." For a pivot I uspd a large staple driven into the pole, with the bolt taken out of an old neckyoke, with an eye on one end through which the staple was put, and the arm driven on the bolt. Farm, Field and Fireside. A Bank Wrecker laved, f opera, Kan., Nov. '8. The su preme court to-day reversed and re manded the case of the state acrainat V. Myers of Kiowa county. Mvera was convicted of bank wrecking. Professor Jonea Proposes Educa tional Work. Professor Jones, of Hastings, has, in replying to a letter of Chairman Edmis ten's.reviewed the situation and proposed a state educational campaign that is bo manifestly wise and practical. that we give it to all our people through Tbb Wealth Makers. The letter in part is as follows: I rejoice that Judge Holcomb is elected. The people who elected him should seat him. The will of the people was doubtless defeated when John H. Powers was counted out. The same parties will dis possess Judge Holcoinb of his rights, and thereby the people of their rights, if money, intimidation and fraud can do it. I look upon the recent flections, take the country over, as a blind effort of the people to better their social condition. In '92 they landed the Democratic party in power, completely, for the first time iu thirty years. No relief has suddenly over taken them. In '94 they try to rein state the Republican party in power. They still look to the two old parties for relief. It cannot come thence. Our party is in process of formation. It is in a fluid state. One-half of our Populist voters do not really understand the principles on which the Populist movement is based. The consequence is that many retain a -loose hold upon our principles and are shaken from their hold r . .. . !,: by a bold, arrogant, ana supercilious ioe. - The masses of all parties do not dis tinguish between the demagogue and the houest, clear thinker, when they listen to a speech, or when they read one. It would seem that nothingbut contin ued social affliction will drive the people to act unitedly in theirown interests and that of the general welfare. The power of the railroads over small and large communities alikeis such as to intimidate the "business wen" in their respective communities for fear of dis criminations in freight rates against all who do not support by vote and by con-tribationfr-fcM party Which give political control of all legislation and adjudica tion affectiug the "vested rights" of rail roads. This power of the railroad corpora tions determines the success or failure of thousands of men in the state. The thousands of employes wage- earners dependent in turn on the busi ness men are plainly told what way it will be for their interest to vote. All these men and their families are, directly and indirectly, dependent on this great natural monopoly the rail roadfor a living. Not only the men named, but organized communities and their industries are at their mercy. Then the "banks ' in every little ham let of the state absorb by usury the sur plus earnings of the people, lue way in which business is now organized the "banker" in a little one-horse town exor cises a power nearly equal to the old feudal barons. Here is another natural monopoly in private hands. 1 am not surprised at the result of the election, when I reflect that the result is the consequence of the exercise of the legitimate power held by the corpora tions. What are we going to do about it? First Seat Holcomb in the place to which he wns elected. Second Organize at once a campaign of education, on four points. la). A scientific presentation of the money question by approved books and approved speakers. (0). The same kind of presentation of natural monopolies which would include railroads, telegraphs, telephones, etc., in which exposition the absurdity of ever expecting social peace or justice under private ownership shall appear. This by approved books and speakers as bejore. (C). The genesis of artificial monopo liestrusts, etc. and the necessity and justice of co-operation as the settlement between employer and employe. Con ducted same as aboye. id). The land question. A taxation of land values. Exposition as above by books and lectures. All this matter to be cenducted scientifically. This education would lay the ground for a political platform of large or small proportions, as may seem best at the time of making. It may even make a single demand, if thought best. 1 here may be collateral questions dis cussed. When these questions are properly un derstood, it will be seen that the reforms we demand can be fitted into the existing economic and legal system and shock no body but the legal robber. One of the strongest objections I have encountered in the last campaign, among the most intelligent classes, not Populist, is that our speakers, or those who as sume to expound Populist doctrine.make impracticable demands; demands that if adopted would revolutionize society.W ell, that's what we wantto do; but we desire to do this by the adoption of principles now existing in the system as governing principles. By above course of education this could be made clear. Above are suggestions. If your com mittee shall have any use for them they are welcome. If not, put them in the waste basket. . Anyhow, let's organize at once for next campaign. A supreme judge is to b elected next fall and the court houses are to be captured. "On to Richmond " ' Let me have your impressions as to above scheme. I am, yours truly, Wm. A. Jokes. THE OFFICIAL RETURNS. . voa oovnsoa. Holcomb, Fop,., ...,,. 97,810 Mnoril, lisp 84,618 Hturdeyant, "Straluht hem" ., t.txi Uerrard, Frob ..............,....... 4,439 Holoomb'i plurality 8.302 . LltUTENAMT-OOTSBKoa. Moore, Ren....., (17,298 OttlflD, Fop 86.8H8 . , BCBCTABT Or ITATE, Piper, nip...............,....,................. ....9(!,ri7 Mut-ailclen, fop .......(M.saa . BTiTE AUDITOR. E. Moore, Rep...... BS.728 W llson, Pop 75,i.ii3 ' ITATC TRUASDRKR. Dartley, Rep...., Powers, 1'op..... ..06,514 ,..U,4U1 BTATK kUPBRlNTKKDCNT. Corbett, Rep.... Jones, t'op........... ........ ..B8..140 ATTORNEY GENERAL. Ohnrchlll, Rop.. Carey, I'op...... ,.87,411 ,.82,03 OOMUIBRIONER PUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDING!, Ktineell. Up ...... 9,M2 Kent, I'up . B3.28S Kern elected In Sixth district by 3,102 plurality. AfFrfgbtral Tragedy. Mexico, Ma, Nov. 21. Early yet terday morning a horrible tragedy occurred near Wellsville, a little vil lage eighteen miles east of this place. Thomas Portercheck, a Bohemian, presumably in a fit of insanity, killed his mother, a sister and a brother with an axe. Another sister escaped tnrougn tne window wnue be was slaying his mother. , After completing the wholesale slaughter the maniac threw a lamp on the floor, lighted the spilled oil with a match and committed suicide. bunday afternoon Portercheck wu discovered acting strangely and gave indications that his mind was de ranged. He labored under the hal lucination that his neck was broken and insisted that a physician be Bum rooned.- His reltttiveii endeavored to convince him of his error and tried to get him to go to bed. He insisted on Bitting up all night xjaie ounaav nic-nt tne lamilv re tired, leaving Thomas in a rocking cnair. At a o ciock yesterday morn ing his sister Mary was awakened by m agonizing scream irom ner mother. When she emerged from her bed room she found her mother lying on the floor, while Thomas was standing over ner oranaisning an axe. , The floor was . covered with blood, and Irom an adjoining room the other brother, James, could be heard moan ing in the agony of death. The girl ran through the house, and finding au tne aoors locued, opened a win dow and jumped to the ground. She remained at the window and as her brother Thomas maria no nftAmnt. t i follow her, she stood and watched him at his murderous work. The maniac seized a can of coal oil and after pourinp it over the floor and furniture, Bet it on fire. He then drew a butcher knife across his throat and fell by the side of his mother. The poor girl attempted to extinguish the flames, but they spread so quickly that in less than ten minutes the house was a mass of fire. The screams of the girl awakened the neighbors and they rushed to the scene, but the flames had already finished the work which the maniao had commenced. When the blazing timbers had cooled sufficiently to allow a search of the ruined home four bodies were found blackened and charred. They were those of Mrs. Portercheck. her youngest daughter, and her sons, James and Thomas. Investigation showed that the mother, daughter and son James, had been horribly mutilated by an axe. It is believed that Thomas had first killed his brother, then his Bis ter and mother. It was probably his intention to kill his sister Marv also. The mother had been an invalid for twelve years, and had been confined to her bed during that time. HAVOC OF A SMOKESTACK. A Blf Steal Pipe Falls on m Skylight and Causes Many Injuries. Chicago. Nov. 21 A sixty-foot steel smokestack was torn from the University club buildinir bv the wind to-day and, crjashin? into the 01 tne nanay Abstract building on Washington street, drove a shower of two-inch glass into the office below, dangerously injuring II. W. Nandy of the abstract company and a clerk, cut ting and bruising almost everyone of the 125 people in the office, among them ex-United States District At torney Milchrist. II. II. Handy, the millionaire presi dent of the company, was cut in a dozen places. A large fragment of glass grazed his head, tearing a large wound in the side of his face, both hands and arms were cut and his right shoulder was cut to the bone. The noise of the crashing glass and the cries of the alarmed clerks caused a small panic in the building. Sev eral young woman clerks and sten ographers fainted and were crushed in the crowd, but none wore danger ously hurt Berlin is to have an International matrimonial paper, printed in three anguages. NO. 24 THE WORLD-WIDE Ml' Ihe leHulti of Monopoly and Inntiall Merciless Greed. SOD SAVE TEE COMMON PEOPLE Government Are Vet in the Oral; of Selfish Politicians and the Jjaws Oppress the . v Poor. What la the Voloe of God? From the Labour Leader, edited by J. Keir Ilardie, M.P., we clip the following description of the industrial situation in Great Britain, from an editorial ad dressed to the English premier. Lord Roeeberry: As I write the November winds are howling angrily, and the sky ia filled with heavy masses of cold, watery clouds. And tonight, and every night, millions of British subjects will crouch together for warmth in their wretched, tireless hovels. or wander homeless in the streets of our great cities. 1 have said millions ad visedly. There must be considerably over one million bread-winners out of work. These, with their dependents, their wives and helpless innocent chil dren, will Buffer all the pangs of hunger and cold. Many of them will die. Many more will grow up physical and moral wrecks. And the responsibility will rest with the government of the day. Lord Eosebery is himself a father. I appeal to him as such. Supposehis daughter to be in the position of the child of the out-of-work artizan badly clad, hungry ,and homeless, what would Lord Boseberry do under such circumstances? I know what I would do, and what I hope Lord Rose bery would do. The parental instinct ia strong in most o! us. Now, the govern ment alone has power to adequately deal with the case of the unemployed. Many trade unions, some of the oldest, and most skilled trades, to-wit, the engineers, the compositors and the moulders, are having their resources strained to the uttermost in providing out-of-work pay for their members. To is pay, however, is only given for a limited number of weeks, and then the number out of benefit has to drop a step in the social scale and be come the recipient of public charity. Relief committees are at work in most of the great centres, and are striving hero ically to grapple with the question. Last winter the local authorities were unable to cope with the distress; this winter they will be less so. Stone breaking, oakum picking, and road mendinn have each their limits, as have also the rate paying powers of the citizens. tst Jjord Kosebery should sav that no feasible proposal has yet been put forward for dealing with the question, let me put this before him for his consid eration. There is a congested district (Ireland) board or commission, estab lished by act of parliament, backed by the national exchequer, and invested with almost plenary powers for dealing; with distress in certain parts of Ireland. rseither the tor.v party nor the house of lords would dare face the odium of re jecting a bill on similar lines for Great liritain. buch a commission would have power to co-operate with parish, district. county, city and town councils in carry rying through schemes of afforestation. reclaiming foreshores and establishing co-operative colonies on what is pres ently waste land. The editor of the Daily Chronicle stated the other day that there are 26,000,000 acres of waste land waiting to be planted with trees, that ' ultimately work for 70,000 men would be lound in this one source alone, and that most of the 18,000.000 we pay yearly for the timber grown in other lands might be spent at home. Give the commission plenary powers to acquire land, join localities for this and other like purposes, vote them what money is needed for the work from year to year. and in time two things will have hap pened. Not only will the disgrace of the unemployed be removed, but the money spent will be yielding a rich return. Even if it never did, the conserving of the manhood of the nation would be a gain jf'make a direct appeal to Lord Rosa- berry on this point. I repeat that men . are being robbed of manhood, women of purity, and children of life by this one cause, and the government which fails to remove it goes forth to destruction. All that is best in the nation will be arrayed against it. When the nation is seething in the whirlpool of heated political strife, consideration of the claims of these poor victims of our industrial system will be lost sight of; but there is yet time to at tend to them ere the strife be entered upon. There is yet a "truce of God" ere the fierce strife begins, and, in the inter ests of our common humanity, I appeal to Lord Rosebery to turn it to good ac countLabour Leader, Glasgow, Scot land. Notice our cheap clubbing rates with "The Prairie Farmer" and "The Picture Magazine." Send in your subscription. Xou will want good reading matter for the family during the long winter even inga. o