[In view of what is said above of the "best prayer," which Roman Catholics joined with men of all religions in repeating at the World's Fair, it is a strange, but we fear a representative fact, that in the quiet village in which the author is spending a few summer days while proofing this book, the Lord's Prayer has been withdrawn from the public schools, this very year, 1895, on account of the objection of the local Roman Catholic priest to its use. This change was made without protest on the part of the citizens; indeed, was done without the knowledge of most of them. Let every reader of these lines investigate the status of his own town or city as to religious exercises in the schools, and the exact wording of the law on that subject; and ascertain also whether agnostic readers and doctored histories are used in the local schools.]

LETTER FROM PROFESSOR R. T. ELY ON SENDING THE UNEMPLOYED TO FARMS.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN,

MADISON, WIS., February 1, 1895.

DEAR MR. CRAFTS: I beg you to accept my thanks for articles which you have sent me from time to time. I have been much interested in them. There is one thing to which I would take exception. You speak about the impossibility of finding men in New York City to take places on farms at a time when there was great complaint on account of lack of employment. I have looked into this matter somewhat and think the statement, which has been frequently made, a misleading one. I think it unfortunate, as many people seek by such statements to evade their responsibility toward others. Of course, I know that you have no thoughts of the kind. I was brought up on a farm and know a good deal about the situation of the country. I do not know any place east of the Mississippi where it is not possible to secure farm laborers for quite small wages, provided one is able to give continuous employment. The one difficulty is in finding laborers during the harvest time and similar seasons when men are wanted only for a few days. The entire wages which one could earn during such a season would not be sufficient to defray transportation expenses to any point distant from New York City. In my old home in western New York, which I frequently visit, I find that now they have no difficulty in getting all the labor they want even in their busiest season, which is the grape-gathering season. We must further consider this: If artisans and mechanics in the city should leave the city to find temporary employment in the country, they might lose the chance of securing permanent employment of a kind for which

they are especially adapted. It seems to me it would be very foolish for city men not trained to farm work to go to the country. There is no real demand for such labor. There is much ground for the claim that there is already a relative over-supply of farm products. If a few farmers cannot instantly find the laborers they want, the newspapers write columns about it, and for obvious reasons the information is welcome to many. As I say, I know you do not wish to do anything to help people shake off that feeling of responsibility which they ought to have.

It is frequently said, to refer to an analogous case, that there is a dearth of servants. I have never yet been in a place where there were not plenty of servants, such as they were. There is, of course, a dearth of qualified servants.

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT E. B. ANDREWS ON THE DEFINITION OF

REV. W. F. CRAFTS:

ANARCHY.

BROWN UNIVERSITY,

PROVIDENCE, R. I., January 21, 1895.

MY DEAR SIR: What I have said about "administration" under

anarchism [in Wealth and Moral Law] cannot, I fear, be supported by proof tests. I have rather assumed it than deduced it from the anarchist treatises-assuming it as necessary to the working of any social system whatever, however far removed from the existing order. This seems to me a correct principle of criticism, according to Schaeffle's remark which I quote in Wealth and Moral Law, p. 101. It is, however, a clear implication of all that Krapotkin has written on the subject. See his various articles in the Nineteenth Century and elsewhere, and also in Benjamin W. Tucker's deliverances in his papers and lectures. The idea which I express in my lecture was impressed on me particularly by Tucker's exposition in a joint debate which I had with him and Bliss, the Christian Socialist, at a meeting of the Unitarian Congress in October, 1890. This debate was quite fully reprinted in the Christian Register, Boston, October 23, 1890.

I think your definitions as good as any so short ones on these themes could be, save that I should, for my part, leave out the word "violent" from the definition of anarchism. As I understand, Tucker, Yarrow, and Krapotkin do not advocate violence in doing away with the present order, and do not think it necessary. They believe that their system is

sure to come as the result of evolution. This was the notion also of my uncle, the late Stephen Pear Andrews. Of course the majority of anarchists, impatient at the slow march of evolution, wish to help it on, and, to do all the good they can, stock up with dynamite. But I really think that Tucker, at least, a very mild and kindly man, deprecates this. I am glad that the Princeton students are to have the benefit of your studies.

Sincerely,

E. B. ANDREWS.

[See "Anarchism" in Alphabetical Index; also Flint's Socialism, 36, 37.]

CHICAGO STRIKE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS, HON. CARROLL D. WRIGHT, CHAIRMAN,

I.

1. That there be a permanent United States strike commission of three members, with duties and powers of investigation and recommendation as to disputes between railroads and their employees similar to those vested in the Interstate Commerce Commission as to rates, etc.

a. That, as in the Interstate Commerce Act, power be given to the United States courts to compel railroads to obey the decisions of the commission, after summary hearing unattended by technicalities, and that no delays in obeying the decisions of the commission be allowed pending appeals.

b. That, whenever the parties to a controversy in a matter within the jurisdiction of the commission are one or more railroads upon one side and one or more national trades unions, incorporated under Chapter 567 of the United States Statutes of 1885-86, or under State statutes, upon the other, each side shall have the right to select a representative, who shall be appointed by the President to serve as a temporary member of the commission in hearing, adjusting, and determining that particular controversy.

(This provision would make it for the interest of labor organizations to incorporate under the law and to make the commission a practical board of conciliation. It would also tend to create confidence in the commission, and to give to that body in every hearing the benefit of practical knowledge of the situation on both sides.)

c. That, during the pendency of a proceeding before the commission inaugurated by national trades unions, or by an incorporation of employees, it shall not be lawful for the railroads to discharge employees

belonging thereto except for inefficiency, violation of law, or neglect of duty; nor for such unions or incorporation during such pendency to order, unite in, aid, or abet strikes or boycotts against the railroads complained of; nor, for a period of six months after a decision, for such railroads to discharge any such employees in whose places others shall be employed, except for the causes aforesaid; nor for any such employees, during a like period, to quit the service without giving thirty days' written notice of intention to do so, nor for any such union or incorporation to order, counsel, or advise otherwise.

2. That Chapter 567 of the United States Statutes of 1885-86 be amended so as to require national trades unions to provide in their articles of incorporation, and in their constitutions, rules, and by-laws, that a member shall cease to be such and forfeit all rights and privileges conferred on him by law as such by participating in or by instigating force or violence against persons or property during strikes or boycotts, or by seeking to prevent others from working through violence, threats, or intimidations; also, that members shall be no more personally liable for corporate acts than are stockholders in corporations.

3. The commission does not feel warranted, with the study it has been able to give to the subject, to recommend positively the establishment of a license system by which all the higher employees or others of railroads engaged in interstate commerce should be licensed after due and proper examination but it would recommend, and most urgently, that this subject be carefully and fully considered by the proper committee of Congress. Many railroad employees and some railroad officials examined, and many others who have filed their suggestions in writing with the commission, are in favor of some such system. It involves too many complications, however, for the commission to decide upon the exact plan, if any, which should be adopted.

II.

1. The commission would suggest the consideration by the States of the adoption of some system of conciliation and arbitration like that, for instance, in use in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. That system might be reenforced by additional provisions giving the Board of Arbitration more power to investigate all strikes, whether requested so to do or not, and the question might be considered as to giving labor organizations a standing before the law, as heretofore suggested for national trade-unions.

2. Contracts requiring men to agree not to join labor organizations or to leave them, as conditions of employment, should be made illegal, as is already done in some of our States.

III.

1. The commission urges employers to recognize labor organizations; that such organizations be dealt with through representatives, with special reference to conciliation and arbitration when difficulties are threatened or arise. It is satisfied that employers should come in closer touch with labor and should recognize that, while the interests of labor and capital are not identical, they are reciprocal.

2. The commission is satisfied that if employers everywhere will endeavor to act in concert with labor; that if, when wages can be raised under economic conditions, they be raised voluntarily; and that if, when there are reductions, reasons be given for the reduction, much friction can be avoided. It is also satisfied that if employers will consider employees as thoroughly essential to industrial success as capital, and thus take labor into consultation at proper times, much of the severity of strikes can be tempered, and their number reduced.

ARBITRATION BILL.

A combination of bills prepared by Hon. Carroll D. Wright and Attorney-general Olney, passed the House of Representatives, February 26, 1895, but was not voted on by the Senate. Main features as given below:

1. It applies to all common carriers and the employees thereof, except masters of vessels and seamen, as defined in Section 4612, Revised Statutes.

2. Leased or rented property shall be considered as belonging to the carrier operating it.

3. All wages, rules, and regulations shall be reasonable and just, but contracts for stipulated wages can be made.

4. If a contention arises that threatens injury to a carrier, the chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Commissioner of Labor shall, upon the request of either party to the controversy, put themselves in communication with the parties to the controversy and shall use their best efforts by mediation and conciliation to amicably settle the same; and if such efforts shall be unsuccessful, shall at once endeavor to bring about an arbitration of the controversy.

5. If the controversy cannot be settled by the parties named in the foregoing, then a board of arbitration shall be chosen as follows: There shall be one man named by the labor organization to which the man belongs, or if there is more than one organization involved, then these organizations shall name a man to represent them jointly; the employer