Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-01-09


that, at least, q fnll, mir and impair
tlal discussion could be had, and the
public enlightened upon tho merits of
the controversy and, ifihere was no
legal remedy, the force Of public opin-
ion would constrain the parties whose
claims were arbitratcd, TO do justice
to those who were wronged.' Any
plan is surrounded with difficulties,
from the constantly changing relations
of the great interests involved and the
doubttplncss Of securing a stable settle
ment with the proper opportunities Of
revision according TO these varying
conditions; but since labor now has
organizations, and representatives by
whom those organizations viii ho
bound, it seems practicable TO devise
some plan by which all relations and
disputes Of capital aud labor can bo
tremendously adjusted,
POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL
CIVIL AuTuoRIrIrs.
I hovo rsnno,c.,lv ronrescnted IN
,ha naa,lo ,na rel,n;o,ce viii which
,hs lcvlrn,;yc rcsor,s,o military now.
or and urged mon the LEGISLATURE
tho necessity of deyisinr some means
of llxing Tho responsibility of suppress.
iny local outbreaks uuon The local civil
authorities Al uresent. any sheriff
mr. mavor can escnpe nnder The nm.
bignons provisions Of the law. without
having made n single honest effort tc
preserve the peace. Asa consequence
,here il yrowiny pernicious tondoncy
In RELY unon tho S,uto. IL has even
beon cnriously arsued that the arrival
of the State troops supersedes III,
local civil authorizes. and thereby sus.
pends their functions as peace officers
and relieves them of all responsibility
Tho military ia called in TO aid, not /,
supersede III, civil authority. II
would be A strange construction OF
the law by which the desertion ortheil
sworn duties hy the peace officers o.
Municipalities would make the Stat,
authorities who answer their cal
for aid, responsible for outrages com
mitted by a mob in a po!icrless city.
The Office of sheriff was formerl,
one of dignity and power; II has dc
generated, standing without chang,
in new conditions, until its main dulie
are those of TAILOR and auclioneor
Somes means ought certainly to b,
taken 10 clothe the Office with IL
orluinal Importance anu responsible
ties. II, upon tho written request o
u certain number of compel ent free
holders of any city or county, havin,
the qduifca ions ionssure their stand
ing and responsibility, II was mad,
obligatory upon tho mayor or Sheriff
under penalty Of forfeiture of Office
aud Gne or Imprisonment, or both. t.
summon a sufficient number ol ciil
izens TO lay aside all business, an'
serve under ike penalties, am salts
fed that many disturbances whicl
now require the interference Of tn
military could be settled without IL
use. Any citizen OF the Common
wealth can now b. compelled to leav'
his business and travel ils length o
breadth in the interests OF Justice
surely, the preservation of order am
tbs protection of life aud property, vii
Justify the exaction of tho same servic
of q citizen within his own county
Such law would also serve to fix tn
status of the inhabitants Of the county
An who were loyal to tho laws woul,
thereby indicate their sympalhies 70
the rioters. Ifsuoh an attempt shoul,
fail, the sheriff or mayor or in delaul
of these officers, the citizens themselve
could, with reason, call upon the Ex
ecutivc, and no question: SO far as tn
State was concerned, could ever b
raised IN TO the necessity for the us
OF troops.
The people have, happily, been 8
unaccustomed TO the use of troops /
enforce the laws that much miscor
cention exis,s regarding tho real nos
lion OF the military power in the polio
of the government and the relativ
duties of citizens and soldiers A sim
ple statement of these relations ma
enable the line between the friend
and the enemies OF law and order /
he drawn hereafter with precision an
advantage. For the prcsenoo and MS
OF troops, the Executive is responsib,
nt th..ie nasnaeitu he 10 thp INDIA 'Ih