Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-03-12
death TO the Frogs. .

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throwing stones at the frogs, are re-
ported In the fable to have had glorious
fun, and to have won considerable dis
tinction by their accurate and skillful
marksmanship. Nor has 1t ever been
doubted that boys have "vested in
to ;est'' In stone-throwing, as matter
OF skill and exercise within their pecu-
liar autocracy of juvenile barbsrism.
The wise fable-writer, however,
strongly intimates that the inoffensive
frogs had rights, which even boys
should respect, and that their amuse-
ment was death to the frogs"
After continued and successful in
timidatlon on the part OF the strikers,
and appeals for protection against ap-
prehendcd violence and force by mobs
on the part of the railroad managers,
the suffering and inoffensive public
find themselves very much in the po-
sitlon of the frogs in the fable.
The railroad corporations are the
benefciaries OF the states bounty, and
the recipients OF its grace. They hold
their charter franchise subject to the
performance of the conditions ex.
pressed and understood in their grant,
and there can be little doubt that they
have, within the duration OF this
strike, openly violated these conditions
and forfeited their franchises. 1t is
within the power of the attorney-gen-
eral or the district attorneys within
any district through which their
roads may pass, to apply for
writ of quo warranto, and have
their charters declared forfeited for
non-pertormance Of conditions. The
supreme court of Texas has had occa-
sion to express its opinion on this
point, and 1t Is rs follows:
Whenever facts are presented,
which conclusively show, that the
high public trusts involved in them hare
been grossly abused, TO the public detri-
mont, or that etc, then the
state has the right TO resume the fran.
chisean
Speaking of a railroad company, the
supreme court of North Carolina has
said:
AS to the corporation, 1t Is a fran
chise, like ferry, or any other, as TO
the public it is u highOdy, and in the
strictest sense, publici luris."
1t will hardly be contended that
these public obligations are only to be
performed by the railroad corporations
when they can employ men at ninety
cents aud one dollar day. Nor, that
they will be exonerated from the per-
formance OF them by the bull-dozlng OF
laborers. The penal laws of the state
are ample for their protection, and the
civil authorities have ilenced the rail-
road officials by offers OF protection II
they would muster up even courage
enough to make legal charges against
the alleged violators OF the law.
But all this paper warfare against
the strike ON the part of the roads
smacks nightly OF the pronuncia.
mentos Of our friends across the Rio
Grande. Had they been really, but
covertly, In league with the pretended
mob, they could not have more eff.
clently co-operated with them in per.
petuating and strengthening the
strike. IL has, indeed, been reported
that the railroad officials themselves
have detiantly asserted that the roads
would profit largely by the entire sus.
pension OF their freight trains,
Doubtless the fact il true, that, as THE
GAzErrE has already said, the entire
suspension of freight trains for the
next four months would be
financial bonanza for the
corporations. AS we began Inv
saying the public at last, is the real
sufferer.
Like the "funn for the BOYS bul
death" for the frogs, the spirit Of
anarchy hreathed by the strikers, NAV
be very gratifying TO the ambitions
leaders of the labor element, and The
corporation may chuckle over the re.
suits to their financial schemes; but
the material and commercial interests
OF this portion of Texas, and espeo.
; tally OF Fort Worth, demand that
this game be stopped.
The governor may proola,m
against lawlessness and riot, the leg.
J islature NAV Mia mn sta,,,.'.
and penalties, but the law as IL now
stands affords complete vindloation
and punishment both against the
strikers and against the railroads and
on benslf ofthis outraged commuul,v
ana the stagnating, crippled and ieop-
ardized commercial aud Industrial In.
terests OF this part Of the state, THE
GAZETTE calls for the execution ofNr
Io'rs against al offences, Tor the pro.
lection OF the public. Anarchy or law
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