The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-28
Uhe Qtasklige1lEe1~
wHEELiNG, VIVA sEPTEMbE" 49, 1885


The outbreak Of armed violence ~ Maj
tins Ferry is new departure IN this
locality. This community has known
labor contentious, long and costly Strikes
and the countless ills which result from
radical and prolonged disagreementa be,
tween employers and wage.earners. Until
now employers have not found it neces-
sary to lodge their employees, armed, in
their industrial establishments, and men
unwilling to accept the terms OF en-
ployers have not attempted to shoot down
men willing and anxious to work.
The Wheeling District has been famed
not only for It's production of nails and
glass, but as well for the intelligence and
manly bearing OF the workers employed
in these industries. Forming a large and
important element Of the population on
both sides Of the river, having homes
largely their own property, these citizens
in the darkest hours have shown their re-
gard for the law, high sense Of sell
respect and an appreciation OF the
responsibilities resting upon all good cltl-
Gems. A murderous demonstration such
as that at Martins Ferry comes, therefore,
with greater force because We are not
accustomed to such things. Essentially a
community of wage-eArners, there is no
place in the country whore public opinion
is more clearly and strongly on the side OF
order and fair play, no place in which
mob violence is more foreign to the spirit
OF the people.
The assault on the LarShlin mill is not
to be Interpreted as an organized move
ment forsboting resoFs to the revolver,
rife and bomb throughout the district.
Itis rather the work OF hot-headed men
who did not stop to count the terrible cost
immediate and ultimate. Ifsuch stroke
were attempted in Wheeliug-the last
thing to be anticips!ed-there would be
found enlisted under the banner oil law
and order nailers who have refused to
accept the reduced scale. They may re-
fuse to work, as is their right, hut they
would never consent to see their cause
chanpioned and the city of their pride
ruled by the bloody code Of an unthinking
mob. In no danger ourselves on this side
Of the river, Wheeling has full sympathy
with the effort 10 preserve the peace on
the other side.
The shame OF Friday nights violence
cannot be nipped out. The red record OF
that madness is unhappily written in the
blood Of the mon who SO ioolishly made
the attack. But 1t rests upon the people
of Martins Ferry, OF Belmont County and
of the State OF Ohio to make it understood
by all men that they will not allow the
mob to rule. Once fairly under way the
spirit oflawlessness is more terrible than
the food, the hurricane and the plague.
1t visits its vengeance without discrim-
nation, and upon the community which
tolerates it stamps disgrace and irretrieva-
BILE waste.
The lesson Of Pittsburgh in 1877 ought
to have been lesson for all time. That
city learned in anight Of sorrow that there
is NO tax.collector SO voracious as the
mob, whose pitiless process may annoy
the rich but through the ranks Of the
poor spreads desolation and despair. No
people mindful Of their own welfare will
ever tolerate the arbitration OF labor
troubles by the revolver and the bomb.
Order must be maintained at all hazstds
and the guilty brought to punishment
The Martins Ferry plan vindicates no
principle and redresses no wrongs. tits
in itself too erievous wrong to be palli-
ated or excused. It is bad, all bad, and
hurts in a vital part the cause it was in.
sanely thought to help.