Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-08
The MiIitia.


Ex-Lieut Gov. Underwood, of Ken
| lucky, who was the manager OF the ma
| tionaI encampment ut Philadelphia, gave
as one Of the reasons why the encamp-
menu was ia ystupendous failure, fnan-
/ cially, that the lower classes were ayerse
| to ,epeouraglhg military organizations
! because they regard them as inimical to
( their interests.
There may be some truth in what Gov.
/ Underwood says The dependence OF
the authorities to restore order and pre-
serve the peace on the occasions Of
labor strikes, where there is vio-
lence, is upon the militia. There
may be an impression, therefore, that If 1t
were not FOR the military organizations
the leaders OF labor strikes would have
little diHicultyin making their own terms.
But II the militia is really the means
by which certain elements Of society are
resttainedlwithin the limits liked by law,
ought it not to be encouraged and fostered
in every reasonable way?
AS rule, strikes are organized and
led ~ the drones rather than by the
workers, and those who have nothing 10
lose and everything TO gain by a lawless
condition of affairs are the ones who are
foremost in labor riots. 1t IS true that
the very best men Of the laboring classes
have their grievances, and are frequently
found among the rioters when a disturb
ance once begins, but they know that the
best results are not obtained by violence
in a struggle between capital and labor
For several days a condition of affairs
has prevailed in Chicago that is disgrace
ful to that city. A street car company
has been attempting to run its cars, and
has been prevented by conductors and
drivers who refused to accept the com
pensation offered. The strikers say that
their demands must be complied with or
the cars cannot run. II seems that there
is no difficulty in getting all the cOnduc-
tors and drivers needed at the wages Of
fered. A mob assumes to dictate to the
company how it shall run its business.
The Mayor is powerless, apparently, 70
protect the company and restore order.
The probabilities are that before the riot
ers are convinced that the law must be
be called out and order enforced at the
point Of the bayOnet. The Mayor, doubt
less, is making mistake in delaying so
long to call on the State for help, because
the rioters are gaming strength and conf
dence. When the disturbance began
bold and vigorous policy might have
quieted il at once. Under the policy that
has been pursued many lives may have to
be sacrificed before it is settled.
In this State the military spirit is
strong, and the military organizations
will compare quite favOrably with those
of almost any other State. 1t is reported
that in order to strengthen the
organizations there is a movement to have
a bill passed at the session of the Legis-
lature, which meets to-day, to exempt
from jury duty members Of military or
CARNATIONS. The Legislature could
hardly do more unwise thing than to
pass such an act. The effect of it would
be in the cities and larger towns to make
it impossible to get capable jury
men. The jury list in most
counties Is small enough now,
but give business and professional men a
chance to evade jury duty by the payment
Of a small annual fee TO military com
pany for the privilege of being CON
sidered a member and in many localities
it would be difficult to administer the
laws satisfactorily.
II would be much wiser for the State t.
give the militia reasonable support than
to deprive the courts of the means Of
administering justice.
1t would be better to be without mill
tary organizations than to be without
competent jurors. Both are necessary
but greater evils would flow from incom.
petent jurors than from poorly sustained
military companies.
There is no question that the State
ought to lend the military companies q
helping hand, and the help of the State
ought to be supplemented by Federal aid
The question Of Federal aid to the militia
is now being discussed, and it is proba.
bic that the time is not distant when il
will be granted to much greater extent
than is now contemplated.