The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-03
/. mean. and commander Of the

Governor, mean. and commander OF the
trcopsW
III am glad you spoke Of that Some people
when strikes occur being SOLICITORS for che pub.
lie peace and without selfreliance or reliance
upon the methods that the civil powers employ
In dealing with and regulating troubles, are too
willing to insist on the use Of the military power
nave felt, keeping within the spirit Of our in
situations, and living up to the theory Of all
parties, 1t was better to cultivate determination
and purpose 10. all cities in all towns frat "a
'ooA 10 themselves and to the civil powers pre-
serve the peace. The people of Illinois ike
other States have an organized militia We
have National Guard, well armed we'll
equipped. disciplined and reliable would RELY
on 1t for any use pro or, to preserve the peace.
to squelch mob to put down riot 10 disnarsa
unlawful assem- bages, as would upon the recn-
lar army or any other force. and when called ont
they know better how to deal with mobs than
any other, than any foreign force could know
The militia was called out in this State bv tha
Governor in 1877, and again in 1883, and by my
self in 1886 in East st. Louis and
in every instance the guard proved
an efficient power have been
very severely criticised by the papers about my
action. l have been criticised with some Sc
verify because did not order the troops earlier
to East St Louis 1t is true the sheriff made
request for aid, though not as it should have
been made. | sent for him. but he could not
come, so went to him and spent the day on
the ground. The sheriff distinctly said be
would not need the militia, as he felt entirely
satisfied there would be more serious trouble.
l cautioned ] advised him, insisting that be
must use all the powers at his command. such as
employing deputy sheriffs to whatever number
and summonine the people of the county, fol
which he had unlimited power, and thereby TO
test the willingness OF the people themselves
before calling on the government for military
aid. The trouble arose not from any real cause
between the worknen and the companies. but
on account Of strike in the Gould system in
Texas, Arkansas and Missouri That influence
was felt in East St. Lonis. in the Ohio railroad
centers, and the companies were justly aggras
waited by the strike
You hold that the military is auxiliary onlyY
Precisely We are a republican people, with
republican ideas. What might be regular and
lawful in other countries is one thing and diff
ferent one from what is regular and lawful here
The civil Law is supreme. To it are intrlsted
the serving OF processes-the ruling of the PEG
pie. Its right hand and servant is the military
power, never to be used until that of the civil
law is exhausted. Our sheriffs have great pow
ers intrusted to them; they come straight from
the sovereign people. They can appoint deputie,
in any number They can call on the people oi
the vicinage We have the police We have
our courts and our judges. It would not be
come me, or any other Governor. inconsiderately
to take into my hands matters which could quite
as we'll be cared for by local authorities. and it
would be foreign to republican institutions to
make haste to fill our streets with troops when
other means could quite as we'll settle ali diff
cultes. 1t isn't pleasant for an armed body to
fire on unarmed body, even though it be q
mob. We have never resorted to force exceptin
case of war. We settle all questions of political
government and economy and society generally,
nationally, at the ballotbox. and thence through
legislatures and Congress, and not by the short
cut of force and arms. / deem itperilous to de-
part from the customs of our people in dealing
with any questions of social government or its
administration.