Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-13
AFTER THE BATTLE.
Comments Of the Home and Foreign
Press on the Fort worth Fight.

reached such plOcn OF Dhu ieS'
ing yesterday that shots were ex
changed between special deputy sheriff
and the strikers at Fort Worth, by whicl
one man was killed and several other
MORALLY wounded. This Is an out
come Of the strike which has beef
imminent all along. The civil authoritie
have heretofore avoided collision with
careiulness which spoke more for thei
caution OF tender feeling than for thei
sense OF duty. When the strikers resor
to violence and obstruct the movement o
trains by force the manifest duty OF thu
authorities Is to meet force by force, Z
preserve order and maintain the law at al
hazards. This is not only the RICH
course, but in the end IL Is the most hu
name that can be pursued against the
strikers themselves who have been mis-
led into these open violations OF the law
Brooklyn Times, The most seriout
disturbance Of the strike In the Southwest
occurred late on Saturday afternoon
when pitched battle Of short duration
took place at Fort Worth, Tex, between
the officials OF the law and strikers armed
with Winchesters. Accounts differ as To
who fired the first shot, but II Is probable
that those who resisted the lawful author
tiles did this, as IL is certain that they
succeeded for time In driving back the
officers, who were armed only with re-
Yolvers. The citizens Of Fort Worth,
armed With Winchesters, have constituted
themselves vigilance committee TO pre-
serve order, and they have been rein
forced by ten companies Of state
militia At all other points
trains arc moving with fair regular
ity Many Of the strikers at various
points are returning TO work one by one,
but the majority stu hold out. Mr.
lloxie says there were 800 strikers, and
that he can furnish work 10 but 200. The
rest are likely TO be left out OF employ
ment and probably for some time. This
Is sad outcome and promises no good.
II the principles that should govern In
such events, that are SO persistently advo-
Gated by Mr.. Powderly, had been needed,
this strike, with its costly and fatal con-
sequences, would not have been ordered.
1t shows the mischief unwlse and thought
less leaders can do In such u crisis. Ev-
erything among laboring men TO benefit
their condition depends upon judlcious
and moderate leadership.
New York Times; This blqodshed at
Fort Worth gives TO the entry situation
a grayer aspect, but much is TO be hoped
for from The SOLDERING effect OF these mur.
ders upon the knights. II Is 20 be borne
In mind that the knights of Labor are not
men OF war They are men OF peace, all
save a hot-tempered and unreasonable
few, not more numerous, relatively, we
k. D, IL. ,l.,.t
OF any other large class OF society. There
Is enough OF the peaceable and law.abid.
ing sentiment OF American citizenship in
the order to furnish the basis Of strong
feeling Of indignation at the muir
derous acts OF the Fort Worth
rulllans. Even the violent men OF the
order VIII be apt to pause for a few mo-
ments' reelection upon the rather unpleas-
ant consequences which will surely fol-
low a persistence In violence. The men,
moreover, are provoked by no genuine
grievance, ere lighting. for no important
and they are in the wrong and
have been from the start. The strike has
failed, and most OF the strikers are now
more anxious about their bread and butter
than they are about any of the questions az
issue between themselves and the railroad
company. II Is extremely improbable
that any general or serious resistance to
The officers of the law Will be developed
lmong the knights in their present
situation.
New orleans Times Democrat. In a
strike, such as has been going on for sew
raj weeks In the Southwest, IL Is almost
impossible to restrain altogether the pas
lions of the men involved, and such acts
Is "the killingh Of engines and similar
proceedings were not expected;
nut we had hoped that the country would
'e saved the disgrace of rioting and open
warfare, of shootings and killings. We
lad hoped that American workingmen
'ould go out on strike without resort
ng TO such violence as that at Fort
Worth; that a labor question could he
'ettled without bloodshed. We re-
yret, as every friend OF the rail
road employees must, the attack made by
The strikers on the officers at Fort Worth
for It was an attack, such as only au
enemy makes in the midst OF war-and
The consequent loss Of several lives.
Philadelphia Times; Every good citi-
zen will hope that no more shooting will
be necessary, and that the foolish men
who have resorted to II viii discover the
folly and hopelessness of their course be-
fore further bloodshed occurs. Whatever
course they may decide upon, there is but
one thing for the commonwealth OF Texas
TO do, and that Is to see that trains are
run and protected at all hazards. The
primary purpose of organized society is
the protection OF its members in peace
fully attending to their business,
Florida Times-Union The strikers
have at last struck blow, the effects of
which will return with crushing effect
upon themselves, Men who, with Win
chester rifles in their hands, waylay and
shoot down officers OF the law engaged In
The performance OF their duty, are no
longer laborerS but outlaws. The bloody
deed at Fort Worth will be condemned,
we are sure, by the laboung men of the
country Just as emphatically as BY any
other class OF citizens
Louisville Courier.I0urnal The blood.
she'd at Fort Worth puts new phase on
The whole contest Life must be pro.
.ected, property must be protected, the
great highways must not be INSTRUCTED.
About these questions there Is no differ
'nce Of opinion, and no room for any
Inference Of opinion. Lawessness must
DC suppressed, and those who engage in
I must be punished. 1t Is not possible In
America 10 create in any manner what
'yer an organization strong enough to
openly defy the law or TO shield the vio-