New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-11
UHO is TO BLAMEf

II is easy to blame the railroads or their
deputy marshals for the shooting at East St.
Louis. But those who are swift to censure
should first consider how long they would them
selves have had patience TO be stoned, twhen
armed and clothed with full authority to put
down violence. According to some statements,
the first man shot was in the act of picking up
a stone to hurl at the deputies and the second
man was in the act of drawing revolver
Nearly all the deputies had been struck several
times with stones already. They had appealed
in vain to the mob to dispense, and informed
them of their duty under the law. lack OF
patience is not surprising, after matters had
reached that point. Evidently somebody was
to blame for letting matters reach that point.
The authorities of East st. Louis and of the
county had allowed mob of strikers to de-
stroy property and outrage individuals for weeks
and had made no honest effort to enforce the
laws. Men who wanted to work had been
"persuaded with clubs. Engines had been
skilled" and railroad trains had been seized
and crippled, and railroad property had been
DESTROYED, and the authorities do not appear to
have taken single step, such as men would
have taken who were mindful OF their oaths to
enforce the laws and preserve the peace. Inc
first workman who was assaulted by the strik-
ers. weeks ago, deserves infinitely more SYM
patty than the Mayor of East st. Louis, who
had his arm broken at the end. Had tho Mayor
and other authorities made any honest effort to
protect the rights of citizens, the mob would
never have become so confident and insOle Mt as
to stone deputies in the belief that they would
not defend the mselves. 1t is plain tina the
Sheriff of the county had failed to do what he
could to preserve the peace. Probably he
wanted to curry favor with the mob and so
called upon the Governor for troops, hoping
that the mob would be suppressed by the State
and not by him. 1t is difficult at this distance
to say whether the information before the Gov
ernor justified him in delaying SO long to call
out troops But one thing Is certain now that
he is convinced that a state of things exists
with which the authorities of the county are
powerless to deal, it is his business to see that
order is restored, and that the strikers and the
mob are compelled to respect the laws, what
ever it may cost.
1t is notable coincidence that, while these
terrible events were in progress at East st.
Louis, Grand Master Powderly, in an interview
at Scranton, was saying " | have said at some
of our meetings lin 1850 that l was in favor
"of supplying every lodge III our order with
"powdor and ball. Calling guns, and Winches
ter rifles, that is, if we are to go on strike.
when you go on a strike, would say, the
troops are called out to suppress you. Under
stand me, | do not advocate strikes or ylo-
lence in any way" His object was to show
reckless men that if they would insist on
strikes they must prepare to resist law. Per-
haps he admitted little more than he was
aware Troops are never called out to sup
press peaceful refusal of men to work, and
Grand Master POwderly knows that right well.
Troops are called out only when a mere refusal
to work is followed by lawess violence-by
forcible attempts to rob of their freedom other
men who want to work, and by destruction of
property. The Grand Master knows that such
lawless violence had run riot at East st. Louis
for weeks, and that the Knights of Labor in
that quarter had not made the slightest effort
to stop it, Had the influence of the Organiza-
ton been put forth resOlutely and in good faith
to prevent any unlawful interference with
property or with the rights of individuals, this
riot would never have taken place. The respon
siblity therefore rests in very large measure
with the organization which called out the men
on strike, and then did not restrain them from
a course of high-banded lawlessness. That is
the exact truth. The local leaders of the
Knights of Labor and the local authorities of
East St. Louis are responsible for every drop
of blood shed, and for all property destroyed III
this disgraceful outbreak.