The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-08
WHO ~ RESPONSIBLE,

WHO IL RESPONSIBLE!
The SrArEsMAs yesterday gave warming
that the strikers were concentrating their
forces at Parsons, Kas., and Fort Worth,
Tex. Gov. Martin, of Kansas, had the
sagacity to see the danger, and day be-
fore yesterday ordered regiment of
militia to Parsons, which, in all probable
ity, prevented such collision as described
in our dispatches this morning at Fort
Worth, where the sherif's officers, in at
tempting to run train, were fired upon
by the mob, no doubt composed
of strikers two of his men were killed
and one wounded. The fire was returned
and one striker wounded
1t has been perfectly apparent for the
last forty eight hours that the strikers
were massing at two points, Parsons, Kan
sas, and Fort Worth, Texas. The regi-
ment, ordered by Governor Martin to Par
sons, have preserved order there so far as
heard from at this writing. The question
then arises, who is responsible for this
bloody work at Fort Worth yesterday
We freely admit that in or
binary times it is not the place
of the governor of state to order troops
to aid the sheriff of county in the execu-
ton of the law, until he is informed by
tho sheriff that he is not able, with his
posse comitatus," to quell the riot and
protect property, but thi was not an or
binary occasion. 1t was apparent day
before yesterday, to every sensible man
acquainted with the facts, that if some
thing was not done to prevent it, that a
conflict would take place at Fort Worth
yesterday, and whether the forms of law, in
all the regularity of red tape, were gone
through with or not, 1t was Governor Ire
lands duty to order concentration of
militia at Fort Worth to prevent blood
shed. This, we think, was Governor Ire
lands plain and imperative duty. 1t may
do very well to say that the law prescribes
the manner in which the governor is au-
thorized to order state troops to aid the
sheriff of any county to execute the law,
and it may do very well on ordinary occa-
sions that a writ should be sued out by a
citizen whose rights are invaded, and
when put into the hands of the
sheriff, and he fails to execute it by rea-
son of a superior force, when he has OK
hausted the whole power of county of
n "posse comitatus," then he should no.
tify the governor. and then the governor
shall order out the militia to aid him to
execute the writ. But there are occa.
siohs when this form is unnecessary. Is
an executive OF state supposed to have
no eyes, or ears, that he cannot see, OIL
hear ? Is he supposed to have no discre
tionary power
If the governor of Texas knew that q
cavalry force of Mexicans were marching
on the capital city of Texas, does anyone
suppose that he is compelled to wait
until this same force injured some man:
property and he brought suit against
them, and the sheriff reported to the gov
ernor that he could not execute the writ
We say, does any man suppose sane gov
ernor would wait for all this circumlocu
ton! Certainly not.
If the governor of state knows tina
any section of it is threatened will
instruction, is he compelled to wal
for an overt act on the part
of the mob? If so, we ha,
better have no executive.
Governor Ireland knew day before yes
terday morning that riot was threaten
ing at Fort Worth. He knew that troubl
was expected what was his duty? Nine
tenths of the men in the state will say
was his duty to send troops there to pre-
vent it.
Did he do it! Oh, no; but what did h
, do! While a part of the state of Te1a
! was in the hands of mob, he took tn
train day before yesterday and went t
Segum.
4 To-day, gentlemen, with dispatche
- in their hands, from Governor Brown, tn
receiver of the Texas Central. from Fol
e Worth describing an ambushed train b
E the strikers, near that city, and declarin