Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-24


GAzETTE' In to-day's GAZETTE in an
editorial entitled "Let Actions SPEAK, u
and discussing the attitude of Mr.. Pow.
derry and the Knights of Labor in refer.
ence to alleged violators of the law amonu
the membership, while concedinp honesty
of purpose to Mr.. Powderly in his ex.
| pressed desire to see vlolators of the law
punished, you assume, however, that he
IS powerless to secure that end. You
further say, in substance, "that the men
who DISTRACTED trains, killed engines. nm
coupled cars and displaced switches arc
known, but instead of being punished
they are shielded by the order. That at
least three of the men who attacked. killed
and wounded the officers of the law in
this city are known to be KNIGHTS of
Labor. And furthermore that they have
not been expelled from the order. Thai
IL this does not denote sympathy with
those lawless men, it is at least chi.
paole negligence in not resenting their
criminal act"
Inese are serious charges from the
standpoint of your presentation. But LET
us examine them little in the light of
common sense.
What has Mr.. Powderly to do with the
enforcement of the laws of our country
against the members of the order than
mas any other citizen? What has the
cnlet officer in the Odd Fellows or Masons
10 40 WIN enforcing the laws of the land
against the members OF those orders?
now can MIR. Powderly know that
member has committed crime
bunal?
Is it Mr.. Powderly's duty to nrosacu+o
every member of the order choraeJ ' bD NV
port with crime in the courts Of the con ~
tryE Is he to order them expelled from,
the order ON hearsay CHARGES before ar+,
thing is proved? He would soon bayo
plenty to do defending libel suits, were
ne foolish enough to adopt such a course
You say the men who killed ENGINES
pulled pins, displaced switches, etc are
well known. Known to whomP II known
why are they not convicted? Officials are
PAD by the people to enforce the law
Must the Knights of Labor resolve them
selves into committee of the whole IN
perform duties for the performances of
which other men are paid?
GU say that at least three of the mon
VINO attacked, killed and wounded officers
VI the law IN this city are known to he
ihhlshts OF Labor, and ask why thew
nave DOL been expelled. 1t is true II has
oeeh reported that three of the men en-.
SaSeo IN That fight were Knights of Labor
out mas 1t been proved? Have thew hoa,,
proved guilty of murder or of apv cr,me5
II SO, when and where? And vel we are
asked TO condemn them, unheard, untried
unconVlcted. Is this law and order9 ~
Ihis the law which the Knights of T'abnr
are asked 10 aid in enforcing? Judoment
lrst trial and conviction att :
ward They are CHARGED ,Tith
moo law, and we are asked to conda,nt t
mem by mob Judgment. Is mob indgl |
heht any better than mob law2 Rnt
learsay says they are guilty. Yes. and =
ieersay says they are innocent uear :
Jay mas doomed many victim to death
ma ioully slandered and bligbted many - I
Were we to believe besrSav
ma one-third Of the people of our conntry
mould be In the penitentiaries; one-thir3 a
mould nave been hung long since and i
ne remaining third are no better tban 4
'ugnt TO be, | will condemn NO man i
.h y ne Is proved guilty. The DEPUTIES !
East ot' Louis who are reported 10 y
, nIed INTO the unarmed crowd with
a.al eneet, Will not adjudge them mnr. o
81 until they are heard and tried i
80 ~ uhu IL mas not vet baan y
roVea IN the courts. If we are IN bona y,
IVY let us have full conformity IN IL "t ~ re-
,tIef and spirit. Trial and convIc,ior a
re as important in law as Judgment ~ , aSd X
Aecution, Why, even an august Ifni snt1 =
lates udge with power ounlimited ~
rms In imposing fines and imnrison \
leht. would not pass judgment witbont L
~ forms OF trial. Even he womb ' not til
ssume omniscience as well az oInn;n no'
.nSe, | hope this will not be contiJ
Ied contempt Of the Texas Pacjec I raii
'au OF any other man. II such nm ~
renee y, may be drawn therefrom 7 VIII in
nc ! al back, no matter how trpa - - -
o9,, an Pc While judges have ,,nniim - A
eu powers to punish and marshals tha
right to arrest, the neaca me
'.asl VINO proposes to pass his Jaus \
i.side the prison walls must be csre Spys L
!, reast until we patch up that rent ~ p,
II federal constitution, throngh yyh,ch II
ta raliroad locomotive, loaded with iaw
' Icy dashed, But this is a digres al ",
perhaps 'Aou a
! NC same reasons which should prevent -,