The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-06
rnE TROUBLE AZ NEWCASTLE.

From whatever point Of view the re-
cent trouble st Newcastle mas bs re-
earsied It has the appearance Of Il very
bad niece OF business. II must BE
condemned from beginning 70 end By
every rlghtmiHded and law-abiding
citizen, and there seems 10 he as,so-
IuteIy nothing to be said in extenna-
ton d the conduct Of those who were
the aggressors in the affair.
The facts Of the case, briefly stated.
seem to be about az follows: The
miners al Newcastle and Coal Greek are
divided into two factions, between
which feeling Of bitterness has long
existed. The smaller Of these factions
holds the charter Of an assembly OF the
Knights Of Labor. The other faction.
which exists 10 n large extent OF
seceders from the knights Of Labor. Is
organized into local society known
as the Miners Protective Union The
members OF the latter organi-
cation contend that ali the disturbances
which have disgraccd Newcastle in the
past year have been due TO the efforts
OF the knights Of Labor 10 prevent
them from working in the mines and
virtually 10 drive them from the camp.
The events of the past week go far
toward proving that this view Of the
case Is the correct one. The kni hts
Of Labor have certainly been the ag
greSsors throughout the troubles, and
though they are outnumbered by the
members Of the Protective Union at
Newcastle they have been able to in
timidate their fellow workmen by cali
ing in the assistance OF members Of
their order at Gilman and Cedar
Mountain.
Several times In the past the knights
OF Labor at Gilman have gone to New
castle and taken part in the difficulties
there. During the past week they re-
peated this performance. though with
more serious results than ever before.
The immediate cause of the trouble
was petty one brought on by the
employment OF man Objectionable
10 the more aggressive faction.
The immediate cause, however.
is OF little importance. The real
cause Of the trouble was the bitter
feeling between the Knights OF Labor
and the members OF the union, feel
ing for which the former seem 10 he
almost entirely 10 blame. There was
no question Of wages. no question be-
tween capital and labor. involved.
The whole point at issue was whether
an armed mob could prevent hun
dred or more workingmen from begin
ming their daily Iabors.
This IS the time 10 decide whether
a lawloss mob can 60 with impuniiy /
from place to place. interfering with 1
business, iBtimidating those who are /
engaged in lawful and unobjection- !
able pursuit and preventing by force
those who are personally objection
able 10 them from earning their daily
bread. II this thing can lie done In
Washington Territory, il is best that
The people should know II at once, and |
Il ii cannot he done. Il Is time for those
who have attempted II to suffer the /
penalty 81 their lawiessness. The
people Of Newcastle have right TO
know whether they live under reign
OF law orandcr a reign OF lawlessness.
With trades unions, with organized
labor generally. every right.minded
man has full sympathy. II is not only
the right. bat Il Is the duty Of work
ingmen TO organize for their own pro-
lection. But organization does not
imply license to violate the laws
and intimidate those who desire
10 work. The members OF the Miners
Union Of Newcastle had rs clear
right Ia go TO work on Friday morn
ing as they had to eat their breakfast,
and those Who attempted TO prevent
them cannot in any manner justify
their act.
Il IS high time that iawlessness
should he punished as it deserves and
that peaceable citizen, should be pro
tected in the rights guaranteed 20
them by society.