Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-13
pITTsBuRG. WEDNESDAY, JULY Ia 1892.
TWELVE PAGES
THE SITUATION AS 1T is.

Whatever criticisms or condemnation
NAV have been made of the course of affairs
at Homestead since the tragic occurrences
of a week-inciuding the censure Of the
authorities of the county and State volun-
teered from many quarters-it is plain that
the situation of complete restoration of
order which is to-day witnessed has been
arrived at with as little, perhaps with less,
damage than if other steps had been
hastily adopted. The course of the Gov
ernor in ordering ont the troops if SEEM
ingly dilatory has not been less effective.
The assumption of extraordinary powers
bv the Advisory Committee, if illegal
or irritating to individuals, has
undoubtedly had the effect of keep
ing in check and subordination the
tendencies to violence and mischief
which reckless individuals might have in
duIged under the cover of popular dis
turbance, had unrestrained mob law been
permitted to prevail for single day.
Apart from some excited utterances and
threatenings such as might be expected
from few among many people greatly
moved-and which must not be taken in
every instance as representing deliberate
and ultimate judgment--the change from
the state of war and passion week ago to
the mood of peace and deliberation and
State control to-day has been arrived at
with less trouble than was commonly ap-
pretended.
Let us hope that the further progress to
condition of affairs when the law will be
as certainly respected in every detail with
troops absent as with troops present will
be equally sure and unmarried by disagree
able or violent incidents. If there is to be
no chance Of any agreement between
the Amalgamated Association and the
Carnegie Company, failure which the
general public, which is interested in har-
mony between capital and labor, will
greatly regret-there may, doubtless will
be, protracted struggle, but it must be
peaceful and lawful one. They are not true
friends of the Amalgamated Association
or of labor, even if they be in its ranks,
who talk of violent resistance to any law
fuI steps of the company to run its mills
after the troops leave. Nothing would
tend more to wipe out the wide sympathy
which is felt for men struggling for an
organization which has been of great
utility than another relapse now into
antagonism of the law Nothing could
more effectually impede whatever chance
there is, slight though it may be, of an
ultimate favorable settlement with the
company. 1t is not merely that all re-
sistance to law is sure to be utterly inef-
fectual and shortlived, and, as Chairman
Oates, of the Congressional Committee,
said yesterday, that sit strikes at the root
of the Government, and cannot be toler-
ated," but that from even the lower point
of policy it is nothing less than completely
suicidal
A period has now arrived when there is
opportunity at Homestead for full and
calm reflection upon these inexorable
truths. In the heat of passion following
the fight with the Pinkerton force there
may have been those who refused to con-
slider them. But they must be faced now,
and their abiding force recognized faith
fully and fully by everybody
On the other hand, the Carnegie Com
pany has its duties as well as its legal
rights. If it cannot see its way to
any arrangement with the men on the
basis of recognizing the association they
have uteu HgHtlllS LUZ, IL VIII De e8pocGeQ,
if by no compulsion of law, then at least
by the force Of public opinion, to proceed
on such courses as it may decide upon with
out unnecessary provocation to trouble. |
1t will have the law and the laws agents,
civil and military if needed, to protect it |
fully In its legal rights, and to these it will |
be expected to trust, not to sudden coups
of private armed forces.
The whole business community of Pitts |
burg has saninterest in these matters as we'll |
as the two parties which are in conflict |
The country, outside of Pittsburg has |
a deep interest in several important ques-
tions which the conflict has raised. Our |
local interests would all be benefited |
immensely by friendly settlement of |
these and other disputes over wages and |
organizations between manufacturers and |
men; but If we cannot have that, then all |
interests whatsoever unite in demanding |
that when such conflicts are pursued it |
must be strictly within the lines of the |
law, and in no particular in violation of |
any rights which the law guarantees.