The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-29
Have Strikers the Right TO Obstruct Work
for NntIonnI DeteMcet

To THE EpIToR OF The SUN-Sir: Labor
demonstrations like the la to uprising in
Homestead suggest to thinking men in every
department Of business in this country and
abroad many new subjects. which. In the near
future. will call for intelligent solution both
by the people at large and the law makers OF
the nation. One new complication which has
arisen by rea son of the Homestead strike, and
which seems worthy of comment is the in
ability OF Government contractors to furnish
armor plates for war vessels. and tho delay in
cdent therefrom in the completion Of the
work in hand. At tho present timo the coun-
try is at peace with all foreign powers. and
consequently the immediate and pressing
necessity for rapid work does not exist that
would II we were ut war. or il there was i'm
minent danger OF any hostile demonstration {:
but this fact does not alter the existing state
OF affairs or change in any way the response
biity resting upon individuals in their char
acter OF contractors or the obligations under
which they rest.
1t is II significant fact that owing to the pen
alties imposed upon all who may in any way
interfere by violence with the transportation
OF the United States mail. that during all the
railroad strikes. and total suspension OF
freight traffic. owing to the illegal acts of mobs
and wrone,l"ers. tho trains carrying the mail
have been let alone and allowed to proceed to
their destinations. and those carrying freight
and general merchandise have been lied up.
employers and directors terrorizea and brow.
beaten. threats Of death INDUCED in. and vast
quantities Of valuable rIopsrty desrp2y1n ana ana
private individuals. delayed anu in many i'll
| stances. ruined.
majesty OF the law ns laid down by the Con;
gress Of the United States and built around
the structure o TEvernment f'G ,p P nn
| pie who may openly defy the civil authorities.
| have wholesome fear Of the Government I'M
| der which they live. and are eXceedlnSly care
| ful not t" interfere with IT In any way. either
| through its personal representative or the
DESTRUCTION Of nanimate things belonging to
or in any way appcrtaininG thcreto The dow
| crnmcnt has made it II felony for any person
or persons to oIstruct the carving OF me mnlis
the subject and has designated the punish
mcnt that Will follow its violation. Mail con
thc e'' proteeii?n EuaranteeI them. and tie
| greatest ana most perfect business OF the
The 'n now WI" nrses Why not Apply the
same rrincipl. TO other branches OF Govern
mont work: Why not protect by. rigid laws :,
to tho Government material or supplies. by
which the G"yernment; and thus the people
mnnds of it's contractors bonds with ample
sureties to olliGe the individuals rlsking theil
t BY Of an aer
ments. it insists that where,a contract is LOT
to an individual. that Individual shall carr,
Why. then. should not the individual receive
some ronsd Iteration and he protected i4 the dis
| charge of his duties2 This because the indi
viduHl there repre- cnts the Goycrnms,,nt. an, an,
In the discharge of his duties is an interfer
ence with the workings II the Government
and as such should not be per
mitted;. An individual is p1werIess $, a
mob or lahorcrs union. and cannot protec
himself but II the law OF the land was sue
that men engaged in carrying out contract
with the Government would De protected il
their business hy their employer. :: e, IN
work MS at the present time. because Of the in
ability Of the contractor to carry out his agree
ment. the interests OF tho nation would no
suffer. nor would the corporation or individual
engaged upon tn" work in hand be tcrr2rZcd
capital paralyzrd. murder, committed. IT.
wheels OF industry clogCed. and tn" "ntir'
people Of an Industrious. peaceful communl''
| intcrfcred with.
Possibly the Solons who make our law
might find food for reflection in tn" foregoing
suggestions. and in the near futur" lax, nc
ton. Intelligent action. upon natcr NAV
had circumstances been different from VIVA
they nre Mt present. might have Givy,r ri'ww L
many and serious complications. L. w. W.