The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-07-28
Editor Of the Irish World Dis
cusses the Situation.
QUESTION OF LAW AND ORDER
Among the Trades Great Risks En-
oountered by Railroad Operators.
Labor Notes.

most thoroughly representative Jour
nails of its class in the United States,
has the following to say in an editorial
under the caption, "Unwise Labor
Leaders,"
America is at peace with all the
world except itself In the west, at
this writing, riot reigns and takes on
the character of civil war. Armed
mobs have taken possession of rail.
roads, derailed locomotives, demolished
hundreds of cars, destroyed millions OF
property, assailed the officers of the
law with stones, bludgeons and re-
volvers and defied the United States
government. Socialists and anarchists,
the extremes of society, come together
20 work for ruin. The socialist who
hates liberty, aims to make govern
Snent omnipotent; that is why he is
now trying to pull down the United
states constitution. The anarchist,
WHO hates the very idea of government,
avalls himself of the opportunity to
show his contempt for law and to aid
an bringing about chaos. In Chicago
the torch OF the incendiary flashed in
all directions. In one week the fire
alarm was rung 341 times-about so
shines day on an average, or twice
every hour in all that reign Of horror.
The cause of this anarchical turmoil
is 10 be found in false and iawless prin-
ciples, though the excuse for il was Of
fered in dispute between Mr.. Pail
man of Pullman car fame aud his
workmen. Pullman is O large manu-
facturer aud also owns a number of
dwelling houses, which he rents to his
workmeO. IL is said that he cut the
wages OF his men, though he did not
lower the rent. Against this statement
Pullman makes u counter statement.
l1e says that the Pullman tenements
are not yielding rents equivalent to
Der cent. OF the money invested ia |
Chemi that Pullman employees are not |
Obliged 10 occupy them; that there are
Dlenty of homes for rent offered in COM |
petition with them, and that, as a mat
Gee OF fact, a large number OF them are |
rented TO tenants who are not in the |
Pullman employ.
Two Sides to the Question.
On the other hand stories are put in
circulation prejudicial 10 the character
OF AIR. Debs, president of the A. r. u,
and the man who Is primarily respon- |
aible tor the railroad strike The latest |
as that he is a drunkard. OF course |
these reports are circulated by those
who are interested in discrediting Mr.. |
Debs aud hurting his influence. We |
can not say, and We do not care to |
know, whether the stories are true or
faise. The same applies TO Mr.. Pull |
man. The question at issue should be |
eliminated OF all personality, and he
judged entirely on It's merits in tine
light of law and reason. If Pullman's |
Workmen thought he did not treat
them fairly it was their right TO strike.
Whether the action of the railroad
onen throughout the country who /
boycotted the railroad compan-
les for refusing TO detach the
Pullman sleepers from their trains was
we'll considered, does not seem so plain.
II is not pretended that the A. r. u,
or any branch OF it, or any individual
in it, had the slightest grievance
againt any railroad company, or against
any officer of any railroad, when the
members of the A. r. u. were or
dered TO refuse TO aid in handling the
Pullman cars. AT the same time,
whether their action was wise or other
wise, II was entirely within their right
TO quit work, but there their right
euded. They mad no right to obstruct
Gratlic, derail engines. burn freight cars
or boot and stone the officers ofthe law
ia tie discharge of their duties. All this
IS wrong.
Strike leaders tell us that they did
not authorize those acts of violence.
and that they are not responsible Tor
them. 1t . said, furthermore, that
the men engaged in violence we're not
strikers, but toughs and ruffians. IL
suits the purpose Of those who are re-
epOnsible Tor the strike to now nut on
Sne semblance of respect for good order.
bat no one will be deceived bv their
Opportune utterdnces. Doubtless the
ruttian element, who have moth no To
do with work or strike, took hand
On. They were impelied 10 II By the
very instinct of lawlessness, which
makes them rutl!ans. But they knew
their cue aud they played their part.
When Debs announced that the first
shot fired by United States troops
would be ''the signal tor evil war"
every anarchist in the land and
every ruffian rejoiced. The furious de-
annexation by labor leaders of the
presence of United States troops at the
scene of riot was in itself a betrayal of
their real feeling and discredits the
in behalf of good order that
they now deem it polite to make.
The troops went out TO restore order.
liz strikers had nothing to do with the
acts OF violence that were being COM
United, and if the labor leaders had no
sympathy with that violence, why
boot anu howl at the troops2 If no
striker was among the rioters then no
- 4, A.. H.. Irh