The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-08
Another Stage Of The Strike.

Another Stage Of the Strike.
The great railway strike has reached
that stage in Chicago at which state
troops have begun shooting down rioters
in the streets. Yesterday a mob insisted
on destroying property and refused TO de
sist at the command Of the police The
state troops were orIered to dispense the
mob and did so with bullets. A few men
were killed and many wounded. II is 70
be hoped that this purpose Of the state
and city authorities to preserve the peace
and protect property viii have the effect
Of preventing further rioting. There is
not much ground, however. for such "a
hope. The indications are that there will
be more blood spilled before the rioters
are brought to their senses and made 10
understand that they canno- crafty their
desire to destroy property by applying
the torch at their own sweet will
The mistake that the mayor of Chicago
made was in delaying the call for troops
until the lawLess element began TO be-
heve that it had the sympathy of the aU-
thorities and would be allowed to do as It
pleased. II he had called on the gov
ernor for help when the signs of disorder
made it evident that the police could not
preserve order it is proba Bile that nobody
would have been killed, and lit
tie if any property would have
been destroyed The destruction
Of property would have been far greater
had it not been for the presence of United
States troops. Although in the city only
for the purpose of preventing interference
with the mails and interstate commerce
they have saved a vast amount Of prop
erty from the torch.
Mr.. Debs, the head and front of the
great strike, said a few days ago that
the first gun fired by the United States
troops would be the signal for civil war.
The United States troops have fired no
guns, but the state troops have. II would
be interesting to know whether Mr.
Debs thinks the firing upon the rioters by
state troops is the beginning of civil war
In his proclamation, published yester-.
day, ne announced that the railway
union was against disorder of any kind.
and that any man who commits violence
should be arrested and punished. From
this 1t is to be inferred that he has found
out that public sentiment is against the
strike, and that it is advisable for him to
condemn violence. But what efforts has
he made to prevent violence With
thousands of men at his command. has he
made an effort to protect property or ar
rest the rioters The fact that he has
not is evidence of his insincerity
In his proclamation he endeavors
tor throw the blame for the rioting upon
the railroad managers, asserting that
they have hired thugs and toughs to burn
railroad property and tear up railroad
tracks. He also asserts that the strikers
have not interfered with the running of
trains, He must have a very poor opinion
of the intelligence of the public. Why
should the railway managers destroy
their own property What would they
gain by doing sol And as for the state
ment that the strikers do not interfere
with the running of trains, that is pre-
posterous. Who interferes with the
trains if not the strikers Men not IA
miliar with railroading could not intefere
with trains in the way they are interfered
with.
Mr. Debs does not help his cause by
such proclamations as that published yes
terday. Its insincerity is SO patent that
it condemns him. The truth is that those
who have been killed are his victims.
He is responsible for their death He
led the labor organizations into this
gigantic strike, and he did it without
cause, for the railway employees have no
grievance AGAINST their emploNors.