The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-07-12
WHERE THE BLAME RESTS.

Who 10 responsible for the present dis
astrous and bloody striker
The strikers now say It is fight to q
finish between labor and capital.
Just think what that means.
II means that the Angel Of Destruction
shall spread his wings on the blast and
breathe ON the face Of every man, woman
and child, Of every industry, in the
country.
ItAmeans disaster. red ruin, murder.
and woes more In number than will ever
BE- known.
Debs and one or two other ambitious
labor leaders have organized and ordered
the strike. The responsibility is theirs.
II that responsibility has been assumed
on inadequate grounds, as seems certain,
then these men should be held criminally
responsible.
They knew perfectly we'll that II the
railroad companies declined to be bullied
and terrorized out Of their legal rights,
then the result would be that the strikers
would finally break the law, and would
rob, burn and murder--and would then
be shot do snl
Having organized and ordered the
strike--having let clip the dogs Of war.
Debs issues q proclamation begging his
strikers to respect the law, knowing well
that they viii do nothing Of the kind.
He tells them not TO terrorize or interfere
with men who may take their places,
when they and be know that were they
to obey their hands would be tied and
their strike lost before IL was begun.
This Is arrant hypocrisy. He turns
anarchy loose, then winks his other eye,
and issues q proclamation counseling
peace. Even admitting that he did not
realize what he was doing Though to ad-
nit this We must make him an idiot,
which he is mott still he stands condemn
ed. Macanlay puts into words natural
law when he says "Carelesness can never
be considered palliation Of the crimes
which too frequently spring from it,"
When this Eight to finish" is over
America must ask and answer the ques-
tons: "Who is suil,y?" and "whsi
shall be done to the guilty?"
1t Is weakness, folly and sin to say 20,
this is Fight between labor and capital;
an incident in the neverending struggle.
You can't make man criminal for or
dering a labor strikel That is no crime ~
No? II is a crime-a crime so great
that some may fail to realize that II 10 .
crime. 1t is gigantic conspiracy sgainsi
the well being OF the nation-a conspir.
acy which says: I'VE want to bring
about certain thing. The law does MOI
give us the right to do this thing. 1t can
not do so, for to do so Il would have to
sfultify Itself and violate the elementary
principles Of freedom. II is idle. there
fore, TO appeal to the Law. Wemust com.
bine to enfore our demands by whatever
means may be necessary. Those who do
not wish to join Us must be forced to do
30. II destruction and terror stalk openly
at MONDAY through the land in conse-
quence. still we must enforce our de-
mands."
To say that this Is not crime is to de-
ny that which admits Of no contention.
II is high treason against the peace, pros
perity and happiness of the people. II
America is to be free, size must make an
example of arch conspirators. She must
zee TO IL that such q strike shall not
again be organized and put in operation
unless by the special ssnrtion OF the Law.