The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-02

A new publication In this city is small
labor paper which. while bestowing some
attention on industrial topics. has a keener
eye for the political campaign. The main
purpose of its first issue seems to be the
rallying of workingmen to Mr.. Meyers
standard. 1t thinks the Populist candi-
date for sheriff should be elected because
he took part in tho great railroad strike.
Its words are: "He LETT his engine at the
behest of his union. This act alone is
sufficient to entitle him to the suffrage of
every union man in King county. And
the same act should recommend him to
every other voter"
Is this true7 The voters of the county
should seriously consider the question.
Nowhere in the whole country has there
been or is there wider or heartier reach
of sympathy for the just claims of organ
ICED labor than here in Seattle. This has
often been shown, and the labor unions
have been frank TO admit il. Seattle has
been q labor union town. With every fair
demand of labor there has been general
concurrence. and in all jussitiabls struggles
of the unions they have received general
support.
The "Debs rebellion" was an unique
outbreak. 1t was a blow at the conven-
fence of the travelling public, at the bust
ness and prosperity OF the country. 1t
was inaugurated and prolonged in q reck-
less spirit of indifference to the public
good and defiance of the spirit. If not the
tastsr Of ha IL NJ h. land Lad th>
destruction Of great amount Of property
by mobs. TO conflicts with peace officers
and military forces, to much loss Of life, to
q great outlay OF money by the national
and state authorities, to serious losses by
thousands of business men, TO the loss Of
perishabls crops by thousands of farmers
and orchardists and the consequent pinch
of poverty, and in many ways to suffering
and Injury to very many of the people of the
land. rich and poor alike. Il had no real
basis, being founded alone on sentimental
ity and desire TO establish the absolute
control OF organized labor over every other
interest in the land; il was reckless, revo-
lutionary. disorganizing and grossly tyran-
nical; it accomplished no good. but worked
much evil.
Not one man in King county suffered
under any grievance to be redressed by
that strike. There was no incentive. no
motive, no excuse for a strike here, for
there was no wrong to right. The men
who went out on the strike-need!essiy
diseommoding the entire public, paralyz.
ing for months the great interests of the
state, inhic;ing q vast amount of injury
upon the common wealth-did so. not be-
cause they were impelled so TO do by their
own consciousness of right and wrong, but
simply because they were ordered OUT"
right or wrong
Many OF them have suffered because of
their Il-advised action. Many are freely
saying, when they feel ~ liberty to ex-
pres. their real sentiments. that they were
wrong and foolish in their course. Yet
now they are asked to select IS the peace
officer Of the county q man whose only
recommend alton Is that ne left his engine
at the behest of his union :" he left IL. to
the public injury, not bscsuss he had any
grievance. bat AZ the behest of other men.
who acted At the behest of stlll others, 10
revolutionize the industrial system Of the
country and overrids liberty and law.
The verdict Of the nation has been pro-
nonneed upon the pebs rebellion, aud u is
a verdict of strong condemnation. The
appeal 10 King county 10 reverse that
verdict. 50 far az she is concerned, should
not and will not be sustained. The Posr-
TxrKILEGKSCEs ever has been and is no.
the lrisnd OF organized labor. and SYM
pathiEes sith ITS every just effort; but IL
cannot fail 10 challenge the sublime
efrontsry Of the claim now put forward
by persons who pose IS its representa-
tIves.
To say that Mr. Meyer must be elected
sheriff because The left his engine AZ the
bshes; Of bis union," and that This act
alons" entities him 10 the support Of every
vossr in the county is 10 Insult The lntslli-
gencs and patriotism OF the people. in
Guiding al honesi labor union men. This
insolsns spirit should be ovsrw hslningiy
rse9ksd o. the pollA A most determined