New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-20
FULL PROTECTION But BAD SERTICE.

FULL PROTECTION, BUT BAD SER|ICE
At the beginning Of the Brooklyn strike every
ms, consideration inspired the hope that the
men would refrain from lawlcssness Of every
kind and degree and keep the peace unbr0ken
Rut at the same time experience suggested the
fenr that MANY of them would be betrayed into
a contrary course That which was dreaded has
occurred 10 a serious extent. Failing TO obtain
fair treatment from the companies. and realizing
rs the DAYS went by that they were at great
disadvantage in the struggle by reason OF the
extraordinary number of persons out OF employ
mcnt. a small minority Of the strikers have dis
rraced themselves and mperlled their cause by
acts Of violence which grew more frequent and
dangerous. and which finally justified Mayor
Scheren I'm calling out the militia TO protect life
and property. Indeed, we think that he would
have done less than his duty If he had not taken
This step. The first consideration was the preser
walton of public order and security. ana the
police were apparently unequal to the task. \
large majority. as we believe. of the strikers
have done only what they had right TO do. and
are deserving OF credit and respect for their CON
duet But the few have done what they could
TO injure the many. and other idle and turbulent
persons have helped them. There may still be
Il
situation is undeniably gloomy. 1t is another
illustration of the criminal folly which generally
in such conflicts makes the employers victory
sure.
II is however very significant fact in this
case that. in spite OF the great annoyance ~
which multitude Of PERSONS have been sub
iected for a week and Of the lawlcss acts which
had become numerous and, mcnacing when the
a ,l..p. mi IL Sfi
Enthusiastically on the side Of the strikers The
people of Brooklyn have found the trolley ser
vice a great convenience, but they have an I'M
settled account with the companies. which have
held human life cheap in their city, and defest
their nhumaniy and greed. They desire ana
intend to have the peace preserved; but wheh
the companies rail at lawbreakers they are re-
minded that the companies themselves nave per-
sistently and defantly broken the law by COM
peng their employees TO run their cars nj
forbidden rate Of speed The people or BROOK
lyn remember well that this reckessneSs mas
caused loss of many lives, and they put the
blame where ii belongs: upon the managers, not
upon the motormen. They have only contempt
moreover. for the false and shabby plea that
corporations which pay little or nothing for the
enormous privileges which they possess. ana
whose profusely watcred stock Is Immensely
valuable. cannot afford to raise the wages Of
their men 10 "A scale considerably lower than the
Broadway Company in this city pays for much
less exacting service. And so the truth Is That
the police who faithfully tried TO maintain order
and protect the companies. the soldiers who are
now under arms and will do their duty firmly.
and the great body Of reputable citizens who
are suffering severely because Of the strike heart
ily sympathize with the strikers and would re-
ioice 10 see them win by peaceful means
There is another point which the companies
will do well TO consider. They have declared
throughout the week that they were prepared
TO restore traffic promptly and fully. If properly
protected in their rights. From daybreak yes
tcrlay their tracks and ears and new men were
amply guarded: but their lines were not in any
thing Ike complete operation. We have expect
cd that they would be able 10 recruit an adc'
0tIate force from the ranks OF the unemployed,
but the public will not tolerate much delay in
the process now that the civil authorities have
called the militia into service. General regret
that the companies are likely TO succeed will
soon find expression in overwhelming de
mand that they succeed quickly or else come 10
terms with their old employees. The people OF
Brooklyn have submitted with remarkable pa
thence to great loss and trouble because they
pited the strikers. They will not submit pa
ticnty to the burden Of protecting corporations
which wilfuy violate their public obligations.