New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-28
MISTAKEN SYMPATHY.
SURPRISED AT THE ATTITUDE OF MANY GOOD
CITIZENS.

SURPRISED AT THE ATTITUDE OF MANY GOOD
CITIZENS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: / would like to raise another dissenting
voice. in the midst of the general cutlery which
has been OF late fashiona bic in favor OF Anarchy,
rotous strikes and compulsory arbitration" look
ing toward the forcing OF the Brooklyn street
railway companies to agree TO employ men who
are traitors to their employers, reckless In word
and deed and dangerous members OF society; men
who do not hesitate to destroy the property OF
their employers in OF difference regarding
the value OF their labor. and to lntimidate. and
even main ard KILL honest men desiring to work
on terms agreed upon between themselves and
the companies Citizens OK Brooklyn clergymen
and even lawyers Of reputation. unite with the
d,magogic and time-servng newspapers to urge
the enforcement OF Judge Gaynor's extraordinary
and outrageous d!ctum: "If the companies can
not obtain men under such circumstances at the
price they set 1t is their duty to employ them
at any price, In order 10 operate the roads and
discharge their duty TO the public.
Otherwise stated: II the rioters can succeed in
SO intimidating men IN search OF work that they
dare not accept the positions vacated by the
rioters: then the roads must. in order to avoid the
loss OF their charters, take men who can be had
none other than anarchical strikers, or
course-at whatever price the latter choose to de-
mand taking advantage OF the fact that the law
has seized the companies by the throat and has
deprived them or all resisting power.
Was there ever In the history OF any despotsm
more outrageou Interpretation Of the law? Every
patriotic and honest citizen must hang his head
in shame at reading OF such anarchical and I'M
Just statements of law. Judge Gaynors other
propositions in general admirable; but his
assumption that under the conditions which have
prevailed In Brooklyn during the last two weeks.
the companies are protected and free to do
business In business-ke ways. is the most
grotesque of absurdities. Every night, for days
before and after his manifesto In favor OF the
Anarchists. trolley wires have been cut by tres
passers; miles OF wire have been carried off by
land pirates; honest men have been attacked by
highwaymen; the police have been debauched and
defed the State troops even have been unable to
uphold the law and preserve the peace; and yet II
is dpmurely assumed by Judge on the bench
that the companies thus trespassed upon, over
whelmed by mobs and tyrannlzed over by mob
law. In spite OF police. troops and an unqueston-
able public sentiment in favor OF law and order,
are free 10 do business. and must be proceeded
against In an action TO vacate their charters. II
they do forthwith accomplish what all the
police OF BROOKLYN and all the troops of the State
have been unable TO do-brng about conditions
along their lines permitting the peaceful conduct
OF their business.
To one who is hundreds OF miles from the scene.
and entirely without personal interest In the mat
ter, the conduct OF many citizens OF Brooklyn, and
OF some. even. among the usually most wise and
sensible newspapers. gives rise to vastly more
serious apprehension than even the lawlessness OF
the mobs Whether the companies have been
doing business in proper and legal ways or not Is
AT the moment a matter OF not the slightest I'M
portance: that question may be settled peaceably
and by due process OF law AT any time; but that
any man. or body OF men. should be permitted
to force them to pay a rate for services such as
Is dictated by one or thousand seekers FOR en-
poyment and at time when there are thou
sands OF good men needing work and glad to get
IL at the rates rejected by those who have left
the employ OF the companies. Is an outrage exceed
ing belief. That such men, after refusing such
compensation themselves should be allowed to
intimidate and maltreat other men who are de-
sirous OF securing work at such rates. H. II pos
sible still worse: but that the rioters and pirates.
hghwaymon and traitors. should find respectable
citizens and newspapers to attempt 10 Justly
their crimes. and should make this anarchy an en-
cuse for abusing company utterly disabled by IL,
and for attacking business men or brooklyn en-
deavoring to do the best they can for their own
emplovers-who are the most enterprising or
Brookiyn's citizens in many cases widows and
orphans In others-constitutes the most extraordi-
nary and fearful spectacle that even these later
days OF political and social follies and heresies
have brought forth. A.
the-iollar coinage is bad enough. but Anarchy and
outrage. deprivation OF free and honest citizens or
their right seek work wherever they choose, ana
to accept II any terms that may seem 10 tnenl
advisable Is vastly worse: and worse than al Is
citizen. and his sympathy with piracy, arson
burglary treason assault and murder. and his ac-
ever closely they may. count their money. are at
least doing honest business. In an honest way
OF the law but what is of still more Importance.
OF a fair and honest and righteous public sent;
and uphold justice. and their sympathy with An.
archy and crime is. ! am sure most unexpected ,e
'h Ithaca. \. ' T. JAM. Jan Is. 1895