The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-05-05
spoNTANRous coMsusTIoN

II ever there was an impudent, bare
faced attempt to take from portion of
the American people their constitution
al right to life, liberty and the pur-
suie OF happiness, It Is in the manifesto
81 lot OF Greek. Italian and other Eu-
TUpean peasantry calling themselves the
Fishermen's Union OF the Columbia river.
Like their piratical ancestors, they pro-
pose TO take by force the property OF
Others, that is. in this case, the labor
that supports the fishermen. With the
assumption OF power neither the ma
tional nor state governments would dare
to exercise, these fellows recently de-
creed that no fisherman could catch fish
except for his own consumption. and
that II he took more than he could Use
he must divide the catch with his neigh
bor fisherman who did not so out. No
fishermen would be allowed TO sell to
The markets or private individuals No
non-union fishermen or other persons
whatsoever would be allowed TO fish on
the river for profit or pleasure II any
are caught violating this agreement they
VIII be dealt with by committees. and
n they could not handle them the union
was 20 be called upon. The men would
not be allowed to fish for an Individual
eanneryman, even though he agreed TO
pay cents unless the same price was
paid by all the packers on the river
Highwaymen who hold up trains and
stages are shot DOWN for their temerity
n officers or citizens are on hand brave
enough TO make the fight. and that is the
end OF II. The Oregon and Washington
authorities should act accordingly, and
have boats armed with machine guns to
restore the public peace. It would be
more salutary than a trial in Fact the
only way to suppress this brigandage.
The above is from the San Francisco
Daily Commercial News and Shipping
List OF April -
There could hardly be more culpable
instance Of reckless and indiscreet news
paper scribbHng, and its writer deserves
a vigorous overhauling at the hands OF
his superiors in this reputable and usual
" careful journal He knows absolutely
nothing about the subject he attempts
to discuss, and thus violates the first
rule Of responsible and conscientious
newspaper editor II he is troubled
which he must somehow I'LL. let him turn
hts attention TO the extraordinary crimes
and audacious class Of criminals for
which the Bay City has lately attained
SO much unenviable notoriety. The most
deplorable effects of the News article
VIII be its reproduction in reliable papers
ka gt-
gerations are liable to be received with
perfect credence There is a certain
class OF papers infesting this coast which
are always glad to print such TRADES
on the slightest provocation, and it is
to be regretted that papers OF the sup
posed standing Of the News should set
them such an example. The evident
design Of such publications is to create
the impression abroad that the striking
Columbia river fishermen are wantonly
destroying the property Of every canner
and unsympathetic fisher on the river.
and that they have armed patrols con-
tinuaIly on the bay to see that no fish
Is taken. 1t would take the entire time
and space of an ordinary newspaper to
refute these rabld Misrepresentation.
However, in order that the Views may
not plead ignorance Of the true situation,
and with the hope that It may be in
duced to repair some of the mischief It
has perhaps unwittingly created, the
Astorian will make brief statement in
reply to the article in question: In the
first place, the Greek, Italian and other
European peasantry calling themselves
the Fishermen's Union of the Columbia
river" are the men upon whose labor
the welfare Of the city Of Astoria under
present conditions mostly depends. Ac-
eident of birth is no crime. In any
case, these men are not responsible
for their nationality. neither does it fol-
low that, because they are European
peasantry," they are outlaws and pirates.
The fishermen have struck because the
Gamers would not agree to pay 8 cents
per pound for salmon. The packers
say the market is oemOrdllzeo ana tndt
they cannot afford to pay the price de-
manded. The fishermen claim they can
not make living wages unless they re-
eeive the price demanded. and are simply
refusing to do any fishing. This is the
sum total of the whole difficulty.
The News says these fellows recently
decreed that no fisherman could catch
fish except for his own consumption, and
II he took more than he could use he
nl1st divide the catch with bis neighbor
fisherman who did not go out. No fish
erman would be allowed to sell to the
markets or private individuals" These
fellows" decreed nothing Of the kind.
They did decide in a mass meeting COM
prised Of more than nine-tenths Of all
the fishermen on the lower river that a
certain appointed committee should wait
on those who were not in attendance at
the meeting and endeavor to persuade
them to stand by the action Of the meet
ing. The members of the union did not