The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-17
YRIDAY. September l.,
WAS IT MURDER?

We have not had space to publish the |
rrdnion OF leading papers upon the shoot
Eng of the miners last week. The dec
laration Of the military commander that
the sheriff could not be arrested and the
attitude of the military shows that WEI
are not only in the mining districts hav-
ing government by injunction. but We
are dangerously near government by the
military. The Chicago Journal, in an
editorial headed "Unprovoked Murder
has given the best statement of the shoot
ing H. shortest space that we have yet
seen The Journal says:
.s1he more the shooting of the coal
miners near Hazleton, Pa, is considered
the worse does it appear. Testimony has
been piled up against the sheriff and his
deputies until it is overwhelming.
"A most graphic, heartrending. and
convincing description of the tragedy
comes from Principal Guscott of the Lat
timer schools, and is corroborated in
every detail by one of his teachers. As
principal and teacher stood upon the
steps of the schoolhouse the deputies
terwar the strikers appeared upon the
scene. In front of the latter walked two
little boys, hand in hand. The sheriff
stepped over to the miners and began
talking to them in an excitable manner
In the confusion that followed he was
hustled into ditch, but he was not
Knocked down. The miners then advanc-
ed, and as they did so one of the depu-
Ifnn prlcn cta ard
Another deputy called out to this man
Come back, or we will shoot you, too,
--- you. Upon this Price levelel
his gun at the strikers and fired.
"A yOlley from the whole force of
deputies followed, and the miners start
ed to run away. AS they ran they We're
shot, shot down like noxious animals, in
mere wantOnnesS and blOod-frenzy One
wounded man who was making for the
schoo!hGusc as fast us he could was shot
IN the back at a distance Of 300 feet,
ana hilted Another victim. VINO was
nurt badly III both legs. was shot in the
back also with fatal results as he was
crawling away.
when the principal walked over the
ground he found the two little boys who
were at the head of the procession ~
2ng dead, side by side. In examining
some 40 OF the dead and wounded he dis
covered only one small pistol. Yet the
firing upon these defenseless men, who
were led by children, was continued for
from 10 TO 10 minutes. Most of the
wounds were in the back.
"A German Catholic priest named
Forve adds his testimony to that of Mr..
Guscott. The only weapons that were
found upon the men, within his knowl-
edge, were two small penknives. He had
long talks with the wounded in his sa-
cred character, and is positive that the
strikers were peaceably disposed. The
aggression was all on the side Of the
sheriff. who assaulted one of their lead
ers. Martin seems to have been COM
pletely carrid away by anger or terror.
Indignation over the shocking affair
will not die out in few days. 1t will go
on increasing. The country has hardly
begun to realize its significance. We
know Of no case of a similar nature IN
which SO little could be said for the au-
thorities and so much for the other side:
Sheriff Martin has stamped truth upon
the lies of anarchists"
The Springfield Republican says that
the more facts are brought to light the
more reckless appears to have been the
shooting which moved down so many
strikers at Hazleton." 1t quotes Sheriff
Martins own words in support of its
statement Sheriff Martin said:
II had all Icould do to look out
for myself. Think my men fired on
the impulse of the moment. They
saw me i'll the midst of the strikers,
with men aiming blows at me. and
they supposed probably that my life
was in danger, and fred
The Baltimore Sun, which assaiIed the
anti-injunction platform adopted at Chi
cage, speaks out in no uncertain tone
with reference to the shooting. saying:
1.-THE shooting of the miners at Lati
mer was simply murder under the forms
OF law. Government by injunction in
this case has borne bloody fruit. The
practical question is how are such oc
currenees to be prevented in the future {?
Simply by preventing the exercise of
tyranny on the one side and lawless IN
reference on the other by establishing
q system Of arbitration, which will COM
pei the parties, when the interests in
volved are Of great magnitude, to sub
NIT their differences to the decision of
an impartial tribunal. The country can
not afford to permit the continuance Of
conflicts which are sowing the seed Of
class hatred and possibly of revolution
in the future"