The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
THE PEACEFUL STRIKE.

The strike of the miners, involving many
thousand men, has continued more than a
month without any considerable exhibition
of violence. Here and there there has been
a quarrel, and in a few instances freight
trains have been occupied with men who
proposed to go to other localities to induce
miners to quit work. 1t should be added,
however. that in such cases no man who
is recognized as a leader had a part in
this interference. Those who recall the vio-
lence and bloodshed Of other miners strikes
in Pennsylvania and Ohio can but note the
marked contrast Some of the most violent
demonstrations, involving bloodshed and
murder, have attended such strikes. Long
standing feuds have grown out OF the Penn
sylvania strikes In which men were organ
lied to punish with vengeance.
In the present coal miners strike, as
headed by the leaders of the organization,
every precaution seems to have been taken
to avoid riot and forceful interference. The
leaders have not only advocated peaceful
methods, but they have done their utmost
to induce their followers to abstain from
the of liquor. Even Mr.. Debs, with
all his absurd TRADES about capital and
courts, has frequently urged the men to
abstain from drink In several cases the
leaders have sent liquors out Of the camps
of miners to the end that the men, may
be kept under control. The leaders and the
men are entitled to credit for this new de-
parture in the management Of strikes. 1t
may be said that they have come to the
conclusion that peaceful and lawful meth
DDS are better. If we assume that this is
the case it can make no difference, because
it means that they have learned that the
moral support of the country is more valu-
able than any other agency. More than
that, it means that the leaders have learned
that the people whose influence and moral
support can help them are in favor of law
and order. It is better to go further and
assume that these leaders believe that
obedience to law is essential to the we'll
being of society and that violence inter-
feres with the industrial processes upon
which the welfare of labor depends.
1t seems that in several instances the
courts have not recognized this change of
policy in the management of strikes. The
necessarily enjoined because the purpose of
the process of the courts has been to prevent
the holding of public meetings in public
places. If this is true the complaint is fair
ly made. Mine owners would be justified
in enjoining organized bodies of men from
entering their Enclosures to interfere with
their men, but the right of peaceful assem-
bly, and discussion in public places is a
constitutional right so sacred that courts
, should be careful in the exercise of any
authority which may seem to ignore it.
The laws will be more generally observed
when they and the courts which enforce
them are the objects of respect. Well
meaning men may cause both to be objects
of contempt when, in efforts to maintain
the peace they interfere with constitutions
al rights and privileges. The peaceful con-
duct of the present strike is such marked
observance of law that it should not be
ignored by those who are charged with the
enforcement of the laws.