The record-union., 1897-08-24
STRIKERS AND INJUNcTIoNs.

That the strikers in the coal sections
of the East have not been receiving
that ample wage which all fair men
wish to see awarded to labor goes
without saying. Not all were discon-
tented, however, but many have gone
who had been cut to a bare existence
wage scale The reductions that have
eliminated in the strike have not been
made because of the greed of operators
wholly, but because of the OVERRIDING of
the business Of production, and the re-
sultant competition that brought coal to
such a sale price that to continue COM
petition the wages of the workers had
to suffer.
While in this case the consumer was
benefited, the producer was wofully
injured. That it is better however, by
far, that we who are consumers pay
more for the supply we need, in order
that the worker who is our neighbor
may receive such a wage as will enable
him to be a consumer also Of something
of the comforts of life must be con-
ceded. All sympathy, then, so far as
sentiment is concerned, may go out to
the workers who are cut down to the
starvation scale, while at the same time
we may not have large need of con-
demnation for many of the operators
who have in instances, as is well known,
suffered under the bitter competition
that has been on in the production of
COAL
Very many of these workers now on
a strike were brought to this country
by mine owners and operators and put
into the mines to work against the
obligation to secure them in fair wages.
What every just man wants to see is
enjoyment by the wage Garner whether
foreign-born or native everywhere in
our land, of the highest possible price
for his labor.
The strikers are incensed against the
operators and the men who have taken
their places in the pits and have adopt
ed the methods TO intimidate or call
them out, that have involved the courts
sponded as the law commands they
must, to petitions filed, and issued in
functions prohibiting the strikers from
interfering with those who choose to
work from obstructing the passage
ways to the mines, from conspiring to
march in bodies with the intention of
intin1idatfng and obstructing and for
similar offenses
In every case the injunctions have is
sued as temporary restraining orders,
and so far as has been reported when
the parties appeared in court, these
orders have been made permanent on
the full hearing of both sides. This
action by the courts has aroused the
strikers and some of those in sympathy
with them, TO denunciations of the
tribunals, and a considerable body of
the press has united in these declara-
tbons, accompanied by harsh criticism
OF the courts for having interfered as
is alleged, with the liberty of the cit
izen both in action and in speech.
We think that these judgments have
been hasty, and are i'll founded. The
courts, Federal and State. are the
creatures of the law. The law wisely
provides that one having the present
ability who threatens to do wrongful
act, or to interfere with another in the
discharge of a lawful right, may be re-
strained by decree of court where the
injury would be irreparable. and the
injured party would have no speedy
and adequate remedy at law.
The American citizen cannot afford
TO unjustly criticise any of the ma
chinery of the law Of his own creation.
nor should he hesitate to criticise and
condemn officers of the law who ex-
ceed their authority or fail of their
duty. II the power of the courts 10
restrain persons from wrong doing, is
stricken down as is advised by some of
our contemporaries, the weak would be
left at the mercy of the strong, and
the doctrine of physical might would
become the law Of the land.