New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-23
DISORDER IN THE COAL FIELDS.

1t is the same old story. A great labor union
organizes strike on large scale proinlslns
TO proceed by peaceful methods ana comply
strictly with the law. For few days the
promise is kept or Mt least not broken to an
extent which threatens public order HOW 1ar
the right of picketing extends ana now Tar
strikers may enter into systematic threatening
and annoyance of workmen who refuse 10 JOIN
them are DISPUTED questions. Strikers are prone
to stretch their liberty in this regard to the
limit. and public officials slow to court their
unpopularity by overstrict enforcement of the
law So legal or illegal, the marchings and
intimidations are accepted as usual accompani-
mcuts of great strikes. and IL nothing worse
hapDeus the strike is considered peaceable.
Unfortunately worse things almost always do
happen. After few days of growing irritation
the hOthcads take to throwing stones, to infict-
ing personal violence upon non-striking work
men and TO destroying the property of their
employers Then, OF course, deputies and militia
have TO take a hand, and bloodshed is almost
sure to follow.
This has happened in the coal regions 1t
would be unjust TO blame the officers or the
miners organization for the outbreak. The
worst thing that can happen for the success OF
their strike is the formation Of a riotous mob by
their men. The best thing they can do is to come
frankly to the support of the local and state
authorities. denounce the lawlessness of their
ignorant and irresponsible followers in no I'M
certain terms and win measure of respect
from the whole country by showing that above
all things they are law abiding Americans, not
only in act but in spirit. This is something
that labor leaders rarely have the courage to do
Their temptation is to apologize for the rioters,
blame the officers for guarding "scabs" and
charge that the authorities are leagued for the
protection of the employers. Already we see
the demagogues who are trying to make polit-
ical capital out of the strike shouting that the
troops have been called out to aid the compa-
MES. AS a matter Of fact, they are called out
to enforce law and nothing else. 1t makes no
difference whether the miners or the operators
have the right of tho differences which precip-
tated the strike, Miners with just grievance
can 10 more be permitted to go about with
clubs and stones, attacking other miners who
do not agree with them, than any other mob;
and it the duty of the Sheriff to restrain
them and protect their victims and shoot if
necessary.
1t appears to have been necessary at Shenan-
doah. and the Governor of Pennsylvania has
been we'll advised in taking prompt action to
suppress disorder at it's first appearance with
out waiting for it to spread The dsorderly
is to be presumed were acting quite beyond the
scope Of their leaders instructions. SO, as we
say it is not fair TO assume that those leaders
have deliberately broken their promise At the
same time, they have a responsibility which is
not measured by the mere letter of their instruc-
lions or their conscious intentions They know
themselves to be the leaders of many ignorant
and turbulent foreigners, and they should real
ize that in sending them to march in bodies
about the country, persuading and threatening
others to Join in the strike they are preparing
a train which spark will explode. They have
no moral right to put their followers under
almost irresistible temptation to break the law,
even though they tell them to respect it. The
| operators, too have a moral duty higher than
their legal right. They are entitled to the pro
lection Of their property and the lives of their
wOrimen when these are attacked. But they
can provoke attack or disarm it by the attitude
| they take toward their employees, and they are
| not free from blame If they unnecessarily, in
| pride or stubbornness, set them on the march
which is almost sure to end in conflict.