The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-12
THE ST. LOUIS STRIKE. A REMEDY.

THE 81. LOOlS STHIhE: N HEMEDh.
The conditions which have existed in st.
Louis for more than month are re-
proach TO popular government The strike
began a month ago. attended with violence.
The local government, with the mayor at
its head. could do nothing because the pre-
ceding Legislature had deprived the off,
GERS chosen by the people of all control
of the police and vested IL in the hands
doubling the cost to the people. 1t was
soon discovered that the police could not
cope with the disorder. and special officers
were appointed. About that time Governor
Stephens appeared in st. Louis and de-
clared that he would use all the forces in
his control in the State to suppress law
lessness. which has paralyzed the trade
and handicapped the industry of a great
city. If at that time he had made good
his words. the disorder would easily have
pledges good. He simply declared that the
faction of the party hostile TO him was
keeping up the lawless demonstrations to
affect the forthcoming party primaries.
Since that time he has given the impress
sion that he would not call out the mill
tia. That impression has given fresh
courage to the lawless and hoodlum ele-
ment. A large posse. composed of citizens.
who have no experience in police duties,
has been called 10 assist the police, and
The reason Governor Stephens assigns for
not calling out the militia is that it will
cost 5000 to get the regiments to st.
Louis and 5000 a day to support and pay
them. and ne has no appropriation for
that purpose.
Sooner or later, and better sooner than
later. Legislatures must make provisions
to settle disputes between street-railway
companies and their employees before the
stage of strikes and lawlessness is reached.
Now all st. Louis is suffering because
score of street-raiway stockholders and
three thousand employees fail to agree about
minor differences. White these two inter-
ests fight out their battle all the rest of
suffer in their business. employment. and
run the risk of being murdered or in
jured. Women who ride on the cars must
run the risk of having their clothing
stripped from them by hoodlums. The dam
gerous class, always in some force in every
large city. has been augmented TO an
army in st. Louis. What is the remedy?
The street-railway, being in sense a
public institution. existing by legislative
sanction, should be subject to public con-
being employ ed to run the cars, stand in
the same relation to the public. The New
York Herald suggests that before a street.
railway trouble reaches a dangerous stage.
State board of arbitration should be
created to interfere and summon both par
ties before it to state their respective cases.
after which that board shall render de-
csion which shah he binding upon both
parties. Failure to accept by the company
shall result I'm forfeiture of its franchise.
and refusal by the employed shall make
it the duty of the State or city to at once
protect those who do accept service under
the terms OF the board OF arbitration
This proposition seems a wise one. III there
had been board of impartial and discreet
men having the power TO interfere when
the strike was imminent and clothed with
authority. like the courts. to enforce its
Judgment. there would have been no
strike. lawlessness, loss of life and bust
ness in ST. Louis.