New-York tribune., 1900-05-09
FOLLY AND CRIME AT ST LOUIS.

In obedience to orders issued few hours be-
fore more than three thousand men employed
on the street railroads of st. Louis went on
strike yesterday morning. they had a perfect
right TO do, provided that in so doing they vio-
lated no agreement without due notice. A few
of the men preferred to keep at work, and en-
dea vored to run their cars with or without such
protection might be furnished by the authori-
ties, their decision being quite as legitimate as
that made by the great majority. But the
strikers, and probably other persons of vicious
and turbulent spirit assembled to prevent the
operation of the roads, and there was immediate
and serious disorder. Unhappily there is moth
Ing novel in outbreaks of violence intended to
promote the success of n strike by making 1t
difficult and dangerous for new men to fill the
places of those who have gone out; but usually
such incidents are deferred for time. In this
case the remarkable thing is that there was no
delay in attempting TO terroriZe passengers and
the employees who remained on duty. AT an early
hour in the morning a squad of police
summoned by riot call to protect motorman,
but they seem to have been of no use, for he
was assaulted with clubs and stones. badly hurt
and soon driven away, though he courageous]y
returned to his place after few minutes. Other
employees were dragged from their cars, win
dows were smashed by missiles of various kinds,
In the in which she was riding. The reports
speak of riots at several points, and there
would seem TO be no improperly in the use of
the word.
Presumably it will be represented In behalf of
the strike leaders that they are not responsible
for these occurrences, to which they did nothing
10 incite the men and which they regret. 1t is
not unlikely to be asserted, furthermore that
| the strikers themselves committed no acts of
violence, all the trouble being caused by out
siders whom they had no means Of controlling.
Unfortunately experience has completely de-
monstrated the fact that such assurances are
seldom worthy of credence. The truth is
that a rule in such cases, though not so
quickly, a considerable proportion of the
who have resorted to a strike in order directly
to improve their material condition or to assert
the strength of the organization to which they
look for material benefits are found capable of
committing lawless and cruel acts. These mel
ancholy revelations of base passions underlying
many excellent qualities by no means con-
fined to labor contests, but it is in labor con-
tests that they appear most reprehensible and
ominous. for then they are too commonly seen
to be deliberate and calculated.
Not the worst but perhaps the most remark
able thing about such brutal exhibitions of con-
tempt for law is their folly. They never do the
strikers anything but harm Very rarely a strike
may have succeeded in spite of them, but
strike ever succeeded because of them. Their
almost inyarable effect is to array public opin-
ion SO solidly against the offenders and all with
whom the offenders are identified as to doom
the strike, whether originally just and approved
or not, to certain failure. There is not a shadow
of doubt that if the first days detestabe work
at st. Louis is continued it will result in a defeat
for the men without regard to the reasonable
ness of their demands. The great majority of
the people have only adherence for such pro-
ceedlngs, and If the public authorities are fit to
discharge the trust committed to them they will
Immediately employ just such a measure of
force as is necessary to make life, property and
the right TO labor secure