The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-04
VIOLENCE AND STRIKES.

The governor of Missouri has been
quoted as saying that the petty politi-
clans, the ward heelers of S.. Louis
were largely responsible for the strike
in progress in that city. Almost all
strikes result from agitation by social
reformers or other politicians. but the
unusually large number of disturbances
during the past twelve months-larger,
it is said, than in any previous year,
not excepting the turbulent season Of
1g77-leads one to wonder if W. j poll
ticians in general have so much in
huence as those of st. Louis are said
to possess.
Some say that the extent and serious
ness of these strikes logically result
from good times that the working peo-
pie Of the country hear so much about
prosperity and large profits in the va
rious lines of industry that they are inn
patient for a share of this prosperity.
. Others maintain that encoura geo by an
increased foreign demand for goods
and a consequent demand for labor.
working men are less afraid of losing
their places than usual, and take the
opportunity TO emphasize their demands
for a share in the profits of their in
creased earning capacity.
But neither explanation offers a So
luton of the violence which has accom-
panied the strikes of last year and this
year. Violence naturally goes with the
sullen desperation which distinguishes
the strikes of hard times. Why were
federal and state troops called out last
year 10 suppress labor riots? Why are
civil wars and instructions brewing
in the larger cities today? Why have
regiments Of deputies been armed with
riot guns in Chicago, St Louis and
other cities? Why do we hear of street
riots. dynamite, mob-law, vigilance
committees and military rule? 1t can
not be that ward heelers have caused
all this commOtion. The real, moving
cause must lie deeper, beyond their ken.
Tt may come from the evaporation of
the masses over the fragrant traffic in
legislation which is being carried on:
over the "conspiraeies between Tascally
contractors and the men at the head
Of our natioral affairs" of which even
Republican newspapers have com
planned. It may be sort of final rally
before the subjugation of labor by COM
pinations of capital is effected. 1t may
be an extreme expression of a wide
spread feeling that the wells of equal
rights and the springs Of justice are
being poisoned.
In the minds of the great majority OF
sober. industrious and rational citizens
of this republic-thOse who are unawed
by federal power and interrupted by
public patronage-this deplorable sur
render to plutocracy, intrenched in the
halls of legislation with an agent in the
executive mansion. excites a desire tC
go to the polls and drive the money
changers from the temple of govern
ment. But in the minds of the IN
thinking or OF the anarchistic the sight
of this corruption, this insolence of en-
throned greed, creates a desire to over
throw it with violence.
It is all wrong The employment Of
violence injuries those who resort to it
and the cause with which khey are iden.
titled. Violence is not a remedy, but {
disease itself, which must first be
cured before the main aiiment can re
ceive attention. And those who intro
duce it into a community, be they poll
ticians or labor agitators, Democrat;
or Republicans, native sons or adopted
citizens, should be rebuked as danger
Gus individuals. But the fact that thert
is rascality and corruption in higl
places cannot be denied nor can dis
cussion Of the matter be suppressed.