The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-03
General Assembly


1900 was in lump sum for the two years ending
June !. 1901 and payments Of money Of said APP
preparation have been made and are being made
by installments, this appropriation will not work
any inconvenience, and the money can be paid
in the same manner that it would have been paid
II the one million of dollars had not been elm.
mated from the appropriation in Isoo.
Labor Disputes.
ON the tventy-frst of September last very
serious affray occurred in Shenandoah. Schuylkil
county, growing out Of an extensive strike then
existing in the anthracite coal fields Two thous.
and or more men were reported TO be marching
the streets of Shenandoah, firing revolvers and re-
sisting all attempts of tho civil authorities to
have them dsperse Two persons were killed
and seve' n wounded by gun or revolver shots
on the afternoon and evening Of the twenty.frst
The sheriff Of Schuylkill county asserted these
facts and his inability to suppress the disturb
ance, and ss'ed that a sufficient number of the
National \ sent there for the protection
OF the publ This call Of the sheriff was
endorsed by ton Of the councils OF Shen-
andoah and the Nal requests Of lars num-
Der OF prominent citizens in that place. y
reached me about or o'clock the evening
of Sept. 81. Immediately summoned Major Gen
eral Miller, commander Of the division; Brigadiot
General Goblin, commander OF the Third brigade
and Adutant General Stewart for a conference,
which was held between II and L. o'clock on the
evening of Sept. 2l At 1880 o'clock on the
morning OF Sept % the order was issued for the
movement Of the Fourth, Eighth and Twelfth
regiments Battery and the Governors troop to
Shenandoah. About O'Clock that morning six
hundred men with their officers were paroling
the streets of Shcnandoa. and by noon OF that
day nearly two thousand oops were there No
further serious disturbance occurred The people
were civil to the officers and soldiers who re.
mancd in that vicinity until all necessity for
their presence was over BY the thirty.frst OF
October the strike was adjusted and the last OF
the National Guard withdrawn.
The rapid mobilization OF the state troops was
highly commended by military experts and the
ludgint mt and discretion shown by General Goblin
and his officers and the good behavior and sol.
dery bearing OF the men was 50 satisfactory as
not only to win the approval OF the people of
the state, but tha praise and conyrchdation of
many persons in military circles outside Of the
state. IL demonstrated the fact thar the National
Guard OF Pennsylvania is we'll disciplined, cap.
able and efficient military body. Il can be :c.
lied upon Tor prompt action and steady adherence
to duty under any and all circumstances. It re.
fleets the care and discipline exercised by the Of
fccrS OF the National GuarG and the zeal and
patriotism of both officers and men. No depart.
mcnt OF the state is more efficient. in better con.
dtion and more reliable today than the National
Guard
For Protecting Life.
without showing any partiality or discussing
the merits of the dispute between employer and
emplcys, they felt that theg presence in the an.
tmacte coal fields was simply for the purpose
Of protecting life and property preserving order
and maintaining the public peace. No serious
conflict arose between any portion OF the Ma.
tional Guard any individual OF The National
1rl md ,g ,tn ,,t &
county during the time that they were in that
county. No shots we've fired and the National
Guard LETT good impression among the citi
zens. the miners ana everybody with whom they
came in contact.
When We come to consider that this industrial
dispute occurred in the heat OF a presidential
campaign and that more men were out on strike
than ever in our state before to- much praise
cannot be given TO the ofnccrs and men VINO
took part in the defence oi public order.
Something over Sll5,o0O was expended in pay
| and subsistence TO those officers and members Of
the guard who were on duty during this disturb.
| ancc The exact amount cannot az this time he
determined
Experience with this strike has led me to
| consider the question Of arbitration Of labor
disputes. The difficulty with our present arbtra-
ton laws and those heretofore contemplated is
that they are not compulsory. They are purely
would be Ineffective We could not directly
| compel employers and employees to submit their
disputes TO arbitration, yet | am hopeful that
law could be framed that would practically
compel both parties tc voluntarily submit their
disputes to aibitrators and abide by the result
Police interference by the state troops to pro.
tcct life and property and preserve order is
justified by law and by necessity whcreyer vio.
lencc exists and local authorities have failed
State Office Impartial.
The Office of the state authorities is an i'm.
partial one The state troops are sent to the
scene ot disturbance for the sole purpose Of pro.
tecting lie and property and preserving order
when the county authorities are unable 10 cope
with the difficulty. The owner OF q mine claims
the right to stop work at any time. The
miner claims the right TO stop WORK at any time
II capital can shut down, labor can shut down.
If capital can strike, labor can strike. No great.
| cr right is claimed for than for the other
and no right can be withheld from one that is
conceded to the other But neither has the riglt
to resort to public violence. No ono under any
circumstances, has a right to commit breach
of the peace. Experience in the past iustfcs
the passage of such legislation as will preserve
public order IN the too frequent troubles that
grow out of labor disputes. There is no way
by which trouble and disorder can be avcrted
settlement OF the differences in dispute A
law that would authorize the use OF state troops
i'll the protection ut those who wish to work,
| and in the preservation OF public order wher,
strike exists ii within a given time arbitrators
we're not selected by the employees, and closa
the mine, mill, factory shop /: within the
same length of time an equal number OF arbi-
traitors were not selected by the employer, ought
| TO be sustained by the courts as a police rclu-
| lation for the benefit OF society While each act
| is acbltrary. it is not moe 50 than public in
| tertrrcnce with private rights in many other
| eases for the good of the public, and expediencc
| has taught MS that each OF these steps may be
| come necessary, and generally do become neccs.
| sarv where labor disputes lead to violence The
court or president Judge ot the county could
| then, at the request OF either party, or any o
| the selected arlitrators, appoint one or three
| careful, able, impartial men TO sit with the ar.
| bitratOrs selected. when upon hearing 10th sides
| a decision could be rendered that would be at
| once binding upon both parties and work would
| at once lie resumed.
| ! respectfully urge upon the legislature con.
| sideration Of these suggestions.
| For Capitol Building.
Tie destruction by FIRE OF the main Capitol
building on Feb, 2, 1897, was followed by the
| passage Of a bin approved April II, 1897 appro-
priatine the sum OF sj50,0OO for the construction
! of a Capitol budHg under the supervision of n
| commission composed Of the hoard Of public
! grounds and buildings, the president pro tcmpore
| OF the senate and the speaker OF the house OF